Live Nation to build 50k-cap open-air stadium

Live Nation Canada plans to open a new open-air, seasonal stadium in Toronto next summer.

At 50,000-capacity, the new Rogers Stadium on the former Downsview Airport will be the biggest purpose-built concert venue in the country.

In a press conference this morning, Live Nation said it expects the stadium to host 12–15 performances a year but that it will not be home to a sports team, nor will it be open during the winter.

The stadium will have a limited life as the site will be transformed into residential housing in the coming decades, though the developer declined to share the length of Live Nation’s multi-year lease.

The temporary stadium will boast 30,000 seats and a removable stage, allowing big-name artists to bring in their own customised stages.

“In a global touring market, artists have a lot of choices, and we need to make sure we’re not missing out on anything in Toronto”

Live Nation says the new development will build on the demand for stadium-level tours in Toronto, which is Canada’s most populous city and one of the biggest concert markets for major touring acts in North America.

“In a global touring market, artists have a lot of choices, and we need to make sure we’re not missing out on anything in Toronto,” said Erik Hoffman, Live Nation Canada’s president of music, at the conference.

Live Nation will continue to host summer concerts at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, which is also named after Canadian media giant  Rogers Communications.

The Downsview site has a long history of hosting live music events, including the 2003 benefit concert Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto concert (aka SARSstock) which featured Rolling Stones, Rush and AC/DC.

The site has also been home to festivals such as Veld and Riot Fest, and was the site of the 2012 stage collapse that killed Radiohead drum technician Scott Johnson.

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