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Loss of the National Football Stadium

Trillium

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Joe MacCarthy Grand Master

Joe MacCarthy

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BMO Field ready for Toronto FC home opener with new canopy, lights and sound system
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 05/3/2016

TORONTO - Thanks to the co-operation of Mother Nature and a lot of hard labour, BMO Field will be open for business as planned Saturday.

A new canopy, sound and lighting system, the final parts of a $150-million two-year renovation, will greet a sellout crowd of 30,000 at Toronto FC's long-awaited home opener against FC Dallas.

Stage 1, which took place after the 2014 MLS season, saw a 8,400-seat second tier as well additional washrooms and concessions added to the east stand. A new video board was installed while the east and west stands were linked by a concourse above the south stand. Luxury dining/drinking options were also added.

Stage 2 was more heavy lifting. Big cranes, heavy roof panels. Lots of steel and tractor-trailers.

"The complexity of the job was much more heavy construction than it was finishing-type construction," said Bob Hunter, chief project development officer for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

A mild winter has meant the project is finishing on schedule, save the final touches to a second elevator in the west stand. But Hunter says that too is nearing completion.

More work is needed on the Argonauts' dressing room but Hunter says it will be done ahead of the CFL team's opening pre-season game June 11.

Hunter says recent rain slowed installation of the artificial turf in the endzones because drier conditions are needed to lay the surface immediately below the turf. The new grass field is down, however, and being regularly fed by giant growlights.

The stadium lights have been tested in the evening. Toronto FC will likely practise at BMO on Thursday evening to get accustomed to them.

While the new canopy, lights and sound will no doubt enhance the stadium experience, Hunter says TFC fans will see a lot of familiar sights. One change will come in the north end which will be more festive thanks to some 500 fans willing to watch the game standing in a patio zone.

There will be movable rows of seats at both ends to cover the CFL endzones.

It's worth noting that MLSE calls the cover atop the east, west and south stands a canopy rather than a roof. And because of structural demands, there are gaps between the canopy and the top of the stands. Just how much cover the canopy will provide will likely hinge on the nature of the rain and wind and where you are seated.

There is a 40 per cent chance of precipitation Saturday so fans will likely soon find out what it all means.

"Each experience, as we go through it, will define to people what they should and shouldn't be expecting," said Hunter.

Still any cover will be welcome at the lakefront stadium.

As at last season's home opener, Saturday's crowd will include the PCL workers who rebuilt the stadium.

BMO Field, whose construction was linked to the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and getting an MLS expansion team, was originally built on a shoestring budget of $62.9 million.

Capacity will be just under 27,000 for the Argonauts, whose regular-season home opener is June 23. BMO Field should be able to accommodate 35,000 to 38,000 for the Grey Cup and Winter Classic with the addition of temporary stands.

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Joe MacCarthy Grand Master

Joe MacCarthy

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The new BMO Field culmination of Tim Leiweke's dream
Toronto FC opens its home slate on Saturday vs. FC Dallas
Kurtis Larson, Toronto Sun May 04, 2016

Supporters were skeptical of Tim Leiweke’s dream.

The ex-MLSE CEO was unabashed about turning Toronto FC into something resembling respectability.

On Saturday — three years after Leiweke asked fans to “dream big” — his vision will be on full display when TFC hosts FC Dallas at the newly renovated, 30,000-seat BMO Field.

The anti-MLSE pessimists have gone quiet since MLSE announced said renovations, their flames and pitchforks set aside.

After all, this weekend, with a capacity crowd on hand, it will be impossible to ignore the positive impact MLSE’s investment has had on Toronto FC and the city.

Reaching this point was arduous to say the least. “Financial suicide,” even, according to Leiweke.

In retrospect, though, MLSE couldn’t have afforded to not embark on a three-year journey that culminated with TFC’s early-season competency — all of which had, in many ways, to do with expanding BMO Field.

Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, arguably the best player in MLS history, wouldn’t be here without stadium upgrades.

The estimated increase in revenue was needed to justify spending a truckload of cash to lure the trio to Toronto.

Whether it works remains to be seen. The Reds have to host and win playoff games in order to show marked improvement.

That’s why Leiweke’s dream, MLSE’s vision, largely hinges on this campaign — the principle reason why Saturday’s match is so anticipated.

This weekend is the culmination of a process that began with a culture shift within the organization. As was the case in 2011 and 2012, Toronto FC is no longer an entity whose fans have disdain for ownership.

Municipal and provincial politics were played before MLSE’s board had an epiphany: “Let’s treat Toronto FC with respect and dignity.” Disillusioned fans needed new reasons to dream.

Getting the anti-Argonauts crowd to remove their tin-foil hats is an ongoing process that will diminish further when supporters enter BMO on Saturday.

The stadium’s breathtaking canopy will kill off all remaining pessimism associated with sharing a venue with the Canadian Football League.

