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Expansion of city-owned BMO Field considered

Sold-out success of Toronto FC prompts talks to boost stadium seating to 30,000

From Friday's Globe and Mail

The huge popularity of professional soccer - Toronto FC is essentially sold out in its second season - is driving serious talk of expanding city-owned BMO Field.

Although still in the exploratory phase, the idea is to boost capacity at the $72-million stadium by 50 per cent to 30,000 seats from 20,000, officials confirmed yesterday.

A final decision, not expected until later this year, will hinge on how to pay for the expansion and how to retain the intimate atmosphere of the stadium for soccer fans.

"Our ultimate goal is not to change the experience that exists today," said Bob Hunter, executive vice-president of venues and entertainment for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., which manages the facility for the city and owns the Major League Soccer team. "If we thought it was going to change the experience we have today, we would not be recommending to go ahead."

He added "we have a lot of work to do" before making any recommendation.

The strong fan embrace of Toronto FC is the reason for talk of expansion.

This year, MLSE sold about 16,000 season tickets, up from 14,000, with the other 4,000 tickets snapped up by the public every game so far. The rest of the season is also expected to be sold out, "well ahead" of forecasts, Mr. Hunter said.

Initial design work is under way by MLSE on how to add 10,000 seats for soccer games, either retractable or removable. Also under consideration are changes that would lure the Toronto Argonauts football team away from the Rogers Centre.

Detailed financial discussions are still several months away.

"It [expansion] is a thought in everyone's head," said Dianne Young, general manager and CEO of Exhibition Place. "Will it happen for a year or two? Not likely."

On the touchiest political issue - who would pay for the project, which is estimated to cost between $15-million and $20-million - Exhibition Place chairman and deputy mayor Joe Pantalone was firm.

"The city clearly is not going to pay," he said. "We have already made our investment and it has been very successful."

Told of the comment, Mr. Hunter said "that is a good opening position."

He noted that the city shares equally with MLSE in profits from the stadium, which operates 351 days a year for professional and amateur soccer as well as non-sporting events.

"The long-term benefit of adding 10,000 seats is good for both parties, given the way the finances work," he added.

The city put up $9.8-million for its share of the project, with funds from senior governments and $8-million from MLSE.

Constructed in time for the FIFA under-20 World Cup tournament last year, the stadium turned a profit of $900,000 during its eight months of operations in 2007.

Without the one-time revenue generated by the FIFA tournament, BMO Field is expected to generate a profit of $98,000 this year.

***

The numbers

BMO Field, home of the Toronto FC professional soccer team at Exhibition Place, scores on and off the field. Here are key details:

20,000

Stadium seating capacity

1,370

Hours of community use for amateur soccer in first season of the bubble (erected last winter)

14

Number of free days for city use

$98,000

Forecast profit for 2008

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