Should Rogers Stadium turn to a sound barrier amid noise complaints? One Toronto councillor thinks so

Concert-goers walk through fields as they make their way towards the gates at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Monday, July 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

As concert noise at Rogers Stadium continues to be the source of frustration among residents around Downsview Park, one councillor wants venue operator Live Nation to find more ways to turn down the volume, including potentially installing a sound barrier.

In his motion that will be considered by city council this week, Coun. James Pasternak is asking to direct staff to work with Live Nation to hire a third-party acoustics engineer firm or a sound expert, who would review the layout of the stadium and “identify any capital improvements or acoustical enhancements and technologies that will mitigate sound dispersal (including bass) into the neighbouring communities.”

Pasternak, who represents the Downsview Park area, also wants Live Nation to consider building more noise barriers around the stadium and installing stationary noise monitors at locations where there have been complaints.

The councillor noted in his motion that he wants Live Nation to foot the bill for all the initiatives.

Before this year’s concerts, Live Nation installed vinyl cladding on the backs of grandstands to manage the noise following complaints last year when the temporary open-air venue launched. It also said that all concerts will end by 11 p.m.

Despite the improvements, residents have told CP24 that music coming from the venue was “ridiculously loud,” “excessive,” and “unbearable.”

Pasternak said in his motion that while some have noticed an improvement from last year, others have not.

“While noise can be a factor of wind direction, velocity and cloud cover, it is also a factor of amplification and bass-driven musical scores. Capital improvements and operational measures at the stadium should be explored,” Pasternak wrote.

According to the councillor, the stadium has resulted in the hiring of more than 1,000 part-time employees and is expected to attract more than one million visitors this year, exceeding the 2025 figures.

“Despite these advantages, many residents in York Centre, Willowdale and the City of Vaughan have raised serious concerns about the noise levels on concert nights,” Pasternak wrote.

The councillor is also asking city council to direct staff to create a “harmonized and co-ordinated response policy” when it comes to dealing with residents’ noise complaints.

“Adding to the frustration of local residents, there is also a lack of a City of Toronto integrated and consistent response framework. 311 operations and municipal licensing are providing contradictory information to residents about the noise by-law and the action that can be taken,” Pasternak said.