Exhibition Place plans

[sully]

http://www.explace.on.ca/database/rte/files/Item%2030(1).pdf

I don't know if this popped up on the forum before? This is an interesting report to the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place from November 27 last which if implemented could have an impact on BMO Field and surrounding in the next few years including a new pedestrian walkway beside the east side of BMO Field and plans for possible expansion of the the East Stand in the future (pages 6 and 10), a land bridge to Ontario Place and a festival Plaza (not sure what that is) in the south parking.

[billyfly]

Before I read it.

Did they mention the hotel?

[billyfly]

That's a BIG grandstand (and with a roof)

[Eastend]

Before I read it.

Did they mention the hotel?

Yes they do.

[billyfly]

Other urban planners (my good friend included) have spoken before how the City must protect the open space (or gathering place potential) of the CNE against development.


I guess this plan is of like mind.

This location will come in handy in coming years as the density of the City continues to rise.

[__wowza]

That's a BIG grandstand (and with a roof)

that sound you just heard was my ejacule hitting the sun.

[Whoop]

I see they included BMO expansion.

Everyone always thought it would be the south end that would be expanded but looks like it would be the east stand.

[billyfly]

I see they included BMO expansion.

Everyone always thought it would be the south end that would be expanded but looks like it would be the east stand.

I guess in some ways b/c people wanted the cool aspect of seeing the CN Tower in the background.

This plan is just a plan until money and officialdom of course....

[Yohan]

except BMO Field doesn't need an expansion right now...

[Whoop]

Yes, but they are accounting for it in their plans.

Possibly for Pan-Am Games? Or for the future of the site?

[billyfly]

I see they included BMO expansion.

Everyone always thought it would be the south end that would be expanded but looks like it would be the east stand.

I am still shocked that MLSE did not jump on the PAN AM games money to get funds to expand BMO for things like the planned outdoor birthday party game.

[Whoop]

People don't take kindly to corporations asking for taxpayer money. ;)

Besides BMO is a city building anyway.

[Blizzard]

I see they included BMO expansion.

Everyone always thought it would be the south end that would be expanded but looks like it would be the east stand.

The south end seats are too cheap. Any new seats at the back would be the cheapest in the park. They'd have to make their money back and the east side is the way to do that.

[Blizzard]

except BMO Field doesn't need an expansion right now...

... which is why it isn't happening right now. It's just a contingency.

[nascarguy]

People don't take kindly to corporations asking for taxpayer money. ;)

Besides BMO is a city building anyway.
I have a felling that the whole area is about to be own by bell and rogers.

[billyfly]

People don't take kindly to corporations asking for taxpayer money. ;)

Besides BMO is a city building anyway.

Of course it wouldn't be sold that way!

Still don;t understand how Hamilton gets a stadium and Toronto, the City awarded the games get squat.

Don't give me this crap about regional games and regional benefits blah blah blah

[boban]

I know its just a plan and a blueprint for futre use, but it doesn't seem any future expansion of the stadium would be for upgrades in standards, rather just the same lego block concept.

[nfitz]

Everyone always thought it would be the south end that would be expanded but looks like it would be the east stand.Doesn't mean much though ... these are old plans, and they didn't foresee the North Stand either. Also, if you look carefully they expand to the northwest above 127.

[RPB_RED_NATION_RPB]

That's a BIG grandstand (and with a roof)

hopefully it would be a proper roof....and not a roof that just covers a few row...as the plan shows..



as per the plan on that site....it seems to show the SOuthend with roof? or am i seeing things..:)

[Wagner]

Great Find.
thank you for sharing.

[james]

CNE grounds are just huge open parking lots and pavement that sit empty 90% of the year. Id be happy to see them build something on the CNE grounds maybe a mix of apartments, hotels, restraunts, pubs and parks.

[billyfly]

CNE grounds are just huge open parking lots and pavement that sit empty 90% of the year. Id be happy to see them build something on the CNE grounds maybe a mix of apartments, hotels, restraunts, pubs and parks.

See my post about open gathering space.

[boban]

CNE grounds are just huge open parking lots and pavement that sit empty 90% of the year. Id be happy to see them build something on the CNE grounds maybe a mix of apartments, hotels, restraunts, pubs and parks.
No offense, but that would be the worst idea.

[james]

See my post about open gathering space.

where the post?

