Part of Wilson Avenue to be closed for upcoming Coldplay concerts at new Rogers Stadium: Live Nation Canada
The owner and operator of Toronto's new Rogers Stadium at Downsview Park has confirmed that a portion of Wilson Avenue will be closed as part of its plan to better manage crowds coming and going from the site during this week's Coldplay concerts.
The British rock band is set to perform at the 50,000-seat open-air facility on July 7, 8, 11, and 12.
Last Sunday, Live Nation Canada hosted its inaugural concert at Rogers Stadium, featuring K-pop group Stray Kids.
However, there were some significant crowd management issues at that show, with some attendees reporting that it took them up to two hours to exit the park, as both the venue and transit services seemed to be unable to deal with the massive number of people.
Overcrowding Rogers Stadium
In the days following the opening show, the mega-concert promoter said it is 'making adjustments' and 'working closely' with City of Toronto officials, transit operators, and emergency services to address those issues. Live Nation Canada, as well as the landowner Northcrest Developments, met with the City of Toronto and the TTC last week to discuss solutions.
In a statement provided to CTV News Toronto on Sunday evening, Live Nation Canada said that it has made 'key adjustments based on fan and community feedback, including updated traffic plans with road closures, more traffic personnel on-site, and enhanced signage and communication to help improve the experience for fans and the community.'
Wayne Zronik, the company's president of business operations, previously told The Canadian Press that those changes would also include lighting, staff, and water stations, noting that the venue's exit routes are being reconfigured to 'create smoother flow' and better disperse the crowd to all three nearby subway stations.
'It's really taking all of our key findings from the first night and getting better,' he said last week.
On Sunday, the company said the closure of Wilson would run from Murray Road to Dufferin Street but assured that the area would not be closed to local traffic, adding that 'residents should have no issues reaching their homes.'
'We continue to encourage everyone heading to Rogers Stadium to take public transit. To help reduce traffic in the area, we're urging fans to take advantage of free and expanded TTC and GO Transit service for their ride home.'
The TTC previously told The Canadian Press that it would add more staff to its Downsview and Wilson stations ahead of upcoming concerts.
CTV News Toronto has also contacted the City of Toronto for comment but has not heard back.
With files from The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
an hour ago
- Vancouver Sun
Indigenous leaders call for cancellation of Kneecap concerts over alleged support for Hamas, Hezbollah
A group of Indigenous leaders are pushing for the cancellation of shows featuring the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, arguing the rappers glorify terrorism and promote antisemitism. 'Kneecap has outwardly supported antisemitism, genocide, and the indiscriminate murder of civilians. Allowing them to play in Canada would be a stain on our country's reputation,' says the letter, signed by nine Indigenous leaders in Canada. Kneecap, a Belfast-based trio comprised of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (who performs under the name Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), has seen a number of concerts cancelled amid the band's outspoken support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Ó hAnnaidh faces charges under the British Terrorism Act for allegedly waving the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese terror group, last November. (He is out on bail.) 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,' the group wrote on social media, according to al Jazeera. The letter argues that Kneecap, having allegedly voiced support for Hezbollah and Hamas, should not be allowed to play in Canada on Indigenous land. 'By allowing Kneecap to perform on Indigenous lands, Live Nation and the MRG Group are not only endorsing rhetoric that promotes division, hate, and glorification of terror — they are violating the spirit and obligations of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship,' the letter states. (The peace and friendship treaties were a series of treaties signed between the British and the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy people prior to 1779.) Kneecap has four shows planned for Canada, two in Toronto and two in Vancouver. All four October shows are sold out. The signatories of the letter are calling on Live Nation, the concert promoted, and MRG Group, which manages the venues where Kneecap is playing: History in Toronto and the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver. Concerts elsewhere have been scrapped and politicians have called for further cancellations since Kneecap played a set at California's Coachella music festival in April and accused Israel of committing genocide, something the Jewish state has vehemently denied. The group has also compared Israel's actions in Gaza to the actions of the British in Ireland during the Troubles. 'The Irish not so long ago were persecuted by the Brits, but we were never bombed from the f–king skies with nowhere to go! The Palestinians have nowhere to go – it's their f–king home and they're bombing them from the sky. If you're not calling it a genocide what the f–k are you calling it?' Ó hAnnaidh said on stage in California. News reports have also cited video from a 2023 concert that appears to show a band member saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' and another that allegedly shows a band member saying : 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Grand Chief Harvey Yesno, one of the signatories of the letter and the former chief of Eabametoong First Nation and grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, said that part of the reason Indigenous leaders are speaking out is to reassert their voices within Canada. 'We're in a land of freedom to express yourself … so that's allowed throughout the country. But the difference is, is when you're inciting hate and violence and acknowledging who — Canada has put some of these organizations as terrorist organizations. That's where we draw the line,' said Yesno. 