After two years of renovations at BMO Field, Toronto FC fans will finally have a roof over their heads when the home opener kicks off on Saturday.
The $150-million two-phase expansion project saw key changes to the stadium including an increase in seat capacity and the addition of a new canopy roof.
Phase one of the project, completed in May 2015, saw the addition of 8,400 seats increasing the capacity to 30,000 permanent seats with the potential to accommodate 40,000 for special events. Additional washrooms, a new video board, new private suites and the development of a main concourse connecting the east and west grandstands on a single level were also included.
Phase two started in September 2015 and saw the construction of a much needed canopy roof that will cover all but 2,000 seats.
“We’ve got so much bad luck with rain for TFC games, at least it’s going to be a protection (for) over 30,000 fans that didn’t exist before,” says Bob Hunter, chief development officer for Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment.
Hunter calls the canopy an amazing engineering structure that was very complicated to build because crews were working over an existing stadium.
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Another key part of phase two was integrating the arrival of the Toronto Argonauts, who will be calling BMO Field their new home this season.
A new 10,000 square foot Argos training area and locker room is being built and the visiting locker room has been reconfigured to meet CFL standards. While the Argos’ locker room still needs more work, Hunter is certain that it will be completed in time for the team’s opening pre-season game June 11.
To accommodate the larger CFL field, there will be movable rows of seats at both ends of the field, which will see a combined surface of natural grass and artificial turf.
“On either end there will be a transition from the natural grass for TFC onto artificial turf for the end zones for the CFL,” says Hunter.
During TFC matches the north end will be transformed into a standing-room-only party deck that will support up to 750 fans.
As for concerns over football lines on the field, Hunter says they have had time to test out the technology to remove them before each soccer game, but adds that the schedule will play a big role in dealing with that challenge.
“We’ve been able to work with the scheduling with the CFL and Major League Soccer to avoid conflicts in the schedule so every Argos game is followed by a break of five to seven days that allows us to restore the pitch back. For the TFC fans we’re attempting to try and make sure there is no ghosting of those CFL lines so that when you’re sitting in here all you’re seeing is the soccer pitch.”
Capacity will be just under 27,000 for the Argos games, 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.