Rogers Centre plans on hold amid pandemic despite report of possible demolition

Rogers Communications Inc. says it was exploring thefuture of itsTorontostadium prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus has caused it to put those plans on hold.

"Prior to the pandemic, we were exploring options for thestadium but through this year our primary focus has been keeping our customers connected and keeping our employees safe, so there is no update on theRogersCentreto share at this time," said the telecommunications company's spokesperson Andrew Garas in a statement to The Canadian Press.

The statement comes after the Globe and Mail reported Friday thatRogers and Brookfield Asset Management Inc.were looking to tear down the stadium that is home to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a larger development project.

Citing unnamed sources, the Globe reported the two companies wouldbuild a new stadium half the size on the southern part of the current site and use the remaining land for residential towers,office buildings, stores and public space.

Brookfield declined to comment on the matter.

Reports say new location being considered

The Globe also reported thatRogersand Brookfield were exploringthe possibility of building a stadium along the waterfront if the development plan falls through on a slice of land called Quayside.

Google affiliate Sidewalk Labsonce hoped to construct a tech-savvy neighbourhood in the same area.

"The news this morning was the first Waterfront Toronto hasheard of the Quayside site as a potential new home for the Blue Jays," said Andrew Tumilty, a spokesperson for Waterfront Toronto,the agency overseeing the development of the city's lakefront.

Such a plan would need "extensive scrutiny" and require theorganization to consider existingapproved precinct plans, as well as the size and shape of the site, Tumiltysaid in an email.

The Rogers Centre, formerly known as the SkyDome, opened in 1989 and seats more than 53,000.

WATCH | A look back at the stadium's big opening:

Raising the roof at SkyDome

35 years ago

Duration 3:40

The CBC covers the opening celebration for Toronto's new state-of-the-art sports stadium.