[james]

No offense, but that would be the worst idea.

well id rather see some life there, place is so dead and empty 90% of the time. Its a Ghost town. Build something that will make people actually go there besides when the EX or Indy is going on!

[billyfly]

well id rather see some life there, place is so dead and empty 90% of the time. Its a Ghost town. Build something that will make people actually go there besides when the EX or Indy is going on!

It's called up the street - liberty Village.

The City wants to keep as an event space. Not create another neighbourhood.

[billyfly]

where the post?

We are 1 page into a thread. Surely you can scroll up and find it.

[billyfly]

The planned hotel would include a huge bar if I remember the plans.

[james]

It's called up the street - liberty Village.

The City wants to keep as an event space. Not create another neighbourhood.

well you don't have to make it a neighbourhood i just suggested that as 1 option, but i would not want this big land to just sit there as is. Its a concrete waste land to me. If you want the land to stay open well at least add green space in there or something make it look pretty, make people actually want to walk around there.

[boban]

It's called up the street - liberty Village.

The City wants to keep as an event space. Not create another neighbourhood.
Exactly.

We have don't have many spaces in the city where people can just congregate en mass as Europe has. Keep the Ex open. The trick is to find events to keep the place buzzing. But TFC provides dates in the summer, there is an arena, and convention space that is always book, so don't know what this ghost town is.

[billyfly]

well you don't have to make it a neighbourhood i just suggested that as 1 option, but i would not want this big land to just sit there as is. Its a concrete waste land to me. If you want the land to stay open well at least add green space in there or something make it look pretty, make people actually want to walk around there.

The plan states that exactly. Regrade the parking and a continuos green space all the way around.

Hell put a big Afghan Mission memorial there as well.

[prizby]

CNE grounds are just huge open parking lots and pavement that sit empty 90% of the year. Id be happy to see them build something on the CNE grounds maybe a mix of apartments, hotels, restraunts, pubs and parks.

probably something in the works in the future...the transit has gotta improve though that means digging up the lakeshore though

[james]

Exactly.

We have don't have many spaces in the city where people can just congregate en mass as Europe has. Keep the Ex open. The trick is to find events to keep the place buzzing. But TFC provides dates in the summer, there is an arena, and convention space that is always book, so don't know what this ghost town is.

come on there is very few events going on when you consider its there 365 days a year. Yes TFC have say 15-20 games in a year. But people don't show up there till few hours before the game, and they leave quickly after, and when you think of it the CNE is a BIG area, BMO field just occupies a small area of it. The EX runs for 2 weeks and the Indy race 1 weekend. You get your Marlies playing but they get 1-2,00o fans a game, very few people, they need to fill that rink more often. You might have a few other events but come on walk through there tomorrow, tell me how many people you see around.

[boban]

come on there is very few events going on when you consider its there 365 days a year. Yes TFC have say 15-20 games in a year. But people don't show up there till few hours before the game, and they leave quickly after, and when you think of it the CNE is a BIG area, BMO field just occupies a small area of it. The EX runs for 2 weeks and the Indy race 1 weekend. You get your Marlies playing but they get 1-2,00o fans a game, very few people, they need to fill that rink more often. You might have a few other events but come on walk through there tomorrow, tell me how many people you see around.
There are car shows, boats shows, all kinds of conventions. Trust me its busy, just not rammed busy. Yes after events are done the nights, or days, depending when it take place, its kinda dead, but so what. Every place have to be rammed and no where to stretch out a bit?!

[billyfly]

Tom Anslemi admitted today in an interview at the Leafs open air practice that they are looking at expanding BMO for the Leafs centennial game.

[glaze]

the problem with bmo expansion is that it is now a single use facility. With the grass pitch, aside from soccer (and this years exhibition rugby match), you can`t really have many dates in there or you`ll tear up the field. They tried a concert there (genesis, first year) and haven`t had one since (no point with the ampitheatre across the street).
Economically, you would need an event (like the hope of an nhl outdoor game) to justify a huge expansion. Thankfully that event is coming. The women`s world cup.
If we don`t see a stadium expansion for the women`s world cup, I just don`t see the return on investment for a completely renovated east stand. I think 20-25,000 seats is TFC`s ideal range. If they were to replicate the west stand on the east side, you would just see empty seats. Which means less atmosphere and demand.

