BMO Field

Construction and Early History

The stadium is the fifth to be built at its exact location at Exhibition Place, following the demolition of Exhibition Stadium in 1999. Its construction was driven by the need for a soccer-specific stadium to host the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and to serve as a home for a prospective Major League Soccer team. After several failed proposals at other sites, including Varsity Stadium and York University, the project returned to Exhibition Place in 2005. A partnership between Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and the Canadian Soccer Association secured the necessary funding. The federal government contributed $27 million, the province of Ontario added $8 million, and the City of Toronto provided $9.8 million plus the land, valued at $10 million, while retaining ownership. MLSE contributed $8 million towards construction and was responsible for any cost overruns, receiving management rights in return. The stadium was built with a conversion clause for Canadian football, but initial design limitations prevented a full CFL field from fitting without major reconstruction. The field dimensions were set at 115 yards long by 74 yards wide to meet FIFA standards, and the seating featured distinctive red chairs with large maple leaf and Toronto FC logo designs.

The original proposal approved by the City of Toronto explicitly required a stadium capable of conversion to a football format. Despite this, the Toronto Argonauts' last minute attempt to join the project was rejected by MLSE, which cited budget and time constraints. Consequently, the stadium was constructed such that fitting a regulation Canadian football field would require the demolition and reconstruction of the end zone stands. This decision created a field that was 20 yards shorter than the CFL standard of a 110 yard field with 20 yard end zones. The financial structure included MLSE paying $10 million for the stadium naming rights for the duration of its 20 year management agreement, which it later resold to the Bank of Montreal for $27 million over the first ten years.

Initial Use and Early Renovations

BMO Field opened in 2007 as the home of the newly formed Toronto FC, Major League Soccer's first Canadian team. The original playing surface was FieldTurf, an artificial turf that drew criticism from the soccer community. In response, MLSE funded a $3.5 million conversion to a natural grass surface of Kentucky Bluegrass prior to the 2010 season. This project included a sophisticated drainage and heating system to maintain the pitch. Concurrently, MLSE spent $2 million to expand the north end by 1,400 seats. The total cost for these early 2010 renovations reached $5.5 million. The stadium quickly established itself as a premier soccer venue, hosting the 2008 MLS All-Star Game and the 2010 MLS Cup final as a neutral site.

Discussions about the Toronto Argonauts moving from Rogers Centre began as early as 2009, but a CFL feasibility study concluded the stadium in its original state was unsuitable for Canadian football due to the field being 20 yards too short. According to former MLSE executive Tom Anselmi, the existing configuration could only accommodate a 100 yard field with 15 yard end zones or a 110 yard field with 10 yard end zones. The Argonauts officially abandoned the move in December 2009. As part of the 2010 grass conversion agreement with the city, MLSE also spent $1.2 million to add a winter bubble to Lamport Stadium and $800,000 to build a new artificial turf field to replace lost community use hours at BMO Field.

Planning and Approval for Major Renovations

The push for a comprehensive stadium overhaul gained momentum after Tim Leiweke became president of MLSE in June 2013. The City of Toronto, as owner, made accommodating the Argonauts a condition for any renovation approval, as the team had to vacate Rogers Centre by the end of the 2017 season. Preliminary plans released in March 2014 included a new upper deck on the east side, a roof over seating areas, and a lengthened field for CFL games. The project was originally budgeted at $115 to $120 million. MLSE sought $10 million in public funding from each of the municipal, provincial, and federal governments to supplement its $90 million commitment.

MLSE argued the renovated stadium would generate $8 million in annual economic benefits for the province and $18 million in taxes from the construction itself. The new management deal proposed a fixed annual rent of $865,000 paid to the city, replacing a variable revenue sharing model that had averaged $397,000 annually. This guaranteed the city $25.4 million over the lease term, with an additional $6 million in projected parking revenue. The city's Executive Committee approved the plan on March 19, 2014, and full City Council gave final approval on April 3. However, federal funding was not secured, with a spokesperson for the infrastructure minister stating the government would not fund a professional sports facility.

