Lamport Stadium

Lamport Stadium
The Den
Full name Allan A. Lamport Stadium
Location 1151 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M6K 1E9
Coordinates 43°38′20″N 79°25′23″W / 43.63889°N 79.42306°W / 43.63889; -79.42306Coordinates: 43°38′20″N 79°25′23″W / 43.63889°N 79.42306°W / 43.63889; -79.42306
Public transit  504  King
 514  Cherry
Owner City of Toronto
Operator Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
Capacity 9,600
Field size 110 x 75 m
Surface Artificial turf
Construction
Built 1974–1975
Opened July 1, 1975 (1975-07-01)
Renovated 2007–2008, 2018
Tenants
Current
Canada national rugby league team (2013–present)
Toronto Wolfpack (Championship) (2017–present)
Toronto FC II (USL) (2018–present)
Former
Ryerson Rams (U Sports) (2012)
TFC Academy (CSL) (2008–2012)
SC Toronto (CSL) (2008–2012)
Toronto Nationals (MLL) (2010)
Internacional de Toronto (L1O) (2014)
Serbian White Eagles FC (CSL) (2014)

Allan A. Lamport Stadium, also known as the Den, is a multi-purpose stadium on King Street West in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, currently serving as the home field of the Toronto Wolfpack, Toronto FC II and the Canada national rugby league team. The 9,600 seating capacity stadium was previously used for soccer, with the playing surface dually marked for both soccer and field hockey. The stadium was named for long-time Toronto politician Allan Lamport, who was associated with sporting activities in the city.[1]

Facility

Lamport Stadium was built during the winter and spring of 1974–1975 on the site of the notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women,[2] and opened on July 1, 1975.[3]

Since construction, the playing surface has been artificial turf. The artificial turf was most recently replaced in 2018.

As part of a deal with the city to convert BMO Field to natural grass, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment spent $1.2 million adding a winter bubble to Lamport Stadium in the winter of 2009–2010.[4] During the winter-time, the field is covered by the dome. The indoor field measures 68 metres by 105 metres, allowing a full eleven-a-side game.[5] MLSE has a license from the city to run community soccer programs during the winter under the bubble.[6][7]

Sports usage

Football

The Toronto Athletics Football Team (American Football- Semi Professional) home games played 1993-1996. A high quality football game provided for players looking to keep playing and being scouted to play in the NFL and CFL. The Athletics won the Mid-Continental League Championship in 1993, and was ranked as high as 9th over all in the American Semi Professional Football Rankings in 1995.

The Toronto Argonauts announced in 2018 that they would use the stadium as their practice facility.[8]

Soccer

Both SC Toronto and Major League Soccer team Toronto FC's Academy side played their Canadian Soccer League home games at Lamport Stadium. The OUA's Ryerson Rams soccer teams also call the stadium home. In 2014, the Serbian White Eagles of the Canadian Soccer League and Internacional de Toronto of League1 Ontario also played their home games at the stadium. Toronto FC II announced in August 2017 that it would move its home games from the Ontario Soccer Centre to BMO Field and Lamport Stadium beginning with the 2018 season.[9]

Rugby league

It was announced on 21 May 2012, that Lamport Stadium would be the new home of the Canada national rugby league team, the Wolverines.[10] Their first game of 2013, the Colonial Cup opener against the United States national rugby league team saw a crowd of nearly 8,000 turn out to witness a thrilling comeback from the Wolverines. The stadium also hosts professional rugby league club, Toronto Wolfpack, which began competing in the third-tier British League 1 competition.[11] The club won promotion to the second division Championship for the 2018 season, and won that as well. They will be competing for promotion to the Super League in fall 2018.

Lacrosse

The Toronto Nationals played their 2010 season at Lamport Stadium before moving to Hamilton.

Non-sports usage

Besides sporting events, the stadium also hosts a major Caribana event each summer: the crowning ceremony for the King and Queen of Caribana.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Best, Michael (June 25, 1975). "Allan Lamport's work deserves a memorial". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. D1.
  2. ↑ "Government loan launches stadium on old Mercer site". The Toronto Star. Toronto. October 31, 1974. p. C3.
  3. ↑ "Stadium named for Allan Lamport". The Toronto Star. Toronto. June 14, 1974. p. A8.
  4. ↑ "Grass at BMO Field Attains Final Approval". Major League Soccer. January 23, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Lamport Stadium". Ontario Soccer Association. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Upgrades to BMO Field at Exhibition Place and Allan Lamport Stadium" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2009-09-22.
  7. ↑ "Upgrades to BMO Field at Exhibition Place and Allan Lamport Stadium - Attachment 1" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2009-09-09.
  8. ↑ "Argonauts to relocate football-operations staff". The Sports Network. 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  9. ↑ Kelly, Tim (2017-08-29). "TFC II leaving Vaughan for Toronto after 3-season run; stadium size at issue". Vaughan Citizen. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  10. ↑ RLFC, Canada (May 21, 2012). "Canada Wolverines to take on the World at Lamport Stadium". Canada RLFC News. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Rugby Football League officials joined by Mayor John Tory to unveil team brand and league information". April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
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