According to Stephen, this was Shapiro's reply to an audience member's request for an update on the University of Guelph feasibility study and the potential for bringing grass to the Rogers Centre:
"We want to turn this stadium into a ballpark; that means we have to consider many renos that could be made. Texas is tearing down a stadium younger than this one, but we can't do that. We have to make this place better. We could do anything, but it would cost a tonne of money to put grass in here.‎ We would have to see the cost and then weigh that against what it means we cannot do because we spent that money on grass."
Stephen says that Shapiro explained that ‎drainage is biggest challenge, but not the only one. "The turf would need to be changed three times a year, the roof cannot be opened until May, both major challenges," Shapiro said.
Shapiro didn't mention the Guelph study or the results thereof, but did defend the turf that's currently in place. "I heard so much about the turf when I first came here, but it's only two years old and it plays very well. It plays true. I can tell you that the turf is not a factor in players coming here."
I find that last statement somewhat dubious -- though the turf certainly didn't drive José Bautista away (though there were other obvious factors that brought him back to the Jays) -- but the rest of it seems about right. And while nobody ever wants to see a massive company like Rogers shying away from cost, this is... it's just... it's going to cost them way too much to do this. We might have to let this dream die.