[jazzy]

There are car shows, boats shows, all kinds of conventions. Trust me its busy, just not rammed busy. Yes after events are done the nights, or days, depending when it take place, its kinda dead, but so what. Every place have to be rammed and no where to stretch out a bit?!

agreed!...... think Montreal island......from the remants of expo 67, it is still not 'developed' and a great event place..re: grand prix.....Toronto is flooded with too much cement crap and overcrowding with boring 'structures'...eveywhere....James do you ever get out and walk our lakeshore.......just tragic,...space and design has been long lost in this city....can you say OMB

[rocker]

one thing people have said on the Urban Toronto forum is that they could still have open spaces but not massive ugly, boring parking lots by building underground parking (although that's expensive). I'd love to see all parking go underground, and then landscape the open spaces so that it becomes more park-like but still usable for the CNE and large gatherings.

[kodiakTFC]

Here are the official pics of the new BMO Field Expansion. Notice the Eastern grandstand is absolutely massive compared to the West.

Above picture **notice EASTERN GRANDSTAND
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9573/captureoti.png

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8513/capture1hv.png

This is the walk from the Ex Gates to BMO, looking at BMO from the Direct Energy Centre
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/880/capture2n.png

Above angle of new grandstand
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5786/capture3bz.png

[Whoop]

Doesn't mean much though ... these are old plans, and they didn't foresee the North Stand either. Also, if you look carefully they expand to the northwest above 127.

The pictures have the north stand in there.

[nfitz]

The pictures have the north stand in there.Do they? I thought that was the old patio that was there. It's difficult to see, but I thought if that was the North Stand it would have blocked out the Food building a bit.

[PopePouri]

They obviously value what we contribute to Exhibition place so adding additional seats sounds reasonable. It seems they don't understand the pricing aspect of football stadiums. Adding more reds will make the east stand even more sparse.

But, if they have to expand the east stand though, they might was well just tear down what's there and rebuild it into something presentable. Make it concrete. Keep the first tier the same height at the sound and west stand and add a roof.

And fix the damn pipes.

[Auzzy]

the problem with bmo expansion is that it is now a single use facility. With the grass pitch, aside from soccer (and this years exhibition rugby match), you can`t really have many dates in there or you`ll tear up the field. They tried a concert there (genesis, first year) and haven`t had one since (no point with the ampitheatre across the street).
Economically, you would need an event (like the hope of an nhl outdoor game) to justify a huge expansion. Thankfully that event is coming. The women`s world cup.
If we don`t see a stadium expansion for the women`s world cup, I just don`t see the return on investment for a completely renovated east stand. I think 20-25,000 seats is TFC`s ideal range. If they were to replicate the west stand on the east side, you would just see empty seats. Which means less atmosphere and demand.

No 2015 Women's World Cup games are planned for Toronto, due to "potential conflicts" with the Pan Am games. :facepalm:

Toronto decided it didn't want to be part of the bid. Although the CSA said last March, the door isn't officially shut for Toronto to still get games, I don't think there's been any movement since then. Also, considering the current Toronto city government, and rumours of PanAm cost overruns, I don't really see Toronto pushing to change that decision.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2011/03/03/sp-womens-world-cup.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup
http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/947970--no-surprise-canada-to-host-2015-women-s-world-cup

[GabrielHurl]

Of course it wouldn't be sold that way!

Still don;t understand how Hamilton gets a stadium and Toronto, the City awarded the games get squat.

Don't give me this crap about regional games and regional benefits blah blah blah

The stadium in Hamilton is the new Ivor Wynne Stadium

And there's plenty of facilities being built (including the Athletics stadium) and upgraded in the city for the games

[Waggy]

The stadium in Hamilton is the new Ivor Wynne Stadium

And there's plenty of facilities being built (including the Athletics stadium) and upgraded in the city for the games

Ya I'm pretty sure that's how we're getting the waterfront revitalization subsidized/written off. And some good infrastructure stuff. Check out the list for actual venues (with handy "NEW!" tags for everything new http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venues_of_the_2015_Pan_American_Games)

For the lazy, Toronto is getting new:

BMX track at centennial park
court at Ryerson for raquet ball
a 2000 seat futsal stadium
a 5000 seat field hockey, uh, field
a renovation of varsity stadium (expanding to 10k)
a 2000 seat fencing/modern pentathalon, uh, thing
a 6000 seat aquatics centre
a 12500 seat rugby stadium (! where the fuck are the argos on THAT one! unless this is varsity and wiki doesn't know that? either way WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE ARGOS?!)
a track stadium at york u

and thats just Toronto proper, theres a crap ton of new stuff in the GTA. Lots of great stuff there.

