Saga of a national stadium in Toronto from 1999

[themodelcitizen]

For some reason I found myself going over some of the details of Toronto's 2008 Olympic bid, including at one time a proposed 100 000-seat stadium (at the waterfront?). After that didn't work out, there was the saga of finding a home for our national stadium - if I remember correctly, at first it was at York University (http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1931), then the idea was to gut Varsity Stadium and build a 25 000 seater in its place, before the Ex was finally decided as the best place for "BMO Field". Its not easy finding the history of the saga online, does anyone remember more of the details? Varsity would've been sweet but parking and transportation a bit impractical, though having a true "downtown" stadium might have been worth it. At what point did MLSE and the MLS get involved? What were the proposed reasons for York pulling out? At what point did the Argos fall out of the plan, was it only when the Ex was decided as the perfect ground for an MLS stadium?

[Bill Spiers]

Most of the history is available in CSA media releases (in addition to the one noted above):

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1041

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1766

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2129

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2169

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2339

[themodelcitizen]

That is fascinating reading, I think I had the order wrong and Varsity was the idea BEFORE York. Thanks Bill.

[Cyrus]

The proposed new stadium at York was a convoluted and confusing proposal. At various times, it involved York University football, the Argos, the Canadian National Rugby team, and Soccer Canada. As well as digging a new subway line so the fans could get there.

In the end, it just didn't happen.