Paul VanderGriendt, centre, with his sister Lauren McDougall and brother-in-law Alex McDougall at the Corona rooftop patio in the 500-level of Rogers Centre.Courtesy Paul VanderGriendt
Renovating an old sports venue isn’t just about upgrading seats or providing better food options. It’s an opportunity to make facilities accessible to all fans, including those with mobility needs, and vision or hearing loss. At the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, a multiyear renovation that began in 2022 brought upgraded player facilities, new bars and social spaces to the stadium.
But it’s the increased seating options that Paul VanderGriendt, a quarter-season ticket holder, is most excited about. In 2016, VanderGriendt lost the use of his arms and legs after a motor vehicle accident and now uses a wheelchair to get around. Previously, the 100-level seats for accessible fans, which are an open platform with a railing, were tucked back under the shade of the 200-level overhang, obstructing the view of high-flying balls. “They changed the [design] so that the accessible seating actually extends out toward the field more,” VanderGriendt says. “You’re out in the open. If the sun’s out and it’s a nice day. It’s better to enjoy the weather.”
In addition to better sight lines, VanderGriendt cites several other improvements at the Rogers Centre: the addition of more accessible washrooms, more open general admission areas where he can hang out with friends and increased support staff availability.
“There’s a lot of designated staff at the gates and elevators,” he says. “You don’t run into any situation where you’re stuck behind a door that you can’t open.” VanderGriendt says that he would be less inclined to buy quarter-season tickets, which amount to attending 20-odd games per season, if the right accessible facilities weren’t in place.
“It just makes you feel more comfortable going to the game,” he says. “There’s nothing worse than going to a venue and they don’t have a washroom suitable for you, or you’re not going to have a good time because you’re not part of the experience.”
The Rogers Centre renovations, which cost over $400-million, aren’t the only accessibility upgrades happening in Canadian sports venues. Scotiabank Arena is undergoing a $350-million renovation that includes more retail shops and a new social club, as well as lower counter heights in 100-level concessions stands and bars and the addition of changing tables for adults in universal washrooms, both of which were added in the summer of 2024. An upcoming renovation of Vancouver’s B.C. Place ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will see more elevators installed in the facility. Currently there are only three elevators in the 55,000-seat facility.
In some cases, an old stadium might be beyond the state of repair. That was the case for Regina’s Taylor Field, the former home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which was built in 1936. It was replaced with a new facility – Mosaic Stadium – in 2016, which included more accessible seating areas in multiple areas, from the 100 to 500 levels.
Pod accessible seating at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium offers fans with accessibility needs more room and ample views of the playing field.Courtesy Mosaic Stadium
“We took great care in making sure that the railings were set at an appropriate standard and did not restrict any sight lines,” says Amy Moats, director of guest experience of the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) which operates Mosaic Stadium. “It’s a drastic improvement from the previous site.” The accessible seating areas are larger and have ample outlets for wheelchairs and oxygen tanks.
Roughriders fans are getting older, which means the demographic that can benefit from accessibility improvements and upgrades is increasing. “We do have a significant volume of Baby Boomers that attend CFL football,” Moats says.
Mosaic Stadium’s accessible features aren’t just focused on people with physical disabilities. “Braille is included on all room signage,” says Roberta Engel, acting president of REAL. “We have tactile way-finding strips in place at all main entrance gates, all three elevator lobbies and ramps. On the hearing impairment side, we have nine voice-equipped elevators located throughout the stadium and we offer 300 hearing-assistance devices. Our fire alarm system is equipped with strobe lights.”
Brad McCannell, vice-president of access and inclusion at the Rick Hansen Foundation, a non-profit focused on removing barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities, says that sports venues should broaden their definition of what a disability is. “[Building] codes are so focused on mobility in wheelchairs that 70 per cent of the community is left out,” McCannell says. He says that venues could support fans with hearing loss by using hearing loops, which transmit sounds, like announcements at a sports game, directly to people using hearing aids and cochlear implants. This helps to reduce background noise.
McCannell reminds venue design decision-makers and the general public alike that building for accessibility isn’t about doing something special for a specific group of people. Improved accessibility is better for all patrons. He cites the example of curb cuts in sidewalks, which are not only used by those in wheelchairs but also by people with strollers and couriers wheeling carts. In a sports venue, photoluminescent paint on steps prevents stumbles and falls for everyone, not only people with low vision. “We’re not doing this for people with disabilities,” says McCannell. “There is no ‘us’ and ‘them.’ There’s only ‘us.’”
