Argos at BMO Field

[Qman]

Latest version. similar to the first one a few weeks ago.


It looks like it will have great sitelines for football. Right on top of the action.

look like the CFL endzones will be under north stands patio/box seats.
While southstands will retract the first 10 rows.
I assume the football locker rooms will go under the south stands

If a roof goes over the south stands, you have seen the last grey cup in Toronto.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/22...ve-renovations

[T-Bone]

If a roof goes over the south stands, you have seen the last grey cup in Toronto.

Rogers Centre should still be available for Grey Cups.

[Neely2005]

Last time I was on Lamport was 1981 for my brothers high school all-star football game and it was a total dump back then, can only imagine what condition it is in now.

I was there last season for a Canada versus Jamaica rugby game. It's not suitable for professional sporting events. It's barely suitable for high school events.

Latest version. similar to the first one a few weeks ago.


It looks like it will have great sitelines for football. Right on top of the action.

look like the CFL endzones will be under north stands patio/box seats.
While southstands will retract the first 10 rows.
I assume the football locker rooms will go under the south stands

If a roof goes over the south stands, you have seen the last grey cup in Toronto.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/22...ve-renovations

Although Toronto FC is expected to remain the primary tenant, MLSE’s top brass has left open the possibility of the CFL moving into BMO Field one day.

“That’s a commitment that is a legal obligation to the city and the province,” Leiweke told the Sun. “We will honour that commitment.”

Construction is under way and is expected to be completed in two phases over two years.

[Qman]

Rogers Centre should still be available for Grey Cups.

my understanding is rogers is spending $250m upgrading the stadium. the are digging up all the concrete floor. going down two fleet putting in drainage. then putting in a foot of dirt. the stadium will sit permanently in baseball mode. no football, no winter tfc games, etc

[Neely2005]

my understanding is rogers is spending $250m upgrading the stadium. the are digging up all the concrete floor. going down two fleet putting in drainage. then putting in a foot of dirt. the stadium will sit permanently in baseball mode. no football, no winter tfc games, etc

$250 Million? Somehow I doubt that. From what I've heard the stands have to be locked into baseball configuration during the baseball season but after the baseball season is over they can go into football configuration.

[T-Bone]

my understanding is rogers is spending $250m upgrading the stadium. the are digging up all the concrete floor. going down two fleet putting in drainage. then putting in a foot of dirt. the stadium will sit permanently in baseball mode. no football, no winter tfc games, etc

I believe you are correct but the $250 million is not just for the grass alone. Also in the winter the grass still needs natural light or UV lamps to stay alive and grow. My understanding is that it would not be worth the cost of the UV lighting as you can't keep the roof open all winter, so they are going to install new grass at the beginning of each baseball season. That will allow for other events to take place in the winter.

[294life]

Long ago. But didn't Molson have a tree growing in the stands when Montreal moved back in?

indeed. the eco-police had a fit when it was removed.

[Qman]

I believe you are correct but the $250 million is not just for the grass alone. Also in the winter the grass still needs natural light or UV lamps to stay alive and grow. My understanding is that it would not be worth the cost of the UV lighting as you can't keep the roof open all winter, so they are going to install new grass at the beginning of each baseball season. That will allow for other events to take place in the winter.

Yes, but the stands will be locked into baseball mode (with a the drainage and dirt it wont move, and concrete floor and rails for moving the stands are gone.. So they can still do concert business on grass/dirt floor seats. i don't know about monster trucks. Maybe tradeshows on grass/dirt in the winter.

[T-Bone]

Yes, but the stands will be locked into baseball mode (with a the drainage and dirt it wont move, and concrete floor and rails for moving the stands are gone.. So they can still do concert business on grass/dirt floor seats. i don't know about monster trucks. Maybe tradeshows on grass/dirt in the winter.

I haven't read anything about them removing the rails for the stands, only that the stands will be locked in baseball configuration during the baseball season because of the grass.

[Qman]

I haven't read anything about them removing the rails for the stands, only that the stands will be locked in baseball configuration during the baseball season because of the grass.

the rails go through the outfield ... if you dig up the concrete, no rails

[T-Bone]

the rails go through the outfield ... if you dig up the concrete, no rails

With the amount of money they are spending I think they can probably engineer it so they can do both, just not at the same time necessarily. Have you read somewhere that the conversion of the stands will not be possible after the renovation?

[T-Bone]

Watch The @BMOField Groundbreaking Now! http://t.co/SEIQ7p9KSm #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/vPfv0EkJSa

— Toronto FC (@torontofc) September 23, 2014

Phase I:

Additional 8,400 seats with additional washrooms and concession stands
12 new executive suites, 2 party suites and a loge box
New full service kitchen for restaurants, suites and clubs
Two new private clubs:
West Grandstand, Event Level – 230 patrons
East Grandstand, Event Level – 420 patrons
Expansion of Rogers Club – current capacity of 500 is increased to 750 with upgraded look and feel, improved food and beverage and washroom facilities
New larger full HD videoboard replacing existing north videoboard
New concourse (2nd level) around south end of stadium allowing for one continuous concourse (at the upper concourse level)
Budget of $65M
Completion May 1, 2015


Phase II:

Addition of full size canopy covering all seats with exception of North Grandstand
New sound and lighting system
Budget of $40M
Completion May 1, 2016

Phase III:

TBD

The ground is officially broken at BMO Field! pic.twitter.com/wYbg8EhTPa

— Toronto FC (@torontofc) September 23, 2014

[Neely2005]

Argos could still play at BMO Field, as MLSE's Leiweke says "We will honour that commitment."

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cf...182928094.html

[zontar]

What turns "could" into "will" play at BMO ?

[T-Bone]

What turns "could" into "will" play at BMO ?

[ArgoRavi]

What turns "could" into "will" play at BMO ?

$20 million should do the trick.

[argotom]

If I were the Argos or CFL, plan B needs be explored just in case.
York U seems as a viable alternative.

[ArgoRavi]

If I were the Argos or CFL, plan B needs be explored just in case.
York U seems as a viable alternative.

If $20 million can't be come up with to turn BMO Field into a CFL stadium, then how do you come up with a whole lot more for a stadium at York? And before anyone else mentions this, there is no more government money for these ventures in Ontario.

[T-Bone]

If I were the Argos or CFL, plan B needs be explored just in case.
York U seems as a viable alternative.

[AngeloV]

If I were the Argos or CFL, plan B needs be explored just in case.
York U seems as a viable alternative.

Bravo!! Another great post.