[GabrielHurl]

a 12500 seat rugby stadium (! where the fuck are the argos on THAT one! unless this is varsity and wiki doesn't know that? either way WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE ARGOS?!)
a track stadium at york u

Wiki is messed up there - there's no 12,500 seat rugby stadium

The rugby 7's and athletics are both at York University.

York's existing rugby fields are being upgraded for the 7's and the athletics stadium is brand new

[Fort York Redcoat]

a renovation of varsity stadium (expanding to 10k)

a 12500 seat rugby stadium (! where the fuck are the argos on THAT one! unless this is varsity and wiki doesn't know that? either way WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE ARGOS?!)
a track stadium at york u

and thats just Toronto proper, theres a crap ton of new stuff in the GTA. Lots of great stuff there.

10k at varsity that still doesn't want to share with Argos. More space to watch..........Athletics???

The rugby stadium is a link to a Hamilton based stadium.

a track at York? Congrats to them I guess.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Wiki is messed up there - there's no 12,500 seat rugby stadium

The rugby 7's and athletics are both at York University.

York's existing rugby fields are being upgraded for the 7's and the athletics stadium is brand new

That's better. I like seeing York getting new stuff. They've never said no to the Argos, yet..

[Whoop]

And while the Pan Am Games were awarded to Toronto, it was a regional bid. There are a ton of events going on outside of Toronto in surrounding communities like Ajax, Barrie, Minden, Richmond Hill, Milton, Markham, Brampton, Mississauga, Oshawa, Pickering, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Welland. The games have been broken down to 3 zones (Central, West, East). Toronto is just the hub. It was the only way to get government money.

No different than 1976 Summer Olympics that went to Montreal but events were held in Kingston (and some soccer games in Ottawa and Toronto).

Or Vancouver getting the 2010 Olympics but events held in Whistler, 2 hours away.

These kind of events, due to the size, invariably becomes regional events.

[Cashcleaner]

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9573/captureoti.png

Not my first choice for the design of an expansion, but that IS a lot of new seats. By the way, the Toronto Sun had an article about a potential Winter Classic match in Toronto. While everyone has pretty much written off BMO Field as a venue in the near-future, I wouldn't be surprised if we see outdoor hockey there if such an expansion were to take place.

[billyfly]

The stadium in Hamilton is the new Ivor Wynne Stadium

And there's plenty of facilities being built (including the Athletics stadium) and upgraded in the city for the games


Funny I don;t see the word Hamilton in there.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlyUznZJNMLgm7RpDdLTY5O1jtzAJWC NmfhISWEQy4HrhwTC8Y

[billyfly]

And while the Pan Am Games were awarded to Toronto, it was a regional bid. There are a ton of events going on outside of Toronto in surrounding communities like Ajax, Barrie, Minden, Richmond Hill, Milton, Markham, Brampton, Mississauga, Oshawa, Pickering, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Welland. It was the only way to get government money.

No different than 1976 Summer Olympics that went to Montreal but events were held in Kingston (and some soccer games in Ottawa and Toronto).

Or Vancouver getting the 2010 Olympics but events held in Whistler, 2 hours away.

These kind of events, due to the size, invariably becomes regional events.

And I know all this. I just don't understand how a team which is the lifeline of the entire league and needs a new outdoor stadium couldn't get one.

[Whoop]

It was a regional bid. It was the only way to get government money.

And not everything can fit in Toronto.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venues_of_the_2015_Pan_American_Games

And Hamilton isn't getting a new stadium per se but a renovated one at a cost of about $150mil. After the SkyDome fiasco I don't think the government was going to build Toronto a new stadium.

EDIT: My bad numbers were off.

[Whoop]

And I know all this. I just don't understand how a team which is the lifeline of the entire league and needs a new outdoor stadium couldn't get one.

The problem with the Argos, and what happened in Hamilton, is where do you put the team?

That was the big issue with Hamilton, sites. There were a couple of options that didn't work for the city or its major tenant.

And when Toronto threatened to pull the stadium out of Hamilton and move it to Mississauga or Brampton they realized they didn't have proper venues for it.

