BMO Field renovations nearing completion in Toronto
The Toronto Sun goes on an exclusive tour of TFC's home stadium
Kurtis Larson, Toronto Sun February 03, 2016
TORONTO - The original BMO Field — once considered a model fan experience in Major League Soccer — was the butt end of jokes Wednesday afternoon.
Phrases like “Erector Set” and “Ikea Stadium” were used to describe what this place looked like back in 2007.
Back then, BMO Field was a soccer-only venue built to house an MLS team worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million, an MLSE project, one might say. It was a venue fit for an American high school football team.
Ten years later, Forbes estimates Toronto FC to be worth roughly $175 million — with plenty of room for growth.
Nothing signifies that growth more than Phase 2 of the BMO Field renovations.
Roughly three months from completion, BMO Field is beginning to look like a venue built for a major league team, a stadium worthy of the likes of MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco.
Quite simply, it’s a venue Toronto FC fans can be proud of.
The makeover was remarkable to see during an exclusive tour the Toronto Sun received.
As we inch closer towards Toronto FC’s home opener — May 7 against FC Dallas — the final plans and pieces are in place.
The Sun spoke with Bob Hunter, MLSE’s Chief Project Development Officer, and Neil Barrows, PCL Construction’s senior project manager, this week to get the final skinny on the new, new BMO Field…
CAPACITY
When the north stand at BMO Field was removed late last year to accommodate a CFL end zone, there was speculation capacity for Major League Soccer games would sharply decrease. Not so, confirmed MLSE’s Chief Project Development Officer Bob Hunter, capacity for Toronto FC games will remain at 30,000 while Argos games will seat 27,000, up a bit from the originally estimated 25,000.
THE CANOPY
A rather large gap between the bleachers and roof levels will undoubtedly impact some fans. While the east roof rests five metres above the stands, the west canopy sits a whopping 9.3m above the west stand. The gap between the south stand and the canopy is 15.7m, though it extends back above the south concourse with temporary seating in mind. While every seat at BMO Field is technically “covered,” some are certainly more covered than others. Those sitting in the middle four sections — 10 rows from the top in the lower decks and 10 rows from the bottom in the upper decks — will receive the most protection. The upper part of the south stand will also receive substantial protection from weather. There are no plans to close off the aforementioned gaps.
FROM ABOVE
Ever look down on BMO Field when flying over the city? While the canopy roofing above BMO Field will remain white, it will be lit up at night.
NUTS AND BOLTS
Beyond the 3,600 tonnes of steel being used to turn BMO Field into a respectable venue, more than 130,000 bolts are being used by the 100 workers that have been called in from across North America to work on the project. According to senior project manager Neil Barrows, the steelworkers renovating BMO Field are the same workers who put together BC Place and Investors Group Field.
WOW FACT-OR
The crane currently being used above the west stand weighs 450 tonnes and was shipped in pieces all the way from the Netherlands. It arrived in Hamilton harbor before the project began and was trucked in.
COMPLETION DATE
None given. Apparently construction companies like to keep that open ended, though PCL’s Neil Barrows seemed to indicate the group was ahead of schedule. At this point, only one thing could slow down the process. “Weather is the only thing,” Barrows told the Sun. “It’s windy. Bob Hunter alluded to it. This winter has been good to us. A majority of the steel is in the air. When it’s windy, the workers will still go up.” By March 21, Barrows told the Sun, 528 Musco lights will be placed along the catwalks beneath the three canopies along with a new sound system.
YOU’LL WANT TO SEE
While the massive east and west canopies are being constructed in place, the south stand canopy is literally being constructed on the pavement outside the venue. This massive piece of steel can only be appreciated in person. Using two massive cranes, PCL intends to lift it into place in mid-February. Expect camera crews to be on scene. It’s something you won’t want to miss.
FOR THE ARGOS
It doesn’t look like much right now, but the Toronto Argos are set to move into a massive, 10,000 sq. ft. locker room containing 58 lockers beneath the east stands. A ramp from the northeast corner of the venue leads them into their private space. Meanwhile, traveling CFL teams will share a locker room with traveling MLS teams.
PITCH PERFECT
Amid concerns for the field, MLSE appears to be taking every precaution it can to maintain what MLSE executive Bob Hunter described as “the standard we’d expect for TFC.” At the moment, two reserve fields are growing in Mount Hope. One of those fields might be brought in to replace the current surface later this month. If not now, MLSE will look to replace the surface later this year during a break in the schedule. Seven days are needed. By maintaining a secondary pitch outside the city groundscrews can more easily fix portions of the pitch if necessary between CFL and MLS dates.
THE NORTH END
The north stand was removed to accommodate the larger dimensions of a CFL field. Still, seating will exist in the north end for both soccer and football games. During TFC games, six rows — less than 1,000 total seats — of temporary seating will be brought in. During CFL games, three rows of seats will sit directly behind the north end zone, in front of a fan terrace. MLSE is currently working to ensure fans can stand there throughout games.
WAIT, WHAT?
In potentially a CFL-first, half of the south end zone will be made of artificial turf. All of the north end zone will be made of artificial turf. Everything in between is natural grass. Oh, and those bench dugouts that soccer players rarely used? They no longer exist. Instead, both the Argos and visiting CFL teams will share the west sideline during games.
THE FINE PRINT
“There will be Argos recognition” at the stadium. Get used to it. It likely won’t be substantial. And, as MLSE executive Bob Hunter told the Sun Wednesday, “TFC is still the principle tenant.”
FURTHER FIELD CONCERNS
Worst case scenario? Toronto FC plays five days following a CFL game. Although schedules haven’t been finalized, the early indication from those privy to that information shows groundscrews will always have 5-8 days to prepare for a Toronto FC game.
THE NEXT PHASE
There’s already talk of a Phase 3 over the next few years. MLSE executive Bob Hunter mentioned the suites along the west stand as needing something of a facelift seeing as they’re going on 10 years old. He added that other original (2007) amenities might need to be updated in the coming years.
Prev
....
Linear Mode
