Quote:
Originally Posted by Welkin
Migs, this is not exactly apples to apples. BMO Field was built for the FIFA U-20 tournament and was known as the Canadian National Soccer Stadium long before it ever became BMO Field. The feds were involved because it was built to secure a bid for an international event (just like the Pan Am games in Toronto/Hamilton or the World Junior Track Meet Stadium in Moncton). The whole CNS Stadium project started in 2005. MLS did not grant a franchise to Toronto until 2006. It did not become a facility for TFC until after the FIFA U-20, just like the stadium in Hamilton is not being built for the Tiger-Cats, but the Tiger-Cats will be using the stadium after the Pan-Am Games. Federal dollars have always been used for international events being held in Canada. If Regina landed the Commonwealth Games, the federal government would be expected to kick in for a large portion of a new stadium (as they would have done in Halifax). However, as far as I know, this football stadium is not part of any international sporting event. There is the difference.
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However, in the Pan Am Hamilton case, it is in a sense being built for the Ti-cats as well. Without the Ti-cats as a legacy tenant, the committee is refusing to fund the stadium, or would only fund a MUCH scaled back version somewhere along the lines of 5k capacity.
As for the U-20 games in Toronto, why couldn't they save the money and use the Skydome then? They used Olympic Stadium in Montreal afterall. And even though it was sort of termed the national stadium, it wasn't truly one. Commonwealth in Edmonton was still somewhat the de facto home due to its grass field rather than turf (this now has reversed though... years later). And prior to granting the franchise, I'm sure the stadium was discussed as part of it's bid. It would take longer than just a year to work out the kinks in the agreement for a franchise.
Neither stadium is/was truly needed, but since their building coincides with the events, they are shoved in with the funding.
Halifax however would have truly required building a stadium.