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SkyDome's 30th anniversary: A look back at the debut of the revolutionary venue
- 1/53
June 3: SkyDome, the world's first retractable roof, opens
June 3, 1989: SkyDome; the world's first retractable roof; opens for business. (Photo by David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)David Cooper via Getty Images - 2/53June 5, 1989: Fans and ballplayers are little more than dots in this bird's-eye view of the jam-packed SkyDome, taken from a window washer's cage on the CN Tower at Jays home opener. (Photo by Ken Faught/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Ken Faught via Getty Images
- 3/53June 17, 1989: It's a big hit for the fans. The Blue Jays weren't winners in their first game in the Skydome, but Norman Grill was. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
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- 4/53An aerial view of the Toronto Skydome with the roof open during an American League game at the Skydome circa the 1990's in Toronto. (Photo By MLB Photos via Getty images)MLB Photos via Getty Images
- 5/53General view of SkyDome during the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Detroit Tigers on June 11, 1989. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
- 6/53General view of SkyDome during the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Detroit Tigers on June 11, 1989. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
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- 7/53General view of SkyDome during the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Detroit Tigers on June 11, 1989. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
- 8/53August 1, 1989: Richard Peddie, former President and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, leaves the food industry for the SkyDome hot seat. (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Boris Spremo via Getty Images
- 9/53General view of SkyDome during the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Detroit Tigers on June 11, 1989. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
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- 10/53June 11, 1989: Exterior view with architectural detail of SkyDome during the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Detroit Tigers. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
- 11/53June 9, 1989: Tony Fernandez glides towards second; beating Detroit's Mike Brumley to the bag and applying the tag in early-inning action at the SkyDome. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
- 12/53Skyplugs; anyone? SkyDome had its first taste of a full-out rock concert on June 8, 1989, as veteran pop star Rod Stewart fronted a show that was easy on the eyes but oh so hard on the ears. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
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- 13/53June 23, 1989: Dome pile-up: Ray Jennings of Hamilton gets squeezed by Kevin Norris of Michigan; racing in his Whitehill Bandit (No.61); and another vehicle during off-road car qualifying race in the Molson Supercross at SkyDome. (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Boris Spremo via Getty Images
- 14/53June 16, 1989: The Monarch Park Lions were told to go out and have fun and they did in a big way; beating Michael Power or St. Joseph's Trojans 6-3 to win the Metro and Regional high school baseball title in the SkyDome. (Photo by Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Colin McConnell via Getty Images
- 15/53June 30, 1989: Jays' Junior Felix displays some fancy footwork during a turn at bat against the Red Sox in the SkyDome. (Photo by Rick Eglinton/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Rick Eglinton via Getty Images
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- 16/53July 4, 1989: Orioles' Mickey Tettleton didn't have much chance of stealing second with this slide in the fourth inning at the SkyDome. Tony Fernandez took catcher Greg Myers' throw in plenty of time to make the tag. (Photo by Ken Faught/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Ken Faught via Getty Images
- 17/53July 10, 1989: Bo Diddley was in action at the SkyDome in concert with other legendary peers of rock 'n' roll, including Little Richard and Frankie Valli. Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino didn't show as scheduled. (Photo by Patti Gower/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Patti Gower via Getty Images
- 18/53July 10, 1989: Former Argos owner Harry Ornest, who confirmed that ther season opener won't be blacked out, says this policy will continue whenever the SkyDome is 85 per cent filled. (Photo by Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Doug Griffin via Getty Images
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- 19/53July 14, 1989: Oakland DH Dave Parker and Jays' George Bell engage in a shouting match at the SkyDome. (Photo by Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Ron Bull via Getty Images
- 20/53August 1, 1989: Blue Jays right fielder Junior Felix signs autographs for young fans before a game against the Kansas City Royals at SkyDome. (Photo by Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Ron Bull via Getty Images
- 21/53July 25, 1989: Costume co-ordinator Therese Denis helps people who turned out to a casting call for the opera Aida, staged at the SkyDome. Verdi's stage spectacle called for hundreds of extras. (Photo by Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Tony Bock via Getty Images
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- 22/53July 18,1989: Donating in the dome. Kathy Henke, wife of Blue Jay hurler Tom Henke, puts in some relief work of her own, handing out souvenir hats to donors at the SkyDome blood clinic. (Photo by Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Ron Bull via Getty Images
- 23/53August 8, 1989: Blue Jay rookie righthander Mauro (Goose) Gozzo made a spectacular big league debut at the SkyDome against the Texas Rangers. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Jeff Goode via Getty Images
- 24/53August 9, 1989: 'Scandal' unroofed: Taxpayers were hoodwinked into carrying SkyDome deficit, Pierre Berton steams. (Photo by Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Dick Loek via Getty Images
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- 25/53August 22, 1989: Pat Borders stepped up to the plate in the second inning in search of a base hit, but the trip to the plate turned out to be a real pain. The Blue Jay batsman fouled one off his foot and it took a while to walk it off on the SkyDome turf. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Jeff Goode via Getty Images
- 26/53September 10, 1989: The Dome's Rolling Stones lineup was a sellout. Thousands of Stones fans inch their way to the box office to try for tickets for the fourth Stones concert at the SkyDome on Dec. 4. The box office didn't open until 9.30 a.m. but most fans had been in the line since late Friday night. (Photo by Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Doug Griffin via Getty Images
- 27/53September 9, 1989: Not so thrilling: Argos running back Gill Fenerty is stripped of the ball by Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle James Curry as he attempts to gather in a pass during an error-filled first half at the SkyDome last night. (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Bernard Weil via Getty Images
