Tonight Is the First Open-Roof Playoff Game in Rogers Centre-SkyDome History

For the first time ever, the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans will be treated to an open-roof postseason game at the Rogers Centre.

It’s an unprecedented event; not only have the Blue Jays never cracked the lid on the Rogers Centre or SkyDome for a playoff game, they haven’t had an open-air playoff game since October 16th 1985 at Exhibition Stadium. That of course was the fateful seventh game of the ALCS which the Blue Jays lost against the Kansas City Royals.


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It’s been 31 years since the Blue Jays played an open-air postseason game in the city of Toronto. That streak will finally come to an end this evening as the Blue Jays fight for their lives under the stars against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Blue Jays have played many series at home since then; the 1989 ALCS, the 1991 ALCS, as well as the 1992 and 1993 ALCS and World Series. And let’s not forget last year’s ALDS and ALCS, but never has the roof been open for a Blue Jays playoff home game.

It will certainly bring a different dynamic to the game. The crowd noise is arguably much louder with the roof closed … but let’s be honest, it feels much more like a real, traditional baseball game when the roof is open at the Rogers Centre.

Ian Hunter

Ian has been writing about the Toronto Blue Jays since 2007. He enjoyed the tail-end of the Roy Halladay era and vividly remembers the Alex Rodriguez "mine" incident. He'll also retell the story of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS to his kids for the next 20 years.