BMO Field renovation officially underway

Phase 1, to be completed by May 2015, will see the stadium capacity raised to 30,000 with 8,500 new seats plus additional washrooms and concessions, in the East stand. A larger high-definition video board will replace the existing screen at the north end while new suites and premium areas will help add to the MLSE coffers.

MLSE can add another 10,000 temporary seats, which it hopes will be enough to bring a Winter Classic to Toronto.

The Phase 1 deadline is to ensure a larger BMO Field is in place for the Pan American Games next summer, with rugby sevens expected to be a showcase event at the lakefront venue.

Phase 2, slated to start in September 2015 and end May 2016, will see the addition of a canopy covering all seats with the exception of the North stand, as well as a new sound and lighting system.

MLSE, which owns the MLS team and runs the city-owned stadium, is putting in $95 million to help pay for the first two phases. The city is kicking in $10 million, which MLSE will repay with interest over 20 years.

Phase 3 is where the Argos come in, with a plan to reconfigure the field to accommodate CFL football.

Cost of all three phases is going to be $125 million, with MLSE looking for the provincial and federal governments to contribute $10 million apiece. That has yet to happen, so Phase 3 is on hold.

There is a time concern. The Argos have a lease at Rogers Centre through 2017. But that deal can’t be renewed, meaning they must find a new home for the ’18 campaign.

The city wants the Argos to join Toronto FC at BMO Field. But it has gone along with MLSE’s wish that $20 million come from elsewhere.

Hunter says if everything falls into place, the football phase could be accelerated. “Summer of ’16 at best. And could be as late as summer of ’17.”

But it could come down further down the line in terms of construction, as needed.

Councillor Mark Grimes, chair of the Exhibition Place board of governors, is doing his best to bang the BMO Field drum for the CFL team which used to play at the now demolished Exhibition Stadium.

“I’m a huge Argo fan and a huge CFL fan. I think it’s very important we get them back home here where they belong,” he said.

MLSE also wants it to happen, Hunter said.

“We’ve always hoped that the CFL comes,” he said. “It’s a natural situation, a great solution for them.”

Hunter has plenty of deadline pressure already.

“It’s going to be very tight,” he said. “As you can see, we started only last week. They’re busy. We have a lot of work to do before May but we’re totally confident that we’ll be there.”

Another deadline is May 9, 2015, when Toronto FC wants to play its first home game of the 2015 season.

Toronto FC players Steven Caldwell and Michael Bradley liked what they saw from the artist’s renditions.

“Very exciting times ahead,” said Caldwell, the TFC captain.

“We all can’t wait for it to be done,” added Bradley, who did his part in the groundbreaking ceremony by manning a bulldozer in the work zone east of the stadium.

Chairman Larry Tanenbaum spoke for MLSE during the formal part of the proceedings. CEO and president Tim Leiweke was a silent partner at the event.

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

by paNOW Staff

BMO Field renovation officially underway

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