SOCCER MEDIA REPORTS:
Partners Officially Launch the National Soccer Stadium at Exhibition Place
Wednesday, 5th July 2006
Soccer Canada Web Report
The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and its partners – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Limited (MLSEL), the Ontario and Federal Governments as well as the City of Toronto today officially declared the National Soccer Stadium at
Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, a reality.
The Federal Government, through Infrastructure Canada has agreed to contribute $27-million while the Ontario Government has committed a further $8-million. The City of Toronto will contribute the land and $9.8-million and will
own the stadium. MLSEL has agreed to pay a total of $18-million ($8-million toward the construction and a further $10-million to secure the naming rights for the stadium). The group has also agreed to provide a $2-million guarantee
against operational losses.
"Having just been elected as the President of the CSA in May, I'm delighted that the National Soccer Stadium at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto has become a reality as it will become the major venue for the CSA and all of
our National teams for many years to come,"stated Colin Linford, President, CSA.
Construction of the 20,000 seat soccer-specific stadium on the grounds of Exhibition Place has already begun and will be managed on behalf of the City of Toronto by MLSEL.
"Following almost four years of intensive work today is a celebratory day for everybody in Canadian Soccer. I wish to pay tribute to all three levels of government as well as our private sector business partner (MLSEL) for working
together with us in such a collaborative way in order to bring this stadium to reality and in time for the start the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007," said Kevan Pipe, COO, CSA
“For the first time in the game in our country we finally have a soccer specific, state of the art home which we look forward to using on a regular
basis for all forms of soccer programming, including community usage during the winter when a full sized inflatable bubble is installed.”
