Concert Stage

Thousands of voices once echoed here. This is the Budweiser Stage. Or rather its predecessor. It started life as the Ontario Place Forum. A round stage slowly revolved. 16000 to 20000 people crowded the grassy hills. A few lucky ones sat on benches. Bryan Adams was the first to grace this stage back in 1995. He played two sold-out shows. The original structure had a vinyl canopy. It was later replaced by a copper roof. The Forum was demolished in 1994-1995. A larger amphitheatre was built in its place. This cost 15 million Canadian dollars. The Molson Amphitheatre opened. It won RPM Magazine’s Best New Concert Venue award. Rush played two nights here. They filmed the first night. Technical issues prevented the release of a concert video. Much footage ended up in their R40 box set. Drake used this venue for his OVO Festival. Big names like Eminem and Jay-Z performed. Depeche Mode played three times. One show was recorded for their live album project. In 2017 it became the Budweiser Stage. Eight million people have visited this iconic venue. A new year-round venue will replace it. It will seat 20000 outdoors. It will have a capacity of 9000 indoors. The Budweiser Stage’s legacy continues. Its story is written in the cheers of the crowds. It’s etched into the music that filled the air. It will soon be replaced. But the memories remain. The spirit of music lives on. The Budweiser Stage will live in our hearts.