TORONTO – Installing a dirt infield at Rogers Centre is possible for the 2016 season but retrofitting the aging domed stadium to support natural grass will be weighed against other needed renovations, according to Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro.
Under former president and CEO Paul Beeston, the team commissioned experts at the University of Guelph earlier this year to examine the feasibility of a grass field with an eye toward switching to a natural surface in 2018.
Shapiro, speaking Thursday at the annual meeting of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Toronto chapter, didn’t completely kibosh the plan, but made it clear that it wasn’t the be-all, end-all for a stadium in need of a major renovation.
"My opinion is we don’t need (natural grass)," he said. "My opinion is clearly it would be better, it’s just a question of alternatives and what we’re going to have to choose between."
Shapiro is working on what he described as a "comprehensive plan" of building needs, from basic infrastructure requirements such as fortifying the dome’s concrete, keeping the roof working, renewing seats and updating the scoreboard to fan-experience details such as how the seating bowl is configured and improving other amenities.
"We’re going to have a capital project list that deals with how do we renovate Rogers Centre," Shapiro explained. "We’re going to have to prioritize. It’s like anything in life, you’re not going to be able to do the entire laundry list. On that list likely will be grass once we are certain it can be done and understand the cost-implications of doing it.
"Watching from a distance, the way the new turf played it doesn’t detract from the game. It’s obviously a game that’s more fun to watch with natural grass, but being a dome, I think the turf plays extremely well right now."
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Assistant GM Tony LaCava added the dome’s new turf, installed last season, has reduced the toll on players’ bodies and that complaints have been reduced dramatically. That, coupled with the building’s many other needs and the evolution of sports watching, appears to be altering the club’s perspective.
"Ballpark experiences now need to be compelling, they need to draw people out of their home," said Shapiro.
A budget has yet to be set for the renovations, although estimates have ranged from the $200-$400 million range.
"We need to come forward with a comprehensive plan of what the building needs are and where we think the highest impact for our fans and the highest impact for our players (are) for scope of projects that exist," said Shapiro.
Meanwhile, general manager Ross Atkins said the Blue Jays continue to hunt for pitching to bolster the club, adding that discussions are ongoing both in trade and free agents.
"Really it’s just pitching in general," he said. "More likely it will be a bullpen add but we’re going to stay open-minded and if there’s a way we can create it, just add depth to our pitching and fortify our pitching staff. It’s definitely not limited to the bullpen, I just think it’s more likely that’s where we can add."
LaCava said the Blue Jays will also soon have a series of minor-league signings to announce.
