For Immediate Release…Toronto ON, September 11^th, 2009 - At its meeting today, The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place approved a proposal that would see Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. investing $5.5 million in public soccer facilities across the City.

The proposal included the following investments:

 

·         $3.5 million to replace the Field Turf at BMO Field with a natural grass field

·         $2.0 million investment in community sports facilities which includes an estimated $1.2 million to upgrade Allan Lamport Stadium with the winter bubble and a $0.8 million investment in the playing field at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute or some other community facility in Ward 6 (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) to covert the field to Field Turf

 

Both The Ontario Soccer Association and The Canadian Soccer Association have applauded the plans to upgrade Lamport Stadium and provide natural grass at BMO Field. As stated in their letters of support, the soccer community will be better served because the soccer facility inventory in Toronto will increase. In fact, the upgrades to these three facilities will result in over 2,500 more hours available for community sport use.

Gord Perks, Councillor Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park and Member of the Exhibition Place Board supported the proposal. “Over the last few years, we have been working to upgrade Allan Lamport Stadium for community use through the installation of Field Turf in 2007 and a field cover in 2008. The addition of the winter bubble will now allow Lamport to be a 365-day operation which is a very positive direction for not only Parkdale – High Park residents but for the City.”

In addition to the capital commitment, in the proposal Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment are also committing to guaranteeing revenues to pay for any additional costs associated with the installation of natural grass and the loss of revenues at Exhibition Place and BMO Field because of the community program moving to Lamport.

 

“This is a win-win-win proposal for the City of Toronto, community sports and for professional soccer” said Deputy Mayor Pantalone, Chair of Exhibition Place. “BMO Field at Exhibition Place has been a resounding success since it first opened with the FIFA Under 20’s Men’s Championship in 2007. Having natural grass at BMO Field will help the City attract more of these international events and that will only have a positive economic impact for the City as just one of these events brings in excess of $2.0 million of direct spending to Toronto”.

 The proposal is contingent on the necessary approvals from City Council and the Federal and Provincial Governments who partnered with the City to build the National Soccer Stadium in 2007.

Exhibition Place is Canada’s largest entertainment venue, attracting over 5.3 million visitors a year. The 192-acre site is an integral component of Toronto and Ontario’s economy, particularly with respect to sport, festivals, recreation, culture and tourism. Exhibition Place is also a proud member of the Ontario's Environmental Leaders (OEL) Program.

 

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Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone

416-392-4009

 

Dianne Young - CEO, Exhibition Place       

416-263-3611

 

 

Councillor Gord Perks, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park

416-392-7919

 

Brenda Patterson - General Manager, Parks, Forestry & Recreation Department

City of Toronto     

416-392-8182

 

Robert Hunter – Executive Vice-President, Venues and Entertainment

416-815-5738