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- 28/53August 31,1989: Jays starter Dave Stieb admitted he wasn't as sharp as in his previous outing; but he got the job done against the White Sox in the SkyDome. (Photo by Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Tony Bock via Getty Images
- 29/53September 29, 1989: A pair of Orioles take a quick break on the SkyDome turf to check out some of the finer points of the retractable roof. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Jeff Goode via Getty Images
- 30/53September 29, 1989: Relief pitchers (left to right) Franki Wills, Duane Ward and David Wells point out some of the SKyDome's features to former Orioles pitching great Jim Palmer. (Photo by Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Tony Bock via Getty Images
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- 31/53September 30, 1989: Cal Ripken scores Baltimore's second run in the top of the third inning at SkyDome after Randy Milligan singled to left field. (Photo by Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Colin McConnell via Getty Images
- 32/53October, 1989: Jose Conseco of the Oakland Athletics is seen on the field at the Skydome in Toronto. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)Focus On Sport via Getty Images
- 33/53October 6, 1989: A group of spectators at the SkyDome, taking a page out of the George Bell quote-book, gave the visitors the raspberry with this bit of purple prose. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
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- 34/53October 6, 1989: Rickey Henderson, Public Enemy No. 1 with the Blue Jays, has fans eating out of the palm of his hand prior to a big game at the SkyDome. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
- 35/53October 6, 1989: A joyful Tony Fernandez is congratulated by George Bell after scoring the goahead run in the fourth inning of the AL championship game. (Photo by Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Tony Bock via Getty Images
- 36/53October 3, 1989: Argo running back Gill Fenerty shows off some of the CFL player cards that the Boatmen handed out to the first 10;000 fans through the turnstiles when the Ottawa Rough Riders paid a visit to the SkyDome. (Photo by Paul Hunter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Paul Hunter via Getty Images
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- 37/53October 6, 1989: Blue Jays outfielder Mookie Wilson has a terrified look as he's surrounded by reporters at the SkyDome before the Jays took on the Oakland A's in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. (Photo by Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Tony Bock via Getty Images
- 38/53October 15, 1989: More than 35;000 Anglicans celebrate the 150th birthday of the Toronto diocese at the SkyDome. (Photo by Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Doug Griffin via Getty Images
- 39/53October 15, 1989: Seated far from the three platforms and the clergymen on SkyDome's field, worshippers perched near the top of the SkyDome were consoled by Toronto Bishop Terence Finlay. (Photo by Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Doug Griffin via Getty Images
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- 40/53October 2, 19894: Sphinx rises at the dome. An ancient wonder meets a modern wonder, as a giant model of Egypt's famed Sphinx is built in Toronto's SkyDome, in preparation for the production of the opera Aida. (Photo by Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Colin McConnell via Getty Images
- 41/53October 26, 1989: Horse and rider are dwarfed against a huge staging in SkyDome as sphinxes and chorus made for a dramatic opera setting. (Photo by Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Dick Loek via Getty Images
- 42/53October 26, 1989: American soprano Grace Bumbry, singing the title role of Aida, is seen clearly on SkyDome's Jumbo Tron. (Photo by Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Dick Loek via Getty Images
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- 43/53November 10, 1989: Site of tragedy: A platform that gave way dangles from the roof of the SkyDome as the Toronto Argonauts watch at practice yesterday. One worker was killed; another was admitted to hospital and a third escaped after clinging to scaffolding. (Photo by Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Colin McConnell via Getty Images
- 44/53November 3, 1989: Annie Lennox, backed by Dave Stewart, opened a SkyDome show singing We Too Are One. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
- 45/53November 2, 1989: British guitarist Jeff Beck re-establishes his remarkably precise control in concert with Jeff Healey and Stevie Ray Vaughan under SkyDome's experimental SkyTent. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
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- 46/53Outfielder Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics dives into third base beating the tag of third baseman Kelly Gruber of the Toronto Blue Jay during an early circa 1990's Major League baseball game at the SkyDome. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)Focus On Sport via Getty Images
- 47/53April 1, 1989: The biggest crowd ever to assembled at the SkyDome -- more than 67;000 including -- turned out to be enraptured by Wrestlemania VI as Hulk Hogan lost his title to the Ultimate Warrior. (Photo by Patti Gower/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Patti Gower via Getty Images
- 48/53March 20, 1990: Janet Jackson performs at SkyDome. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Mike Slaughter via Getty Images
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- 49/53April 10, 1990: Kincardine fans Reid Emond (10) and Ryan Walicki (11) have a panoramic view of the Blue Jays' home opener from the perches high in the SkyDome. (Photo by Patti Gower/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Patti Gower via Getty Images
- 50/53October 21, 1989: The Royal Yacht Britannia sails past the SkyDome to berth at the foot of Sherbourne St. for a six-day stint as home base for the visiting royal couple. (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Boris Spremo via Getty Images
- 51/53Exterior general view of SkyDome before the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Oakland Athletics on September 15, 1991 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
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- 52/53Field level general view before the 1991 MLB All Star Game at the SkyDome on July 9, 1991 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)Rick Stewart via Getty Images
- 53/53January 15,1989: The SkyDome sprouts booths as exhibitors get ready for today's opening of the Metro Home Show. (Photo by John Mahler/Toronto Star via Getty Images)John Mahler via Getty Images
Toronto already had the CN Tower, but with the advent of the SkyDome on June 3, 1989, the city established a reputation for creating some of the world’s most incredible feats in modern architecture.
Featuring the world’s first retractable roof, as well as a gigantic TV display that became known as the “Jumbotron,” the SkyDome instantly become one of the most impressive venues on the planet.
It quickly became home for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts, but this legendary venue went on to host a wide array of events including concerts, operas, trade shows, pro wrestling events, religious gatherings, supercross races and monster truck rallies.
Here are a few photos from the SkyDome’s early days, long before it became known as the Rogers Centre.
