TORONTO -- While the front office tinkers with a talented roster ready to take the next step, there’s a full-blown rebuild happening at Rogers Centre.
 
The Blue Jays announced Tuesday that their $300 million renovation is through its first major stage, with demolition completed last week. Now, the crews are beginning to build the new infrastructure, which will make up a noticeable portion of the two-year project that will continue at Rogers Centre through next offseason.
 
This stage of the renovation focused mainly on the 500 Level and the outfield. All 500 Level seats have been torn up -- nearly 17,000 of them -- and will be replaced prior to next season, with information coming soon on what the club plans to do with the old seats. There’s also been significant work done to the outfield, which will take on a new look in 2023.
 
On the lower levels, this offseason will see the addition of new social spaces and bars, raised bullpens and 100 Level seats brought closer to the action. There will also be some major renovations to player facilities, including a family room, a 5,000-sq. ft weight room and staff locker room.

Fast facts:

• 2.2 million pounds of materials have been recycled in the process, including 1.3 million pounds of concrete and 900,000 pounds of steel

• A 200-tonne crane was brought in to do some of the heavy lifting through demolition.

• Over the 35-day demolition, the average construction crew size each day was 110 workers inside Rogers Centre, six days a week.

From the idea stages through early announcements and now the demolition, the Blue Jays have maintained the same philosophy with this project: turning a stadium into a ballpark. More of that work will come next offseason, when the 100 Level and player facilities will be overhauled even further, but fans walking in for the home opener on April 11 next season will already notice an immediate difference.

“We are committed to building a sustainable championship organization for years to come, and this renovation to Rogers Centre will give new and lifelong Blue Jays fans a ballpark where they can proudly cheer on their team,” said Mark Shapiro, Toronto’s president and CEO. “This project would not be possible without the support of Edward Rogers, Tony Staffieri, and our Rogers ownership group, who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Blue Jays, both in fielding the best team to win championships, as well as in the infrastructure needed to create a modern ballpark for our fans and players.”

Rogers Centre is now 33 years old, and while it’s been home to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and many other major events over the years, it’s primarily used for Blue Jays games and concerts these days. While the building has done well and undergone some smaller changes, this is the first large-scale renovation in its history.

“This renovation to Rogers Centre will deliver an enhanced ballpark experience for fans of Canada’s team so they can gather to cheer on the Blue Jays and make cherished memories with family and friends, as they have for the last 33 years,” said Edward Rogers, chair of the Blue Jays and chair of the Rogers Communications board. “We proudly support the efforts of Mark and the entire Blue Jays leadership team as they embark on this project, and we have the utmost confidence in their ability to build both a winning team on the field and a modern ballpark that meets the evolving needs of our passionate Blue Jays fans.”

Large as they are in scope, none of these projects will impact the Blue Jays’ season, with all work expected to be completed during this offseason and the coming offseasons. This is the organization’s third major infrastructure project in recent years, building upon the major upgrades to their player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., and the renovations to their spring home at TD Ballpark.