Toronto’s Rogers Stadium Heavily Damaged By Massive Storm Ahead of AC/DC Show
Local reports say that the venue sustained "significant" damage after a severe thunderstorm with high winds raked the area on Wednesday (Sept. 2).
The final show of the season at Toronto’s Rogers Stadium is potentially in jeopardy after a severe thunderstorm with damaging high winds raked the downtown area on Wednesday (Sept. 2). According to the Toronto Star, Live Nation says it is assessing the “significant damage” to the stadium caused by the storm that ripped up several large sections of the North seating area in the 50,000-capacity venue.
The next scheduled show at the stadium is a Sept. 16 gig by AC/DC, which is slated to be the final gig at the venue this season.
CTV News reported that the “100-year” storm that dumped nearly five inches of rain in some areas left thousands of the city’s residents with flooded basements and no power after high winds took down power lines and streets were blocked by downed trees. The network posted aerial footage of what looks like massive damage to the North-end seating section of the venue, depicting giant swaths of seats crumpled up and twisted into piles and torn from their moorings.
The Star reported that the damage included dozens of rows of blue seats flipped over and twisted on themselves, as well as fencing thrown around the stadium and the scaffolding of the bleachers pushed and fractured by the winds. Plastic debris from the stadium’s destroyed portable toilets could reportedly be see scattered across the field and outside the facility.
“We are currently assessing the extent of the damage and will provide further information as it becomes available,” Live Nation said in a statement on Wednesday night according to The Star. “As always, the safety of our employees and on-site contractors is our top priority. Fortunately, no one was injured during today’s extreme weather event.”
So far this summer, Rogers Stadium has hosted Luke Combs, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Noah Kahan, Karol G, the Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses and, most recently,BTS for two nights in late August. At press time a spokesperson for Live Nation Canada had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the storm damage and possible impact on the AC/DC show; a spokesperson for the band could also not be reached for comment at press time.