Argos and CFL signage will be limited to a few exterior elements on Major League Soccer game days — well worth Toronto FC’s transformation from 2013 lightweight to big spender in 2016.

For fans who haven’t been to BMO Field since last October, prepare to feel like you’re entering a new stadium for the first time since TFC’s inaugural season.

“When we built BMO Field in 2007, we knew we’d have to reinvest over time, but never thought we’d be able to convince our owners to make the type of long-term investment that they have,” said Bob Hunter, MLSE’s chief project development officer.

“It’s a whole new stadium. We paid $62 million back in 2007. With the Argonauts, we’re reinvesting almost $150 million.”

Throw in the roughly $100 million in contracts doled out to three DPs and MLSE has invested around a quarter-billion dollars in TFC players and facilities.

“Everyone was motivated,” Hunter added during a guided tour with the Sun on Wednesday afternoon. “The City of Toronto was motivated because they want to see the big events. The City and province were motivated because they wanted to find a long-term solution for the Argos. Everyone saw that the potential for bigger and larger events, which have the potential for a big economic impact for Toronto, could only be achieved by doing that level of investment.”

In the end, the only arguments against transforming BMO Field from erector-set stadium into big-time soccer stadium come from original TFC supporters who would rather see their club stay niche.

In truth, without Leiweke’s dream, the excitement ahead of Saturday’s home opener would be nowhere close to where it is.

LEIWEKE KEEPING TABS ON TFC’S HOME OPENER

On the seventh day, Tim Leiweke rested. Somewhere.

The ex-MLSE CEO isn’t in town to see the official unveiling of the stadium he pushed for.

The Toronto Sun did, however, reach him by email.

“I am very proud of the development team and the commitment to fight through all the obstacles to get this done,” Leiweke told the Sun. “Had a couple of dozen reasons why people thought this was a bad idea.”

The main one being the preservation of TFC’s pitch.

Concerns won’t be put to bed until after there’s proof the Argonauts won’t negatively impact TFC’s all-grass field.

“Toronto has one of the best homes in all of MLS now,” Leiweke added. “They are for real and I couldn’t be happier for MLSE, the owners, the team and the fans.”

YOUR BMO QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1) Will BMO Field be 100% completed by Saturday’s TFC opener?

No. Close, though. A pair of end suites on the west side of the stadium are still under renovation. Some areas atop the roof are also still being completed. Furthermore, the Argos’ dressing room is still under renovation ahead of the CFL season.

2) Why does the north end look so empty?

It’s going to remain fairly empty. TFC is selling standing-room-only tickets where the CFL endzone will be. Plastic squares have been laid over top of the Argos’ artificial turf end zone. Truth be told, MLSE ran out of time to improve the north end. They’ll likely add party decks in the coming seasons and more amenities. There are also two sets of temporary premium seats near the corner flags.

3) The south-end roof, why is it so darn high?

To accommodate 8,000 temporary seats that will be installed for Grey Cups, MLS Cups, World Cups and outdoor hockey games. If you sit in the south end, the canopy might not do much for you if it rains. But, hey, it looks cool.

4) How is the grass?

It was installed two weeks ago. We walked on it Wednesday afternoon. It felt fine. Groundskeepers appear to have grow lights operating on it around the clock. TFC will train on it for the first time Thursday night.

5) How much Argos signage will there be?

Not much on MLS game days. An area beneath Section 104 — where the Argos dressing room is housed — is painted blue. Also, an Argos banner will sit atop the northwest super column, facing the Gardiner Expressway. While it won’t happen this season, Argos signage might also adorn the southeast corner of the stadium, facing the south parking lot.

6) Does the canopy roof go all the way to the touch line?

No. It covers all “fixed” seats on all sides.

7) What don’t you like about it, Larson?

The north end will look empty at times this year, a poor visual for TV. We think MLSE should strive to make the north end look akin to what the Blue Jays have done in centre field. Needs to be a fun atmosphere. We’ll have to wait and see what they do with it next season.

8) Will south-end seating change at all due to the CFL end zone?

No. I’m told the first six rows of seats will be removable, but will be within an inch of original placement prior to renovations.

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gator Grand Master

gator

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I think I'll form my own opinion on how well this all works and how nice the stadium really is now instead of just believing Larson and ML$E's propoganda, I'm not sure if I will be removing my "tin foil hat" when I arrive at the renovated for cfl National Football Stadium Saturday!

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paul-collins Newbie

paul-collins

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I wonder how possible it would be to install some sort of baffles at the back of the south side to block/redirect wind...  

My initial thought was some sort of fabric, attached to the roof, but I don't know if the roof's foundations and structure would handle the lateral load.

Maybe you could affix something to the back of the stands and *that* would be stable and safe.  Something like (but stronger than) flagpoles...

edited to add, this is what I was thinking about...

http://weathersolve.com/photo-gallery/

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5 hours ago, MtlMario said:

I think this post should remove the words " Loss of the " and replace it with " IMPROVED".

No, this post's title fits BMO's situation perfectly.

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