Live Nation Entertainment is reworking Rogers Stadium, its new Toronto concert venue, following safety and accessibility concerns raised by concert-goers online after the inaugural June 29 Stray Kids concert.
“We are already making adjustments based on fan and community feedback and will continue to refine our operations to ensure a positive and safe experience for everyone at Rogers Stadium and in our neighboring community this summer,” Live Nation said in a statement to the CBC News website, which is part of Canada’s public broadcaster.
The mega-concert promoter has to move fast as the British rock band Coldplay has four performances set for the new Rogers Stadium from July 7 to 12. Another major test will come Aug. 24 and Aug. 25 when Oasis is set to fill the new open-air music venue next to Downsview Park in north Toronto for two concerts that are part of its current tour to mark the group’s first live performances in 16 years.
The Toronto concert will also be the first date for the North American leg of their concert tour that kicked off in Cardiff, Wales. Stray Kids fans lauded the South Korean pop group’s performance at Rogers Stadium, but turned thumbs down on the venue itself in online comments.
Teen novel writer Nav K. Gill (Under the Moonlight Sky) took to X, formerly Twitter, to warn those with mobility issues should not buy tickets in the stadium stands, “even if it’s row 1.” Rogers Stadium has four stands with bleacher-style seats surrounding the stage.
“Expect huge lines for water OR be prepared to pay big bucks for water over at the concessions,” Gill added. Besides complaints about overcrowding and long lines to get into and out of the Rogers Stadium, other concerns, including crowd control and long lines for public subway and bus access were voiced online.
“Thank you for hosting Stray Kids last night! However, please check the stability of the seats before the next concert is held. Some of our seats came loose, and staff did not fix it for about an hour after asking multiple times for help,” another Stray Kids fan from Buffalo, New York added in another X tweet.
Toronto councillor James Pasternak, whose York Centre ward includes the new Rogers Stadium, in his own X post, said safety and logistical concerns were raised with Live Nation during an urgent post-concert meeting. “With concerts scheduled all summer and shortcomings apparent from the first performance, we put pressure on all responsible parties to sort out concerns about crown management and transit, access to water and washrooms, improved drop off zones, noise issues, and better accommodation of handicapped persons accessing the site,” Pasternak wrote.
In September 2024, Live Nation and Northcrest Developments unveiled plans for a new concert stadium in North Toronto, designed to host top global music acts and built on a former runway at the Downsview Airport lands.
The north Toronto property was earlier slated to host a giant film studio complex on a 370-acre site. Representatives for Live Nation were not available for direct comment after The Hollywood Reporter reached out.