'So, our concern there is the defilement of the land, because we believe that, as the Indigenous people on these lands, that we have a responsibility to point out, hey, wait a minute, you can't be doing that. You can't be inciting violence here on our lands because the defilement of the land causes things to happen amongst the people.' Yesno said the group has yet to receive a response from the concert organizers. The signatories are largely involved with Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem, an international group of Indigenous people from various countries that expresses Indigenous solidarity with Israel. In late June, Kneecap played a show at England's Glastonbury Festival, despite Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, saying it would be inappropriate. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the U.K. Conservative Party, called on the British Broadcasting Corporation to not broadcast Kneecap's show; the public broadcaster demurred, saying it does not ban artists. 'It's not about us, it's about distraction and a loud warning to other acts to stay silent or we will try silence you,' Kneecap wrote on X. Kneecap could not be reached for comment. Live Nation and MRG Group did not respond to National Post's request for comment. Let's not loose sight of why the entire political class of Britain and their media are so "outraged" about Kneecap and have no outrage for a mass slaughter of children👇 You cannot tell the truth at Coachella. It's not about us, it's about distraction and a loud warning to… Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery launches online mapping tool
The new online mapping tool at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery makes finding plots much easier. Paper maps are a thing of the past at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery after it recently launched a new interactive digital map. People can now find their loved ones at Canada's largest cemetery and tourists can find notable Montrealers simply by using a smartphone. More than 1 million people are buried at the cemetery's 139 acres, making it easy to get lost. The new app brings directions into the 21st Century. 'It's like a regular GPS that you're using in the town, but applied to the cemetery,' said cemetery customer service manager Éric Choinière. In the menu, users can now search for a loved one and the map will locate the deceased. Choinière said it took several months to create. 'For us, it was important to give the family a tool so they can have access to the site and to enjoy their visit,' he said. Users can also learn more about their loved ones' neighbours in their final resting place. 'Ss they're walking on the map, it will identify famous people, mausoleum, the church that we have on site,' he said. Notable Quebecers, including Celine Dion's late husband René Angélil, former prime minister Brian Mulroney and Maurice 'Rocket' Richard, have been laid to rest at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges. Another new feature on the website shows when the grass is being cut, so visits can be coordinated. 'So you will know that, okay they went this week and the grass is done, so I'm going to go this week instead of waiting,' said Choinière. The cemetery is still working to improve the map, and Choinière said he hopes to add photos, so one day, people may even be able to pay their respects virtually.
Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
Indigenous leaders call for cancellation of Kneecap concerts over alleged support for Hamas, Hezbollah
A group of Indigenous leaders are pushing for the cancellation of shows featuring the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, arguing the rappers glorify terrorism and promote antisemitism. Article content 'Kneecap has outwardly supported antisemitism, genocide, and the indiscriminate murder of civilians. Allowing them to play in Canada would be a stain on our country's reputation,' says the letter, signed by nine Indigenous leaders in Canada. Article content Article content Kneecap, a Belfast-based trio comprised of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (who performs under the name Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), has seen a number of concerts cancelled amid the band's outspoken support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel. Article content Article content 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,' the group wrote on social media, according to al Jazeera. The letter argues that Kneecap, having allegedly voiced support for Hezbollah and Hamas, should not be allowed to play in Canada on Indigenous land. Article content 'By allowing Kneecap to perform on Indigenous lands, Live Nation and the MRG Group are not only endorsing rhetoric that promotes division, hate, and glorification of terror — they are violating the spirit and obligations of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship,' the letter states. (The peace and friendship treaties were a series of treaties signed between the British and the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy people prior to 1779.) Article content Article content Kneecap has four shows planned for Canada, two in Toronto and two in Vancouver. All four October shows are sold out. The signatories of the letter are calling on Live Nation, the concert promoted, and MRG Group, which manages the venues where Kneecap is playing: History in Toronto and the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver. Article content Article content Concerts elsewhere have been scrapped and politicians have called for further cancellations since Kneecap played a set at California's Coachella music festival in April and accused Israel of committing genocide, something the Jewish state has vehemently denied. The group has also compared Israel's actions in Gaza to the actions of the British in Ireland during the Troubles. Article content 'The Irish not so long ago were persecuted by the Brits, but we were never bombed from the f–king skies with nowhere to go! The Palestinians have nowhere to go – it's their f–king home and they're bombing them from the sky. If you're not calling it a genocide what the f–k are you calling it?' Ó hAnnaidh said on stage in California.
