The city’s live music scene reached a new milestone as K-pop superstars Stray Kids inaugurated the much-anticipated Rogers Stadium with a sold-out concert on June 29. The event marked not only the debut of Toronto’s largest music-first venue but also set a new standard for K-pop in Canada, drawing an estimated 50,000 fans for a night of electrifying performances and cultural celebration.
A Purpose-Built Music Venue Opens Its Doors
Located on the former Downsview Airport lands in North York, Rogers Stadium is a temporary, open-air venue explicitly designed for concerts, with no sports teams calling it home. The stadium boasts a capacity of 50,000, outstripping traditional arenas and even many sports stadiums in the city. Of these, about 32,000 are dedicated seats, while the remainder accommodate floor seating and general admission standing, offering a festival-like atmosphere.
The venue is the brainchild of Live Nation Canada, which saw a gap in the market for large-scale music events after struggling to find a suitable space for Coldplay’s global tour. The result is a summer-only stadium, expected to host 15 major concerts this season, including upcoming shows by Coldplay, Blackpink, Oasis, and other notable artists.
Stray Kids: A Night of K-pop Domination
Stray Kids’ concert was the centerpiece of the stadium’s opening, part of their dominATE World Tour. The group, celebrated for their high-energy choreography, genre-blending sound, and chart-topping success, brought their most significant stage production yet to Toronto. Fans were treated to a full-scale spectacle: massive LED visuals, laser effects, live band elements, and a setlist spanning Korean and Japanese hits, including “God’s Menu,” “Maniac,” and tracks from their new Japanese EP Hollow.
The night was a cultural milestone for Toronto, cementing the city’s reputation as a must-stop destination for global music acts. “If you are a global act, you must and will have Toronto in your tour schedule—no excuses,” said officials during the stadium’s unveiling.
Fan Experience: Highs and Lows
While the concert itself was widely praised for its production and the group’s performance, the fan experience was mixed. Many attendees lauded the stadium’s organization and the electric atmosphere, but others voiced concerns about crowd management, accessibility, and logistics.
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Exiting the Venue: Some concertgoers reported that it took up to two hours to leave, with fans being funneled in batches toward Downsview Park Station, resulting in congestion and long waits for transit and rideshares.
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Accessibility Issues: The venue’s distance from public transit (a 20–25 minute walk), lack of parking, and limited accommodations for disabled guests drew criticism. Some fans in wheelchairs struggled due to insufficient amenities and crowding.
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Safety Concerns: Reports have surfaced of unstable bleacher seating, poorly lit stairs, and incidents of fainting and panic attacks resulting from overcrowding.
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Positive Feedback: Not all feedback was negative. Some fans reported smooth entry and exit, ample space, and praised the overall concert experience, especially for those who left before the show ended.
Looking Ahead
Despite the logistical hiccups, the launch of Rogers Stadium is a bold statement about Toronto’s ambitions as a global music hub. With more than half a million tickets already sold for the summer’s lineup, the venue is poised to reshape the city’s live entertainment landscape.
For Stray Kids and their fans, the night was unforgettable—a testament to K-pop’s global reach and the power of purpose-built spaces to unite thousands in shared celebration.
Key Details:
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Venue: Rogers Stadium, North York (former Downsview Airport lands)
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Date: June 29, 2025
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Attendance: ~50,000 (record for K-pop in Canada)
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Next Up: Coldplay, Blackpink, Oasis, and more to follow this summer.
Toronto’s music scene has never sounded—or looked—bigger.