The city won't be building the Argos a new stadium as much as the Fords love the Argos. One option for the Argos is to go outside the city and find a suburb to build them a stadium but I don't see that happening.

The era of governments building stadiums specifically for sports teams is over.

[Whoop]

And I know all this. I just don't understand how a team which is the lifeline of the entire league and needs a new outdoor stadium couldn't get one.

Also mismanagement and bad plays by Argos ownership.

They've had the deals in the past but they've all fallen through.

The other difference too is that the Ticats have a way bigger pull in Hamilton than the Argos have in Toronto. The Ticats is all Hamilton has and even though Ivor Wynne is a dump really they don't want another white elephant like Copps.

The Argos fold/leave Toronto, no one in Toronto really bats an eye. Ticats fold/leave, while the city will eventually move on, it would hurt Hamilton.

[deltox]

Rugby 7s will be held at fetchers fields. its on the Toronto pan am games web site.

www.toronto2015.org

[billyfly]

Also mismanagement and bad plays by Argos ownership.

They've had the deals in the past but they've all fallen through.

The other difference too is that the Ticats have a way bigger pull in Hamilton than the Argos have in Toronto. The Ticats is all Hamilton has and even though Ivor Wynne is a dump really they don't want another white elephant like Copps.

The Argos fold/leave Toronto, no one in Toronto really bats an eye. Ticats fold/leave, while the city will eventually move on, it would hurt Hamilton.

Not according to the TSN TV deal. No Argos, No TV Deal, No CFL.

[Whoop]

TV wise, yeah.

But city wise, don't think anyone would care.

Ironically the only way the Argos get a stadium is if western teams persuade the government and even then I don't think the government would care.

[billyfly]

Bring back the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club!

[GabrielHurl]

And Hamilton isn't getting a new stadium per se but a renovated one at a cost of about $150mil.

It's pretty much a new stadium - Ivor Wynne is being completely demolished at the end of the 2012 CFL season and then rebuilt

[Whoop]

Thanks. Didn't realize that.

Well, I did after I typed it. LOL

[billyfly]

Thanks. Didn't realize that.

Well, I did after I typed it. LOL

Poor Varsity Stadium. Lost opp.

Think how awesome to have 100th Grey Cup there.

[Whoop]

The funny thing is with the track facilities there, it's getting more use now than before.

Wouldn't they have had to expand it a lot to fit the Argos there? Which was the issue with the university and the neighbourhood?

[GabrielHurl]

You need a stadium of 40,000+ to be able to hold the Grey Cup - something Varsity won't be having for a long long time

[Whoop]

They would always play the Grey Cup at SkyDome.

Varsity needed to be a minimum of 25,000 for the CFL. Don't know if the existing Varsity footprint was big enough for a 25,000 seat stadium without encroaching on the Royal Conservatory of Music and the surrounding neighbourhood.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Bring back the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club!

Only if their first game is vs the Balmy Beach!!

THAT was the heydays for sure!!

http://www.cfhof.ca/uploads/assets/cflhof/Hall_of_Famers/Ted_Reeve.jpg

[Fort York Redcoat]

The funny thing is with the track facilities there, it's getting more use now than before.

Wouldn't they have had to expand it a lot to fit the Argos there? Which was the issue with the university and the neighbourhood?

Nope. Main point against was the track. Argos didn't want one and it would've been big enough. Not now. That ship has sailed.

And the use they get out of it? It's about as much as my local Park. And that's not bragging.

[jabbronies]

That roof is too small. Needs to be bigger IMO. Won't catch enough sound

[Waggy]

10k at varsity that still doesn't want to share with Argos. More space to watch..........Athletics???

The rugby stadium is a link to a Hamilton based stadium.

a track at York? Congrats to them I guess.

I figured there was no way they were expanding varsity AND building a 12500 seat stadium new. But a new stadium at york IS possible. the drawback of putting anything there was always the pain in the ass it is to get there. By 2015 when the subway stop is done in time for the Pan Am games there wouldn't really be any problems building a cfl stadium there. subway and go stations, tons of parking, a few restaurants/bars around (if you go towards dufferin anyways). I used to HATE commuting to York, that 196 is the worst/most crowded bus in the city. but with a subway stop it'd actually be pretty convenient. god knows the argos desperately need a 30k outdoor stadium.

