'You're trapped in your community': Downsview residents react to Rogers Stadium

Toronto's new Rogers Stadium has been in the spotlight this summer due to mixed reviews from its first concertgoers, and while Live Nation Canada has announced changes inside the venue, nearby residents are speaking out about the traffic and noise caused by the new space.

Resident Jeff Green said he couldn't leave his house on Monday due to the road closures in the area for the Coldplay concert. 

"You feel like you're trapped in your community," he told CBC Toronto on Tuesday.

Several road closures were in place to direct pedestrians and motorists heading to the new venue. The road closures were just one of the many adjustments made by the city of Toronto and Live Nation Canada after fans voiced concerns about crowd management at the outdoor venue's inaugural show late last month.

"A little bit of traffic, that's fine. We live in Toronto. But yesterday, myself and others just couldn't get where we needed to go," said Green.

Green also said he was able to hear the concert from his house, something that Live Nation Canada had promised residents during a town hall in December wouldn't happen. 

"Live Nation promised us that we would hear next to nothing," he said. "They were very confident that the level of noise would be imperceptible."

In a statement to CBC on Tuesday, Live Nation Canada said that they have seen a few comments from community members regarding sound levels during Monday's show. 

"We're always mindful of our neighbours, and supporting a positive relationship with the surrounding community remains a priority. Sound was a key consideration in the overall design of the stadium," said the statement. 

Live Nation Canada said the event was compliant with city noise bylaws.

The noise was not a problem for resident George Pichelli, who listened to Monday's concert with other neighbours. 

"I saved some money," he said. "It didn't bother me."

Coldplay also blasted confetti during the concert and some of it ended up on nearby properties, including Pichelli's.

"It's not nice, I've got to clean it. Is the city going to come? Live Nation? Big shots coming? No, I've got to clean it," Pichelli said Tuesday.

Green said he is still "hopeful" that things will improve, and the residents' issues will be addressed. 

"We're not asking for compensation, but some sort of respect," he said. "The community has been here for decades. Live Nation just started in the last nine months."

The city of Toronto said in an email to CBC on Wednesday that the city and its partners will meet on Wednesday to talk about the first two Coldplay shows and discuss if any adjustments to the current measures are needed going forward.

"The city of Toronto is working closely with Live Nation and other partners to help make the concert-going experience the best it can be while also working to mitigate the impacts on nearby residents and other road users," the city said in the email. 

The British rock band will perform two more shows at Rogers Stadium later this week.