Execution of Renovations and CFL Integration

With government funding uncertain and deadlines looming for the 2015 Pan American Games, MLSE proceeded with a revised phased approach starting in late 2014. Phase one, costing $65 million and completed by May 2015, added the east upper deck and raised soccer capacity to 30,000. Phase two, costing $40 million and finished by May 2016, added the roof canopy. The critical third phase, which included field lengthening and CFL conversion infrastructure, was postponed pending funding and an Argos agreement. MLSE agreed to pay the city an additional $160,000 annually until phase three was complete to compensate for lost Argos parking revenue.

The project's trajectory changed dramatically in May 2015 when MLSE's ownership partners, Bell Canada and Larry Tanenbaum's Kilmer Group, purchased the Toronto Argonauts. The new ownership committed $10 million to the conversion costs, matched by MLSE, filling the $20 million funding gap. This allowed the CFL conversion to proceed for the 2016 season. The renovations added a 10,000 square foot dressing room for the Argonauts and ended up costing $150 million in total, with the Province of Ontario contributing $10 million. Due to space constraints, the finished CFL configuration uses 18 yard end zones instead of the standard 20 yards. The field was converted to a hybrid grass surface in April 2019.

Hosting Major National and International Events

BMO Field has a strong history of hosting significant national and international events beyond regular league play. It was built for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and later hosted the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, during which it was temporarily renamed the National Soccer Stadium. During the 2015 Pan American Games, the stadium was temporarily expanded to 40,000 seats for rugby sevens competition. It has hosted the MLS Cup final three times, in 2010 as a neutral site, and in 2016 and 2017 with Toronto FC as the home side benefiting from the better regular season record.

The stadium's CFL compatibility was confirmed when it hosted the 104th Grey Cup in 2016, shortly after the Argonauts' move. Part of the agreement for the Argonauts' relocation included a commitment to host two Grey Cups at the renovated venue. The stadium has also hosted matches for Canada's national rugby union team and served as a temporary home for Toronto FC II in 2018. Its design allows for temporary capacity expansion to accommodate large scale events, a feature that proved crucial for its selection as a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue.

2026 FIFA World Cup Preparations and Upgrades

BMO Field was selected as one of two Canadian stadiums to host matches for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup. In preparation, the stadium underwent further renovations between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons to meet FIFA requirements and temporarily increase capacity. The final project cost was $157.9 million, with the City of Toronto contributing $132.9 million and MLSE adding $25 million. Upgrades included new team dugouts, LED videoboards, a sound system, a rooftop patio, and lounge areas.

The key modification was a temporary expansion adding 17,756 seats, bringing the total tournament capacity to 45,736 seats. For the duration of the World Cup, the stadium will operate under the neutral name Toronto Stadium, following FIFA sponsorship regulations. BMO Field is scheduled to host six matches, including five group stage games on June 12, 17, 20, 23, and 26, 2026. It will hold a historic moment for Canadian sport by hosting Canada's first ever men's FIFA World Cup match on June 12, 2026. The city's initial agreement was to invest $37 million, but the final plans and costs were significantly expanded to ensure the venue met world class standards.

Stadium Management and Financial Agreements

The stadium's operational and financial model is defined by the agreement between the City of Toronto and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. The city owns the land and the stadium asset, while MLSE holds the long term management rights. MLSE is responsible for all operational costs, profits, and losses from stadium events. The original 20 year management agreement, set to expire in 2027, was extended by 10 years as part of the 2014 renovation deal. For the naming rights, MLSE initially paid $10 million for the duration of its management term, then resold those rights to the Bank of Montreal for $27 million over ten years, with the sponsorship extended for another decade in 2016.

Under the renovated stadium terms, MLSE pays the city a fixed annual rent of $865,000, a significant increase from the previous variable revenue sharing model. The renovations were structured to ensure the city recouped its investment through guaranteed rent and projected parking revenues. The 2014 agreement also required MLSE to secure a long term lease of at least 20 years with the Toronto Argonauts for use of the stadium starting in 2015. Public funding for the various construction phases came from multiple government levels, often justified by the economic benefits of hosting major tournaments and the stadium's community use provisions.

