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The article states that installation of a grass field would then prohibit seating reconfiguration until after baseball season ends. Sounds to me like natural grass effectively ends the dream of a Toronto NFL team in the Rogers Centre, unless said team plays its first 3-4 games every year on the road. And if the Jays make the playoffs? The season would then extend indefinitely through October.

Edited by mobywale
Posted (edited)

The article states that installation of a grass field would then prohibit seating reconfiguration until after baseball season ends. Sounds to me like natural grass effectively ends the dream of a Toronto NFL team in the Rogers Centre, unless said team plays its first 3-4 games every year on the road. And if the Jays make the playoffs? The season would then extend indefinitely through October.

Looks like you are probably right. Although this article says questions remain about what's possible for reconfiguring grass fields from baseball to football, it generally supports your conclusions:

 

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/argos-president-not-fazed-about-lease-issue-at-rogers-centre/article2333198/?service=mobile

 

Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston told season-ticket holders Jan. 30 that the club was considering the installation of grass for baseball games at Rogers Centre, but also added fans shouldn't get their hopes up. Still, Beeston's declaration was enough to prompt suggestions that such a development would force the CFL's Toronto Argonauts to look for an alternate venue when their current lease expires after this season.

 

That's because, according to reports, in order to sustain a grass field, the section of seats along the first- and third-base sides for baseball would have to be anchored in place and unable to move to accommodate a football configuration. Essentially, that would make Rogers Centre a baseball-only facility from April through October and force the Argos to look for a new home as early as next season.

 

But Stenhouse said the Blue Jays haven't made any definitive decisions about the playing surface at Rogers Centre.

 

“It has been discussed over the years many times,” he said. “But it became more prominent after Paul was asked about the possibility at the state of the franchise event in January.

 

“I think it's safe to say leaders of both organizations (Blue Jays and Argos) have open dialogue and continue to talk.”

 

Argos president Chris Rudge said while he has met with Rogers Centre officials about a new lease, the CFL club has always kept its stadium options open.

 

The NFL field has a smaller "footprint" than the CFL field, so the reconfiguration issues may not be identical for CFL and NFL football, but that may not make much (any?) difference. It's hard for me to reach a definitive conclusion. Anybody know how, if at all, the smaller NFL field size affects the reconfiguration problem mentioned in this article?

Edited by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead
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