Live Nation to build open-air music venue at Toronto’s Downsview Airport

With a capacity of 50,000, Rogers Stadium, a temporary open-air structure, will be the Greater Toronto Area’s largest purpose-built music venue when it opens in summer 2025.

Live Nation Canada recently unveiled plans for the seasonal outdoor concert venue. The facility aims to reinforce the city’s reputation as a must-play market on the global music scene, according to a press release from Live Nation Canada.

“The number of stadium-level acts touring today is unprecedented, with more acts than available nights at existing venues. That’s why we’re making this investment—to ensure Toronto fans don’t miss out on world-class artists. Rogers Stadium will not only meet this demand but also offer a premium stadium show experience, combined with the festival vibe that our fans love,” Erik Hoffman, president, music, Live Nation Canada, said in the statement.

Rogers Stadium will be located at YZD, one of North America’s largest mixed-use redevelopments. Formerly Downsview Airport lands, the $30 billion YZD development will evolve over the coming decades into seven new neighborhoods housing over 55,000 residents.

Spearheaded by Northcrest Developments, the 370-acre project includes more than 28 million sf of residential space, 7 million sf of commercial and cultural spaces, and almost 74 acres of parks and green spaces.

Rogers Stadium will be positioned at the north end of the former airport’s runway. The temporary structure’s central location will offer easy access to highways and public transit.

By hosting various concerts and music acts, Rogers Stadium will create thousands of jobs, support tourism and local businesses, and inject an estimated $80 million to $100 million into the local economy, according to the release.

“With development plans for these lands years away, this new venue serves not only as a premier concert venue but also reflects Northcrest’s commitment to creating a seasonal destination that brings much-needed infrastructure for the city’s arts and culture sector,” Derek Goring, CEO, Northcrest Developments, said in the statement.