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Located at the former site of Downsview airport,ÌýLive Nation Canada announcedÌýplans for the stadium in September,Ìýsaying it would be ready for use about 10 months later. Eager music fans kept a close watch on the stadium’s construction process,Ìýsharing videos and photos ofÌýwhat appeared to be the incomplete stadiumÌýjust weeks before its June 29 grand opening, raising speculationÌýthatÌýthe large-scale venueÌýwouldn’tÌýbe ready in time.Ìý

After complaints from the opening night circulated on social media, Live Nation says it is “already making adjustments” and will be “working closely” with city officials, transit operators and emergency services to address the issues.Ìý

If you’re attending a concert at Rogers Stadium later this summer, here is what you need to know and bring to be best prepared before heading to the venue —Ìýincluding guidance and warnings from those who’ve already been.Ìý

How do I get to Rogers Stadium?

The best method of getting to Rogers Stadium — not to be confused with the similarly named Rogers Centre downtown — is by TTC or GO Transit, according to the ÌýDownsview Park Station, which serves both the TTC and GO Transit, is the closestÌýtransit hub to the new venue. Other nearby TTC stations include Sheppard West and Wilson Stations.Ìý

Concertgoers can expect a 10-minute walk from Downsview Park Station to the gates through a pedestrian pathÌýon 105 Carl Hall Rd.Ìý

Those attending a concert this summer at the 50,000-seated stadium can get home for free using public transit. From Downsview Park, Sheppard West and Wilson Stations, TTC subway service will be free for up to 90 minutes after the show ends and GO trains at Downsview Park will also be free following each show this summer.Ìý

Parking on site is extremely limited and there’s no public parking lot available. Those wishing to drive to the venue may have a chance at securing a parking spot at the lots of surrounding TTC stations, if available.Ìý

On opening night, the Star reported that a 632-space parking lot at Sheppard West subway station was full by 4:30 p.m., three hours before the performance was scheduled to begin, and the venue’s ride-share spot — itself a 12-minute walk from the nearest gate — was flooded with cars.

The venue has a drop-off and pickup zone located at 111 Beffort Rd. at the south end of the Downsview Runway. This area can be accessed by driving north on Dufferin Street which transitions into Beffort Road as you make your way north of Wilson Avenue. However, there is no pedestrian access to the venue through Beffort Road.Ìý

There are three gates to enter the venue. Gate 1 is for general ticket holders while Gate 2 is eligible to Rogers customers and American Express cardholders have exclusive access through Gate 3.Ìý

For upcoming Coldplay shows, the increased support for commuters in the area, including more staff at Downsview and Wilson Station as well as full-size TTC buses replacing smaller Wheel-Trans accessibility vehicles.

How long does it take to leave the venue from Rogers Stadium?Ìý

If you’re seeing a show at Rogers Stadium, be prepared plan ahead to get home.

A sea of Stray Kids fans attempting to get home after the show was captured in videos online and some fans say it took up to two hours to get from the gates to the TTC station.Ìý

For Stray Kids fanÌýChelle Wedel,Ìýshe said her trip to the venue went without a hitch asÌýshe and her sister took the GO train from Oakville to Union Station before heading north on the TTC to Downsview Park Station.Ìý

However, her experience turned into “insanity” by the end of the night when Wedel felt concerned for her safety as a “massive flow of people” attempted to leave the venue, towards the station, all at the same time.Ìý

“We just started seeing this giant clump of people, like thousands of people and there’s nothing you can do but stand in the clump,” Wedel said. “And in my personal experience, there was no staff, no explanation, no loudspeaker, no anything saying why we were all stopped in that clump.”Ìý

Wedel explained the path to the station from the stadium is fenced on both sides, and if concertgoers weren’t as careful as they were, it would be “chaos.” As she steadily moved closer to the TTC, Wedel eventually saw staff who were directing fans with stop and go signs to slowly move groups of people into the station.Ìý

Azalee Nunez, who saw Stray Kids’ show with her friend, said she missed the last GO train and had to take TTC home instead due to the wait to leave the venue.Ìý

Some fans reportedly left early before the last few songs to avoid the rush.Ìý

To “create smoother flow” for upcoming shows, Live Nation Canada says it’s reconfiguring stadium exit routes to allow for crowds to disperse to all three nearby subway stations.

