JayWay Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 star,link,downsview $60M soccer stadium set for Toronto Downsview Park to hold facility for 20,000 fans Venue would be home to possible pro franchise JENNIFER QUINN SPORTS REPORTER Downsview Park has been chosen as the site for a 20,000-seat soccer stadium, and its main tenants could be Canada's first Major League Soccer franchise. After months of uncertainty over where the $60 million stadium should be built — and with the 2007 FIFA world youth championships looming — the Canadian Soccer Association has decided to focus its efforts on the site at Keele St. and Sheppard Ave. W. The pro soccer franchise could become the latest part of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's expanding empire, though president and CEO Richard Peddie said yesterday nothing has yet been signed. The soccer association had been looking for a site since previous deals to build at the old site of Varsity Stadium and at York University fell through. The association looked very seriously at Exhibition Place — and had the support of Mayor David Miller and Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone — but instead decided to build the facility in the city's north end. "We're very happy with the way things have been evolving," Kevan Pipe, the association's chief operating officer, said yesterday. "We are focusing our efforts on Downsview Park for a whole bunch of good reasons." One of those reasons is location. "Downsview is in the geographic centre of Toronto," Pipe said. "It is in the city of Toronto. It's in the 416 area code." And it's on federal land, which has been virtually vacant for years. Pipe said $27 million of federal money would be available to build the new facility, which includes a "winter inflatable bubble" roof so it can be used year-round. The Downsview site also has the support of Vaughan Mayor Michael Di Biase, whose city had been bidding for the stadium. Another $8 million will come from the province, Pipe said, and there's also significant private investment, though he declined to be specific. Additionally, naming rights to the stadium — which could come from soccer association partner IMG Canada — will be worth an additional $10 million to $15 million. The goal is to have the shovels in the ground by the new year and have the stadium ready to go for April 2007, Pipe said. That would mesh well with the kickoff of the pro soccer season, and later that year teams competing in the FIFA world youth championships would play their first game in July. The stadium would also strengthen Canada's bid for the 2011 Women's World Cup, Pipe said. But the anchor tenant of the site would be the city's pro soccer expansion franchise, and a new stadium is an intrinsic part of any deal. Major League Soccer is looking for two new teams for the 2007 season, and league officials have visited the city and spoken with both the association and Maple Leaf Sports, league spokesman Dan Courtemanche said in an interview from New York. "Toronto is at the top of our list when it comes to cities or markets we're looking to for 2007," he said. "We think the addition of a Canadian team ... would be a great addition for Canadian soccer and for Major League Soccer." Peddie said his company, the dominant force in Toronto professional sports, is optimistic about bringing a pro soccer club into the fold. "We haven't done a deal, but we like what we see," he said. "We like the league. We like the commissioner. And we think it could work here. "I'm confident we could probably do a deal." If the deal is completed and an expansion franchise comes to Canada, it will be Major League Soccer's first team outside the United States. The expansion fee is said to be $10 million (U.S.), and it already has franchises in Chicago, Washington and Los Angeles. And if Maple Leaf Sports does end up with the soccer team, that would make it the owner of four of the city's eight pro or semi-pro teams: the NHL's Maple Leafs, NBA's Raptors, AHL's Marlies and the soccer franchise. The company would also control three of the four major sporting venues in the city, with only the Rogers Centre out of its grasp. Stephen Heckbert, a spokesman for Joe Volpe, the federal minister closest to the issue, said yesterday that a number of venues had been considered since the York University deal fell through, including sites in Hamilton, Vaughan, Oakville and Mississauga. "Our goal at the federal level is to ensure that the market research bears out the location," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Thank f*cking God, it's about time. Now let's get to work and get the thing built. I can't wait to see a Toronto Blizzard MLS game in 07. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torontosupport Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 This is all fine, but I'll wait for the shovels to start digging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 All this confirms is that the CSA is focusing its efforts on the one site. The building of an actual stadium on that site is not confirmed, though it looks promising. Bonne chance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Great news!. at last its over. no more countdowns. was little surprised to learn that they are looking at the Keele / Sheppard corner of downsview park when all along, I assumed that it was the Allen expressway and Sheppard area where it would be built. From the piece, it sounds pretty definitive regarding MLS and MLSE. So is it too early to speculate on who will the first coach? