Live Nation Canada has unveiled plans for a temporary seasonal outdoor concert venue — Rogers Stadium will have a capacity of 50,000 and will open at the former Downsview Airport in June 2025.
The giant open-air stadium, which will be strategically positioned on 44 acres of land at the north end of the former airport’s runway, will be the GTA’s largest purpose-built music venue and become one of Canada’s newest landmark concert destinations.
It will operate during the summer months and host a wide range of concerts and music acts, specifically focusing on diverse music communities like Afrobeats, K-Pop and Latin music. According to Live Nation, the stadium’s construction and operation will lead to thousands of jobs, boost tourism, support local businesses and inject an estimated $80-$100 million into the local economy.
“The number of stadium-level acts touring today is unprecedented, with more acts than available nights at existing venues. That’s why we’re making this investment — to ensure Toronto fans don’t miss out on world-class artists. Rogers Stadium will not only meet this demand but also offer a premium stadium show experience, combined with the festival vibe that our fans love,” Erik Hoffman, president of music at Live Nation Canada, said in a statement. “This a natural evolution of our stadium programming and we’re excited to bring this new venue to life with our partners at Rogers while continuing to book world-class shows at Rogers Centre, as well.”
The stadium is part of a 30-year master plan for the Downsview Airport Lands, spearheaded by Northcrest Developments. The new stadium will operate for a few years before the land is transformed into a connected series of communities with seven new neighborhoods, accommodating over 55,000 residents. The development will include more than 28 million square feet of residential space, 7 million square feet of commercial and cultural spaces, and nearly 74 acres of parks and green spaces.
“Our 370-acre project’s scale and impact are unprecedented. With development plans for these lands years away,” Derek Goring, CEO of Northcrest Developments said in a statement, adding that the new stadium will serve as a premier concert venue, “ensuring that YZD becomes a beacon of cultural and community life for years to come.”