How to beat the heat at Rogers Stadium?Ìý

Since Rogers Stadium is an open-air venue, fans should be prepared for heat — and a lot of sun.Ìý

In the areas around the stadium, Wedel said there wasn’t enough areas set up to provide shade to the tens of thousands of fans waiting to get inside the venue. She added that aÌýnumber of fans tried to fit themselves under the small amounts of shade from pillars, stands and other structures in an attempt to stay cool.Ìý

Wedel says there were no cooling or mist stations or access to fans as attendees stood outside for hours, some waiting in massive merch lines in the direct sun. Wedel, who says she is sensitive to heat, waited half an hour in the merch line and saw concertgoers cover their heads with jackets or umbrellas and some brought their own hand-held fans.Ìý

Fans visiting Rogers Stadium should wear sunscreen, and consider bringing a hat, smallÌýumbrella or a mini portable fan or cooling device.

Live Nation told the Star in a statement that additional shaded areas are being added for future events.

The venue operator also said there will be 31 free water refill stations with “enhanced signage” by Monday’s concerts. These include near sections 118/199, 125, 101, 108 and by the ferris wheel and SiriusXM Stage.Ìý

The stadium allows attendees to bring one empty, refillable plastic water bottle to use at these stations, however, several fans reported the water was “hot” and lines to refill bottles took between 30 minutes to an hour. Glass and metal bottles are not allowed inside the venue.Ìý

Is Rogers Stadium accessible-friendly?Ìý

Rogers Stadium has “a limited number” of accessible parking spaces on concert days but an accessible parking pass must be purchased ahead of time and accommodations must be sent to accessibilitycoordinator@livenation.com with your name and the date of the show you’re attending. 

Some fans who attended the Stray Kids show warned that the pedestrian path between Downsview Park Station and the entry gates is a gravel road that could be hard to walk on especially for those with mobility issues.

“If it was hard for me, I can’t imagine how it would be for someone who uses a walker, a wheelchair or other mobility devices,” said one who uses cane to get around, adding that the venue was “not accessible at all.”Ìý

The user then states that venue’s ground had a mix of freshly laid grass that was wet and muddy and a pedestrian path filled with gravel and large rocks that were “easy to trip over and difficult to walk on.”Ìý

According to the venue’s website, fans with accessibility requirements who are getting to the venue and back on TTC are offered free shuttle service through Wheel-Trans between Wilson Station and Rogers Stadium on event days. The shuttle pickup is located at the upper bus platform on the southwest corner of the station.Ìý

Some fans also reported having poor cell reception at Rogers Stadium,Ìýwhile others experienced no service disruptions.

While Wedel didn’t run into any cell service issues, she says her sister who is on the same phone plan as her, had issues with her phone’s data. They both have a Rogers phone plan, she said.Ìý

Live Nation did not comment when asked about the reports of some fans having cell service issues while at the venue.Ìý

What’s the washroom situation?Ìý

The new stadium has both accessibility washrooms and portable toilets, and as it was the first show at the stadium, Wedel said the portable toilets were clean and “immaculate.”Ìý

There were around 50 portable washrooms lined in one area, according to Wedel, with around 10 larger “white pod” accessibility washrooms nearby. The lines for the larger washrooms were very long, Wedel said.Ìý

Inside the venue, Nunez said washrooms were tight and small, with large gaps in the stalls. Tamar Herman, a music journalist from New York who attended the show, said she’s never seen washroom lines as long as they were Sunday.

With files from Hayden Godfrey, Mark Colley and The Canadian Press