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Echo that. $60M? If that's accurate the math still leaves a bit of wondering. $35M in goverment cash, say $10M for naming rights (if you say so...) and by my math you're still $15M shy. So is MLSE coming in for some capitol investment? Are we expecting to carry construction dept? Or is someone else involved? Anyway, glad they've finaly spied out which site to target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 And just a day after Jennifer Quinn wrote about the Lynx, even interviewing a few of us at Monday's Lynx game, they are forgotten for this article! Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It sounds likes its a done deal. Could we really have a third false start? Its federal land, so with the feds behind this the Argo's, U of T or whoever can't stop it now. Don't know who the private investors are making up the rest of the cash (the three Kings of Olivian? ) or what they would be getting out if it, but don't really care right now. Start building, and then we'll start celebrating. As for the MLS, its looking pretty good. Nothing is signed yet of course because they wouldn't sign anything until the stadium is done, but I expect that signatures will come shortly. I know they preferred Exhibition Place to Downsview, but as they were prepared to go to York, which is nowhere near as good as a location as Downsview, then I suspect they will be content with Downsview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstackho Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Could someone please do a short URL for the initial link to prevent side-scrolling? So how far a walk would this be from the subway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leekoo Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Cheeta Echo that. $60M? If that's accurate the math still leaves a bit of wondering. $35M in goverment cash, say $10M for naming rights (if you say so...) and by my math you're still $15M shy. So is MLSE coming in for some capitol investment? Are we expecting to carry construction dept? Or is someone else involved? Anyway, glad they've finaly spied out which site to target. not sure if stadium #6 (or is it #5) is a done deal ... it's 9:40 ET and the CSA website says nothing about a downsview stadium ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 quote: Venue would be home to POSSIBLE</u> pro franchise Downsview Park has been chosen as the site for a 20,000-seat soccer stadium, and its main tenants COULD BE</u> Canada's first Major League Soccer franchise. After months of uncertainty over where the $60 million stadium should be built — and with the 2007 FIFA world youth championships looming — the Canadian Soccer Association has DECIDED TO FOCUS ITS EFFORTS</u> on the site at Keele St. and Sheppard Ave. W. The pro soccer franchise COULD</u> become the latest part of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's expanding empire, though president and CEO Richard Peddie said yesterday nothing has yet been signed. "We're very happy with the way things have been evolving," Kevan Pipe, the association's chief operating officer, said yesterday. "We are FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS</u> on Downsview Park for a whole bunch of good reasons." "WE HAVEN'T DONE A DEAL</u>, but we like what we see," he (Peddie) said. "We like the league. We like the commissioner. And we think it could work here. "I'm confident WE COULD PROBABLY</u> do a deal." I don't want to be the party pooper, but, too many could, should, would, blah, blah, blah. Lets not get too excited here folks. Nothing has even been signed yet. No word from the province that the $8-million is there. Besides, $35-million from govt's, $10-million for naming rights (which would be over 20 years anyways so they would need to find the capital upfront), so according to my trusty calculator, that's $45-million, still leaves at least an other $15-million plus any cost overruns. I know, maybe the Argos, Rogers, York, UofT are all sharing it to apologize to the CSA. And notice, the CSA has "decided to focus its efforts", that's a far cry from "it will be built" there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJT Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Yeah, there's nothing new, nor more definitive in my opinion, revealed in this article other than the latest battle has concluded with Downsview winning over Exhibition Place. We've been further down the road to completion than this more than once before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Elias I don't want to be the party pooper, but, too many could, should, would, blah, blah, blah. Lets not get too excited here folks. Nothing has even been signed yet. No word from the province that the $8-million is there. Well if we are going to continue to play the pessimistic pendantic angle up, there's no word from the Feds that the $27 million is there either. The word on funding in both cases came from Kevan Pipe. A lot of the could & shoulds you quote relate to the MLS team, but you make it sound like they relate to the stadium. I suspect all parties are simply being careful in the choosing of their words having been burnt before, though there are seemingly fewer 3rd parties/parnters that can do the burning this time round, which makes me more optimistic. Last week a number of Ultras in Toronto had received reliable word that a stadium announcement was coming for last Thursday. It was a week late, but the source appears to have panned out. We're not holding a party for the new stadium & MLS team yet, but I think we can start to dream about it less guiltily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 "They think it's all over." