Fans who attended the inaugural concert at Rogers Stadium in Toronto on Sunday night have expressed concerns over inadequate crowd control, reporting that it took as long as two hours to exit the venue. The concert featured the popular K-pop group Stray Kids, and marked the opening of the 50,000-capacity open-air arena located in north Toronto, which is set to host various performances throughout the summer.
Attendee Shannon Spencer highlighted the frustrating experience, stating that the crowd came to a standstill as stadium staff systematically let people out "in batches" while directing them toward nearby Downsview Park station. Due to the limited on-site parking, fans were strongly encouraged to use public transit, with free rides provided from both Downsview Park TTC and GO Transit stations.
Despite the extra trains that were scheduled to depart after the concert, Spencer reported that the stations were congested and unable to accommodate the thousands of people attempting to leave at once. Many concertgoers took to social media to voice their grievances, citing long wait times and up to hours-long journeys to secure transportation via train, bus, or Uber after the show.
Another attendee, Autumn Halvorsen, shared that it took her over an hour to exit the venue, followed by a 20-minute walk to reach a location for an Uber ride. She noted that drivers frequently canceled their rides, a scenario she attributed to the venue's challenging accessibility for vehicles. "It was just kind of a nightmare," Halvorsen lamented.
James Pasternak, the city councillor representing the Downsview area where the stadium is situated, acknowledged hearing complaints concerning a “surge of crowds” leaving the venue, which also included long lines for security checks, restrooms, and limited water access. Additionally, there were issues with excessive noise levels affecting nearby residents, according to Pasternak.
Pasternak indicated that he will be meeting with Northcrest Developments, the company that owns the land, and Live Nation Canada, the stadium's operator, to discuss potential solutions to the problems raised. “We want this to be a teaching moment where we can fix some of the problems,” he stated.
Spencer revealed that she witnessed people waiting in line for over an hour to fill their water bottles at the available refill stations, expressing concern about the risks posed by such delays in hot weather. She mentioned alerting medical staff on three separate occasions as individuals around her fainted while exiting the stadium.
Intent on avoiding another difficult exit, Spencer stated she plans to leave her next concert at Rogers Stadium—where British rock band Coldplay is set to perform—at least 20 minutes early to beat the crowd. “It’s quite annoying because I paid a lot of money to see the whole show,” she remarked, reflecting on the dilemma of balancing safety and the desire to enjoy the full concert experience.
Halvorsen, who traveled seven hours from Michigan for the event, admitted she would not be returning to Rogers Stadium due to the issues encountered. Her sentiments were echoed by others at the concert, including a fellow attendee who was seen attempting to sell her tickets for a future show at the same venue, having been deterred by the overall experience.
As the stadium gears up for its upcoming events, it faces mounting pressure to improve its crowd management strategies to ensure a better experience for concertgoers.