[Fort York Redcoat]

By 2015 when the subway stop is done in time for the Pan Am games there wouldn't really be any problems building a cfl stadium there.

My day has been made. Get them there already.

[Waggy]

They would always play the Grey Cup at SkyDome.

Varsity needed to be a minimum of 25,000 for the CFL. Don't know if the existing Varsity footprint was big enough for a 25,000 seat stadium without encroaching on the Royal Conservatory of Music and the surrounding neighbourhood.

That's a really good point. Just looked on google maps, the plot that BMO sits on (JUST the stadium) looks to be at least 25-30% bigger than the area Varsity has*. And obviously the argos would need a bigger pitch to play on.


*scientific I know

[Whoop]

That roof is too small. Needs to be bigger IMO. Won't catch enough sound

Isn't a roof to protect from the elements? LOL

[GabrielHurl]

My day has been made. Get them there already.

Where do you put it?

http://i.imgur.com/MxO4R.jpg

[Heart of Stone]

Exhibition Place would be a great place for the feds to host a G20.

[Shway]

That roof is too small. Needs to be bigger IMO. Won't catch enough sound

SOUND!.....it wont catch enough rain!!!

[Huyton]

And while the Pan Am Games were awarded to Toronto, it was a regional bid. There are a ton of events going on outside of Toronto in surrounding communities like Ajax, Barrie, Minden, Richmond Hill, Milton, Markham, Brampton, Mississauga, Oshawa, Pickering, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Welland. The games have been broken down to 3 zones (Central, West, East). Toronto is just the hub. It was the only way to get government money.

No different than 1976 Summer Olympics that went to Montreal but events were held in Kingston (and some soccer games in Ottawa and Toronto).

Or Vancouver getting the 2010 Olympics but events held in Whistler, 2 hours away.

These kind of events, due to the size, invariably becomes regional events.

I was at Varsity Stadium for the Israel vs Brazil game. I also went to the Olympic Football Final at the Big Owe.

Lots of fun!

[nfitz]

I also went to the Olympic Football Final at the Big Owe.Cool! Reports are they had over 71,000 for that game (http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197121/matches/match=32185/report.html). Biggest crowd ever for soccer in Canada (or for any sport????). I didn't see the stadium until moving to Montreal in 1980 by which time a lot of seating had gone where the tower construction site was. It must have been really rocking.

[RPB_RED_NATION_RPB]

biggest record crowd at SKY DOME...was in 2002...WRESTLEMANIA 68,000

[nfitz]

biggest record crowd at SKY DOME...was in 2002...WRESTLEMANIA 68,000I was thinking a sporting event though ...

Pink Floyd at Big O was in the high 70s ...

[rocker]

Where do you put it?

http://i.imgur.com/MxO4R.jpg

They have lots of room all over that campus, particularly with all the parking lots. They could put a stadium up at the area where the Steeles subway stop construction is right now -- that used to be a parking lot. Or they could put it on the site of the current small football stadium. Next to Black Creek Pioneer village (southeast corner of Murray Ross and Steeles) would actually be a really good spot too.

I believe they are knocking down building # 6 to the left of Boyer Woodlot for the Pan Am Athletics stadium. The university is actually gonna lease office space off campus for those admin people.

[Huyton]

Cool! Reports are they had over 71,000 for that game (http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197121/matches/match=32185/report.html). Biggest crowd ever for soccer in Canada (or for any sport????). I didn't see the stadium until moving to Montreal in 1980 by which time a lot of seating had gone where the tower construction site was. It must have been really rocking.

I have some pictures from that game somewhere...gotta dig them out and digitize them. What was great about that game was that they had BEER in the stadium.

This was a novelty...you couldn't get beer at sporting events in Ontario at the time.

It took the arrival of the Blue Jays to change that.

[Furtado91]

I have some pictures from that game somewhere...gotta dig them out and digitize them. What was great about that game was that they had BEER in the stadium.

This was a novelty...you couldn't get beer at sporting events in Ontario at the time.

It took the arrival of the Blue Jays to change that.


I never knew that. That is quite an interesting fact. thanks

[Huyton]

• Ontario's restrictive liquor laws also meant that Toronto Blue Jays fans couldn't drink beer when watching the team at Exhibition Stadium until 1982.