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 It's just that I heard a little part on Global News saying about the new stadium and the Leafs and I got all excited. Then I read this article and wanted to cry. Like DJT said, only thing it says is that Downsview beat out the CNE, for now anyways. Besides, Greece is losing to Kazakhastan 1-0. Kaza-f-ukcing-stan 1-0. Are you kidding me? Pipe should be fired just for that. It must be the CSA's fault!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Topic zacRWE Burlington Canada 123 Posts Posted - 09/07/2005 : 10:24:51 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey all, I was just at Mac's Milk when I read the front page of the Toronto Star. There is an article written by Jennifer Quinn (same author as "stadium tops Lynx wish list") stating that a 20.000 seat soccer specific stadium will be built in the Downsview area (keele and sheppard). The stadium will cost $60 million and will house the newest MLS francise as well as the 2007 FIFA u-20 World Championships accroding to the article. Guys check it out and could someone get the acyual article posted...im busy at work but managed time to post this great news!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Nevermind, 1-1 Greece. Pipe can keep his job for now. Must be the Argos fault. [] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zacRWE Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 ahhhh, theres me post.... I thought someone got rid of it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 2-1 HELLAS!!!!!! I got my shovel. What time do we start at Downsview? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I wonder if the cost-funding discrepancy is because it is on federal land, that land has a value, and that value is the difference. Or is the value of the land included in the federal grant? Why is it that federal money goes to Toronto for a soccer stadium that in the end will serve private business interests as well, while in Vancouver Kerfoot has to buy the land, build the stadium, and all he asks for are city permits? It is not that I don't think there is a need for a decent facility in Toronto (though 20,000 is small, you need more for the day you might want a larger event and can make money out of it, and another higher stand of bleachers is not the major part of costs), it is just that I don't think there is parity in the funding here. With a small fragment of that grant about 5 other stadiums in the country could also be upgraded in a significant way, giving the national team and smaller clubs great options to boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 What's the point of the Bill Buckner photo? Maybe it might apply before they won the World Series last year..... This post on bigsoccer might help to clear up some of the less that 100% certain beyond a shadow of a doubt language in the article: "We should maybe wait until shovels start hitting the dirt before discussing the fine points but unless Kevan Pipe is completely insane the funding sources he has mentioned are all in the bag and they all OK'd his going public at this point. Everything is still contingent on a WYC 2007 venue inspection by FIFA next month hence all the woulds and shoulds in the story." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Elias As far as the MLS/MLSE is concerned, Its true that there are alot of "shoulds", "Woulds" and so forth. But if one is to remain sceptical based on the language used by peddie and MLSE in the piece and in past, then I guess we should continue to remain sceptical right up until the offials announcement from Garber. Maybe we should remain sceptical until the offical announcement from Garber at a press conference, but when was the last time that we have heard something more concrete from a bidder and a pro-league in North america whenever expansion is discussed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. I Why is it that federal money goes to Toronto for a soccer stadium that in the end will serve private business interests as well, while in Vancouver Kerfoot has to buy the land, build the stadium, and all he asks for are city permits? . Perhaps this is valid point. Any time federal money is committed for projects of this nature, there will always be detracter who will ask the same questions. But what I find a little bothersome is that these questions are raised only for when it involves projects for Toronto. It used to that is was Montreal who was the recipiant these kind of sentiments from people accross Canada. But seldom if ever, do we hear this kind of talk about $$$ going to other regions in Canada, Why is that? Do we hear that many people asking the same questions ( for example) about the Federal $$$ that are comitted to projects such as the 2010 winter olympics? Afterall the Fed $$$ for this project are a drop in the bucket compared to the 2010 winter olympics. Plus, as I understand it, these $$ were already committed for Toronto years ago to be used for infrastructure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 "GST will be scrapped...promise". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leekoo Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 forget not that downsview the stadium, will be a wee bit of a larger project ... toronto's version of new york's central park ... and the other project, toronto's waterfront ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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