Will MLSE continue to develop Don Bosco as Argos Training Facility

[R.J]

If the field is replaced, Bosco could be a pretty good facility. It has tons of space to accommodate meeting rooms, position rooms, weight rooms, etc. The field is in terrible condition, but if the org were to invest in putting down good turf, there's no reason Bosco couldn't become everything they need.

They still need to invest quite a bit, as I wouldn't exactly call Bosco "a pretty good facility". There's space to develop without question, but as it stands, the Argos currently have the worst practice facility situation.

[paulwoods13]

They still need to invest quite a bit, as I wouldn't exactly call Bosco "a pretty good facility". There's space to develop without question, but as it stands, the Argos currently have the worst practice facility situation.

Leaving the field aside, how would we know whether it's the worst facility in the league? Pretty confident it's not as good as Sask's, but how does it compare to others'? Probably worse on some aspects, possibly better on others. I've actually been inside the building, and it looked pretty good to my untrained eyes.

[Shatto]

Ontario secondary schools are built to a fairly demanding standard. There may not be much luxury built in but structurally they are very sound facilities. School boards seldom if ever sell a school building, as the provincial grant money has to be returned to the province, leaving practically nothing for the board itself. The board has also to abide by the municipal zoning, so they may be limited to how the buildings can be utilized. Boards try to lease/rent out closed schools, as those monies stay with the boards. This is an over simplification of the situation for the boards but it is basically how boards manage closed schools.

For MLSE to buy land in Toronto and then build a brand new football facility would be an exorbitant cost, whereas extensive modifications to Don Bosco could enable the team to have an excellent facility. Changing the field to an all weather surface, adding a smaller permanent bubble for inclement weather, modifying and enlarging the office space, changing classrooms into meeting rooms, modifying the gym area into a change rooms and work out rooms and several other renovations the team might require, could be acquire the team, a very good football facility

However, since the building would still be owned by the board, it would be necessary to negotiate a long term lease (10-15 years) to make it a feasible situation for MLSE. Boards have departments that have experience and expertise in leasing of facilities. Before amalgamation, one of the local boards rented out more space, than is in the Toronto Dominion Centre.

It depends how MLSE wish to play this. They can go on the cheap and use the school basically as it is, or they can do it right and put in several millions ( maybe up to 30 million) and have a facility the team can be proud of. We shall see.