When the Angels changed hands on Sept. 2, the immediate buzz wasn’t just about a new owner. It was about what Stan Kroenke might do next.
The sale ended Arte Moreno’s 23-year run, and the expectation is that Kroenke will move quickly toward building a new stadium to replace Angel Stadium. Opened in 1966, Angel Stadium is now the fourth-oldest park in MLB, sitting behind Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Its history includes ten postseason trips and a World Series title in 2002.
Kroenke’s track record is part of why Angels fans have reason to be optimistic. He also owns the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Rams and Premier League club Arsenal, and all of those teams have won championships in the last decade.
For Blue Jays fans, though, the ripple effect is different. If the Angels leave Angel Stadium behind for a new ballpark, Rogers Centre would move up to fifth on MLB’s list of oldest stadiums.
Kauffman Stadium, which opened in 1973, would jump to fourth. With the renovations that have gone into both Rogers Centre in the last three years and Kauffman Stadium from 2007 to 2009, neither of those parks appears to be going anywhere.
The top of the list looks stable too. Fenway Park, which opened in 1912, remains a fixture in Boston.
There were once plans for a replacement known as "New Fenway Park," but public push back killed that idea. Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs since 1914 at 1060 W.
Addison St. in Chicago, has also held its place; the club’s mid-2010s threat to leave was mainly a tactic to secure money for major renovations. Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962, stands just ahead of Angel Stadium in the current order.
That leaves Rogers Centre inching toward another milestone of its own. Skydome was unveiled by the City of Toronto on Jun. 3, 1989, and the opening ceremonies were remembered not just for the retractable roof, but for an unexpected thunderstorm that soaked performers and spectators alike. The Blue Jays played their first game there on Jun. 5, a 5-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, and Fred McGriff made history with the first home run inside the building.
Now 37 years later, the ballpark has settled into life as one of the sport’s older venues. Even so, it has also become a modernized, state-of-the-art destination, with Mark Shapiro’s support helping keep the Blue Jays from having to think about a new home for decades to come.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Prospect Suddenly Faces A Troubling Silence Overseas
Victor Johanssons situation in Sweden has become one of those quiet developments that can linger in the background until it suddenly matters more. The Toronto Maple Leafs defensive prospect was expected to be part of Brynas mix in the SHL, but he has not played this season and was not seen in preseason action, leaving a notable gap for a young player whose progress the organization is still tracking.
What makes the absence more unsettling is the lack of clarity around it. Reports from Sweden suggest Johansson is dealing with an unspecified issue, yet there has been no official update to explain the delay or outline a timeline, which leaves both Brynas and the Maple Leafs waiting for information on a prospect whose future now feels less certain than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Hiller Sent A Message Leafs Fans Have Been Waiting For
Jim Hillers first few turns behind the Maple Leafs bench have already offered a little glimpse of what this new era might look like. In the recent 2-1 win over the New York Islanders, the new head coach was willing to make lineup and in-game adjustments, and he has shown an early willingness to hold his best players to the same standard as everyone else. That matters in Toronto, where fans have spent years waiting to see a coach make quick, firm decisions when the game demands them.
Hiller has also shown a more patient side in how he handles his forward groups, keeping combinations together as the team works through a summer of roster turnover under general manager John Chayka. The balance is what stands out: accountability in the moment, but restraint when it comes to chemistry and development. For a Leafs team trying to find a cleaner identity, the next question is whether that approach will hold when the pressure ramps up and the power play faces another big test. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Trade Of Matthew Knies Raises An Ugly Question About Toronto
Matthew Knies move from the Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a deal involving Kirill Marchenko, has left a familiar kind of aftertaste around Toronto. The trade itself was surprising enough, but it also reopened the conversation about how the organization handles young players who are trying to establish themselves and figure out where they fit in the bigger picture.
Knies agent, Matt Frederico, made clear he was frustrated with the way things were handled, arguing that the player needed clarity about whether Toronto actually saw him as part of its plans. The contract extension Knies signed did not include trade protection, which gave the Maple Leafs the flexibility to make the move and left an ugly question hanging over the franchises approach to one of its younger pieces. [Read more 🡒]