A HOME AT THE DOME : Blue Jays and Brewers Take Look at High-Tech Future

Watching a game at the SkyDome is looking into the future of sports.

The Toronto Blue Jays have already received about a dozen calls from teams in Japan asking about the new $375-million stadium and its retractable dome. There is talk that the Minnesota Twins might consider going to the retractable roof.

When the Blue Jays arrived for Monday’s inaugural game against Milwaukee, the $100-million retractable roof was being rolled back just as the sun slipped through the clouds.

If it’s raining, the roof will be closed. The roof is made of four panels, and when it’s open three of the panels slide under the fourth.

If it starts raining during the game, the roof takes about 20 minutes to put in place.

“Obviously you saw some balls that were absolutely crushed and they didn’t go out,” Toronto outfielder Lloyd Moseby said after the Blue Jays lost 5-3 to Milwaukee. “I think when they close it up, it might be a hitter’s park, but right now it’s a lot of fun playing defense.

“It’s heavy air, swirling winds, but overall, it’s an outstanding facility. You can see the ball off the bat. I think it’s one of the best facilities in baseball.”

Most of the Blue Jays and Brewers spent the time before Monday’s game inspecting the outer limits of the SkyDome. It was a first look for Toronto Manager Cito Gaston.

“What a place,” Gaston said. “I’m glad that I waited until today just to come in to see this place. That’s the way I planned it. I wanted to walk in and see it all at once.”

Gaston said there are a few problems to be worked out.

The sign on the fence in center field read 400 feet Monday, but it’s really 412. And the power alleys are actually 385, not 375.

“That’s true,” Gaston said. “But I wasn’t going to tell my pitchers.”

When completed, the SkyDome will be a baseball resort.

There is a 364-room hotel inside the stadium, and 70 rooms are suites that overlook the field from both sides of the massive scoreboard, 35 feet tall and 115 feet wide.

For guests and visitors, there is an 800-seat, three-tiered restaurant that hangs from the roof over the outfield.