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T.O. soccer stadium approved
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| dEsidEL |
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T.O. soccer stadium approved
CANADIAN PRESS
The Exhibition Place board of governors has unanimously approved plans to become home to a soccer-specific stadium in Toronto.
Wednesday's vote removes another hurdle in the way of the proposed 20,000-seat venue near the waterfront.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Soccer Association, City of Toronto and Maple Leafs & Sports Entertainment concluded an agreement on how to run the stadium. MLSE needs the stadium to land an MLS expansion franchise.
The $63-million stadium still has to get the green light from city council's policy and finance committee Thursday and then from the full council (44 councillors and the mayor) on Oct. 26.
The federal government has pledged $27 million with another $8 million from the provincial government. If the city provides its $9.8 million, that leaves a little more than $17 million needed for the $62-million project.
Naming rights and a reported $8-million contribution from MLSE are expected to make up that shortfall.
Major League Soccer gave MLSE and the City until Oct. 31 to sort out the stadium issue, threatening to look elsewhere for an expansion home unless the issue was settled.
The 12-team MLS added two new franchises this season: Real Salt Lake and FC Chivas, which plays out of Carson, Calif. Those expansion franchises cost $10 million US apiece.
MLS says the expansion price tag this time will be "slightly higher."
The league is looking for a second expansion team in 2007, with the leading candidates Cleveland, Philadelphia, Houston, Milwaukee and St. Louis, Garber said.
Exhibition Place is located opposite Ontario Place on the lakefront. It used to be home to the Toronto Argos and Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium, and currently houses the American Hockey League's Marlies at the Ricoh Coliseum.
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source:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...93064&t=TS_Home
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Stadium deal nearly done
Financing in place for facility at Ex
Ball now in court of key city groups
JIM BYERS
SPORTS REPORTER
After almost three years of false starts, Kevan Pipe says it's finally about to happen.
A deal to build a 20,000-seat, $63 million soccer stadium at Exhibition Place will go to public officials today for the first of a series of votes after representatives from the city of Toronto, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and the Canadian Soccer Association yesterday hammered out an agreement.
"We had marathon sessions and it was intense but in the end we got it done," said Pipe, the CSA's chief operating officer. "We have all the financing in place with three levels of government, MLSE and the private sector. To say this is a significant day for soccer is an understatement."
Deputy mayor Joe Pantalone said the deal will go to the board of governors of Exhibition Place for a vote today and to the city's policy and finance committee tomorrow. The full Toronto city council is slated to vote on the deal some time next week.
"I'm sure some people will ask questions but at the end of the day I think they'll raise their hands" in favour, Pantalone told the Star.
Major League Soccer officials last week said they want a team in Toronto in 2007 but that council has to agree by Oct. 31 in order to make it happen.
Pantalone said the city agreed to kick in another $300,000 to make the deal work, bringing Toronto's contribution to $9.8 million. The federal government long ago agreed to pay $27 million for a stadium in Toronto to host games as part of the 2007 FIFA world youth soccer championships, while the province said it would kick in $8 million.
MLSE will contribute about $8 million towards the stadium, which it will operate.
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source:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...93064&t=TS_Home
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| fastmp3 |
| ca serait excellent pour le developpement du football au Canada |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| quote: | Originally posted by fastmp3
ca serait excellent pour le developpement du football au Canada |
unfortunately it will stay empty most of the time. |
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| Vivid Boy |
| quote: | Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
unfortunately it will stay empty most of the time. |
no it wont. ill be breaking in there every second day, practicing imaging theres a crowd like i do at centenial stadium :P
tho ive played at centenial stadium countless times. and i must say centenial is the worst field ever. it a in hill but at least its maintained.
u have to go up north for any decent fields in the toronto area |
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| EvilTree |
With a large immigration population in GTA, footy is pretty popular. But most will stick to European leagues since it's better.
But enough people might take an interest in MLS. |
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| cono_sur |
Nice!!
Go Real Toronto! :toothless |
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| Jayx1 |
Isnt the city of toronto always crying poor?
I guess they arent. |
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| Adamo |
| MLS soccer team in Toronto is gonna be wikkid....i'll definitly be watching some games and breaking into the stadium with vidi boy. |
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| Qiang |
| w00t! all the soccer fans! |
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| Stingray |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
With a large immigration population in GTA, footy is pretty popular. But most will stick to European leagues since it's better.
But enough people might take an interest in MLS. |
They cant go see a game in Europe now can they?? ;) |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Stingray
They cant go see a game in Europe now can they?? ;) |
Watching it at home or at a pub is still pretty entertaining. |
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| loconet |
I wouldn't mind checking out some MLS games actually.
Any idea if the thing is going to be covered/heated for winter use? :toothless |
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