Design, Features, and Field Technology

BMO Field's design has evolved from a purely soccer specific venue to a multi purpose stadium. Its most recognizable feature is the sea of red seats, interrupted by large designs on the main stands, including a maple leaf on the east side and TORONTO lettering on the west. The south stand spells out BMO in the seating arrangement. The roof canopy, added in 2016, covers the majority of permanent seating, improving the spectator experience in Toronto's variable weather.

The playing surface is a hybrid grass system, installed in 2019, which combines natural grass with synthetic fibres for durability. The field is equipped with a $1 million subsurface heating system and a $1 million artificial lighting system to promote grass growth. For configuration changes between soccer and Canadian football, the stadium uses removable paint for field markings and has two sets of football goalposts to avoid relining the same grass area. Portions of the CFL end zones are artificial turf. The south and north ends feature retractable seating elements to maintain fan proximity to the soccer pitch despite the longer CFL field. The recent World Cup renovations added modern amenities like larger video boards and enhanced hospitality spaces.

Questions about BMO Field

What teams play their home games at BMO Field?

BMO Field is the home stadium for two major professional sports teams. It is the permanent home of Toronto FC, the city's Major League Soccer franchise, which began playing there at its opening in 2007. Since 2016, it has also been the home of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns both teams. It also occasionally hosts matches for Canada's national soccer and rugby teams, and it was used by Toronto FC II for a period.

How many people can BMO Field hold?

The seating capacity of BMO Field varies depending on the event configuration. For standard Toronto FC soccer matches, the capacity is 30,000 spectators. When configured for Toronto Argonauts Canadian football games, the capacity is 26,500 due to the different field dimensions and layout. The stadium is designed for temporary expansion to host larger events. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a temporary expansion will add 17,756 seats, bringing the total tournament capacity to 45,736 seats. It was previously expanded to around 40,000 seats for events like the 2015 Pan American Games rugby sevens.

Why is it called BMO Field?

The stadium's naming rights are held by the Bank of Montreal, which is commonly branded as BMO. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the stadium manager, initially purchased the naming rights for $10 million as part of its original agreement. MLSE later resold those rights to the Bank of Montreal in a 10 year deal worth $27 million. In 2016, BMO extended its naming rights sponsorship for an additional ten years. During certain international soccer tournaments, like the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium operates under a neutral name, Toronto Stadium, as per FIFA sponsorship regulations.

What major renovations has BMO Field undergone?

BMO Field has undergone two major series of renovations. The first, from 2014 to 2016, cost approximately $150 million and transformed the stadium to accommodate the CFL's Argonauts and increase capacity. This project added an upper deck on the east stand, a roof canopy over the seats, and lengthened the field for Canadian football. The second major renovation occurred between 2024 and 2026 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, costing $157.9 million. These upgrades included new video boards, sound systems, team facilities, and the temporary seating expansion to 45,736 seats for the tournament. Earlier, in 2010, the artificial turf was replaced with a natural grass surface.

What World Cup games will be at BMO Field in 2026?

BMO Field, operating as Toronto Stadium during the tournament, is scheduled to host six matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This includes five group stage matches on June 12, 17, 20, 23, and 26. Most significantly, the stadium will host Canada's historic first ever match in the men's FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2026. It is one of only two Canadian host venues, alongside BC Place in Vancouver.

Who owns and operates BMO Field?

BMO Field is owned by the City of Toronto, which contributed the land and capital funding for its construction and subsequent renovations. The day to day management and operations are handled by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment under a long term agreement. MLSE is responsible for booking events, maintaining the facility, and covering all operational costs and profits. This management agreement was originally set to expire in 2027 but was extended by 10 years as part of the 2014 renovation deal. MLSE also owns the stadium's primary tenants, Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, creating an integrated sports and entertainment hub at Exhibition Place.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.