Toronto’s waterfront summer concert destination is turning into a year-round venue

Major changes are now in effect for Toronto’s beloved waterfront venue, Budweiser Stage. Sorry, scratch that – now sporting a new name, the RBC Amphitheatre is set to become a year-round venue. Here’s what to know.

It’s official: Live Nation Canada and RBC announced a multi-year partnership on Tuesday to reimagine the popular summer concert hall. Effective immediately, it is now called the RBC Amphitheatre. It will transform into an expanded year-round venue by 2030.

“As a champion of the music industry across Canada, RBC is an incredible partner for us,” said Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer, Live Nation Entertainment.

“The redevelopment of RBC Amphitheatre, formerly Budweiser Stage, strengthens Toronto’s position as a global entertainment hub and a must-play city for artists who are touring. With these changes, RBC Amphitheatre will become a world-class venue with unmatched acoustics, fan-friendly design and elevated hospitality experiences.”

Changes to the new RBC Amphitheatre

Though a name change alone is pretty big news, that’s not all that’s coming for the summer destination:

• There will be expanded indoor and outdoor capabilities to increase its show count, hosting more than 1.5 million fans annually.
• Renovations of the RBC Amphitheatre will include expanded summer capacity with both seated areas and an open-air lawn section (May to October), and about 9,000 seats in the winter.
• RBC Amphitheatre is expected to close for renovations in fall 2027. It will reopen in summer 2029 as an outdoor venue, with full-year capabilities complete by summer 2030.
• A new pedestrian bridge, upgraded amenities and an increased number of places to purchase food and drinks onsite,
• Upgraded hospitality areas and a new lookout deck with elevator access to the lawn.

“Canada exports incredible musical talent to the world and that starts with the artists and fans who make our live music scene thrive,” said Dave McKay, president and chief executive officer at RBC.

“With this partnership, RBC Amphitheatre will attract even more top performers to this beloved venue and bring fans exceptional new music and entertainment experiences. We’re also proud to invest in a live music destination that will create hundreds of new jobs, draw in thousands more visitors and help boost local businesses across the region.”

Though it’ll take a few years for the venue to come to completion, Toronto’s favourite waterfront venue is gearing up for an exciting new chapter.

And we can’t wait to experience it. This marks a new era for our city’s live music scene.

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