With today being Opening Day in baseball, I thought it would be fitting to mention a hotel that many people might not be aware of. It has to be one of the best hotels for baseball fans.
A Great Hotel For Baseball Fans
The hotel is called the Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel and it is the distinction of being connected to Rogers Centre, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. If you have ever been to Rogers Centre, you will have noticed all of the windows above the center field fence and area. That is the hotel itself. That’s right, you can actually stay in the hotel and watch the game from your room like you are in your own private lounge! If getting a room does not work for you, you can also use the lounge and get a seat near the window to enjoy the game from there as well.
A view of the stadium from a room at the Renaissance hotel / From the hotel site
Staying There
Without a doubt, part of the fun of watching a game live is to enjoy the atmosphere and environment, but being able to watch that game from your own room has to be pretty special as well! The hotel requires 35,000 points per night, but you are not able to actually select a stadium view room as a points redemption. I know that elite members have been able to request such a room when checking in, but to ensure that you have a stadium view, you will need to book that particular rate.
For some of the nights I was viewing, the cost difference between the same rooms for a stadium view vs non-stadium view was 100 CAD ($80). The cheapest price for a stadium view room for many of these nights was $287. That price is actually higher than what a suite would cost on the other side of the hotel, but if you really wanted to enjoy a special experience, this could be that type of experience. Do not forget – actual tickets could be at least $20 for the game per person. If you have 5 people in the room for the game, that is at least a $100 savings to stay in the room vs buying tickets. That alone could make the price difference.
It may also be possible to book a points redemption and then buy up to a stadium view room. I have heard different reports on that and it may depend on the game and availability.
I had a friend that stayed in one of the stadium view suites and, while he said it was really great, he did say that there was some noticeable noise coming from the stadium after the game ended due to the cleanup crews. That is to be expected, but be aware of that in case you wanted to go to bed right afterwards.
Have you stayed there? Any suggestions for floor level to request?
This brought back magical memories! About ten years ago I took my son who was playing high school varsity baseball. I surprised him with the room that overlooked the stadium. He was so delighted! It was such a precious time!