• In December 1981, Ontario passed its so-called 'happy hour' legislation. The law allowed bar and restaurant owners to offer reduced drink prices and free food to their customers.
• The government's decision to overturn the law three years later provoked concern from the hospitality industry. Toronto's Sheraton Centre responded by offering reduced-alcohol drinks for a scaled-down price.

• Until around 1970 most Canadian drinking establishments had separate entrances and spaces for "ladies and escorts" and "men only." According to Craig Heron's book Booze: A Distilled History, the separation became law in British Columbia in 1942 and was informally practised elsewhere in Canada. The intent in B.C. was not to protect women from the overtures of drunk men, but to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases by keeping prostitutes out of bars.

• Beer parlours across most of Canada were dreary places well into the 1970s. In Ontario, for example, there could be no food service, live entertainment or recorded music, and no singing or dancing. It was illegal to stand up with a drink in one's hand. If a patron wished to join friends at another table, a server had to carry the drink. The aim of these rules was to prevent people from lingering, but meant that the only thing to do was drink.

• Canadians experienced equally stern treatment at province-run liquor stores before the era of self-service. People had to buy a yearly license to purchase alcohol (a measure that was phased out everywhere by 1970). With each visit to the liquor store, a person filled out a card and handed it to a clerk. The clerk retrieved the bottles from the back of the store and delivered them to the patron in a plain brown paper bag.

• Canada's first self-service liquor store opened in British Columbia in 1962; Ontario and New Brunswick introduced them in 1969, and other provinces followed through the 1970s.

• Though still against the law in Ontario in 2004, happy hour is permitted in other provinces. In Quebec it's known as cinq à sept, or "five to seven."

[billyfly]

Toronto the Good.

[Oldtimer]

Imagine going to a Toronto Blizzard game and watching football in a dry stadium. That's probably hard for most here to picture! _

[glaze]

Imagine going to a Toronto Blizzard game and watching football in a dry stadium. That's probably hard for most here to picture! _

when the blue jays first started playing there was no beer sales at exhibition stadium.

[Huyton]

No beer at any sporting event in Ontario until 1982.

I know...pre-history for many of you.

[Chris Wren]

No beer at any sporting event in Ontario until 1982.

I know...pre-history for many of you.

Really amazing to think you couldn't drink watching baseball. The separate rooms for men and women is the craziest.

Anyone who has been to Quebec knows how great Happy Hour is. If we could only get that back here!

[Cashcleaner]

• Ontario's restrictive liquor laws also meant that Toronto Blue Jays fans couldn't drink beer when watching the team at Exhibition Stadium until 1982.

• In December 1981, Ontario passed its so-called 'happy hour' legislation. The law allowed bar and restaurant owners to offer reduced drink prices and free food to their customers.
• The government's decision to overturn the law three years later provoked concern from the hospitality industry. Toronto's Sheraton Centre responded by offering reduced-alcohol drinks for a scaled-down price.

• Until around 1970 most Canadian drinking establishments had separate entrances and spaces for "ladies and escorts" and "men only." According to Craig Heron's book Booze: A Distilled History, the separation became law in British Columbia in 1942 and was informally practised elsewhere in Canada. The intent in B.C. was not to protect women from the overtures of drunk men, but to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases by keeping prostitutes out of bars.

• Beer parlours across most of Canada were dreary places well into the 1970s. In Ontario, for example, there could be no food service, live entertainment or recorded music, and no singing or dancing. It was illegal to stand up with a drink in one's hand. If a patron wished to join friends at another table, a server had to carry the drink. The aim of these rules was to prevent people from lingering, but meant that the only thing to do was drink.

• Canadians experienced equally stern treatment at province-run liquor stores before the era of self-service. People had to buy a yearly license to purchase alcohol (a measure that was phased out everywhere by 1970). With each visit to the liquor store, a person filled out a card and handed it to a clerk. The clerk retrieved the bottles from the back of the store and delivered them to the patron in a plain brown paper bag.

• Canada's first self-service liquor store opened in British Columbia in 1962; Ontario and New Brunswick introduced them in 1969, and other provinces followed through the 1970s.

• Though still against the law in Ontario in 2004, happy hour is permitted in other provinces. In Quebec it's known as cinq à sept, or "five to seven."

The epitome of the "Nanny State". It's still unbelievable that we can't drink alcohol legally at the tailgates.