BMO Field Stadium (Toronto)

📌 Key Facts:

• Location: Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Opened: Originally April 28, 2007

• Capacity: Normally around 30,000 for soccer; expanded to approximately 45,000 for the World Cup

• Home Teams: Toronto FC (Major League Soccer), Canada men’s and women’s national teams, and since 2016, the Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

• Owner/Operator: Owned by the City of Toronto and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)

• Architects / Renovations: Expanded and renovated in phases—2015–2016 upgrades added seats, a canopy, and CFL adaptations; designed by Brisbin Brooks Beynon, with further features by Gensler

📚 Historical Significance:

• Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium; constructed on the former Exhibition Stadium site

• Hosted the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup as “Canada’s National Soccer Stadium”

• Venue for MLS Cup 2010, MLS Cup 2016, 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, 2015 Pan American Games (7s rugby), 2017 NHL Centennial Classic, and the 2016 Grey Cup

🏗 Architecture and Features:

• After expansions, it features both natural grass and hybrid turf, a modern canopy roof, and upgraded club suites and lounge areas

• Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, undergoing a $146M upgrade: seating capacity increased to ~45,000 (17,000 temporary seats), new LED videoboards, enhanced lighting, audio, broadcast infrastructure, better locker rooms, Wi-Fi, concessions, a center-field lounge, North Suites, and a 1,000-person permanent rooftop patio