What to know
- The City of Toronto and the Toronto Tempo are teaming up to build a state-of-the-art training facility at Exhibition Place.
- Scheduled to open in 2028, the facility will include two basketball courts, dedicated recovery spaces, individual showers and locker rooms, player lounges, and more.
- The space will also have dedicated access to the community in Toronto, helping foster increased access to sports.
The Toronto Tempo and the City of Toronto have partnered up to build a state-of-the-art training facility ahead of the team’s inaugural season.
In a news release on Friday, the city announced that a “high-performance training facility and community recreation hub” will be built at Exhibition Place, just outside Prince’s Gate and close to Coca-Cola Coliseum — the Toronto Tempo’s home arena.
Not only will this facility serve as the Tempo’s premier training grounds, it will be the first Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) training facility in North America to give dedicated access to the surrounding community, helping foster a shared love and access to sports.
Currently scheduled to open in 2028, the training grounds feature: two WNBA regulation basketball courts, locker rooms with individual showers and changing areas, dedicated sports medicine and recovery areas, player lounges and a shared dining space, and areas for player development. The facility will also include two outdoor courts, a mini-pitch, new park space, and public washrooms.
Furthermore, the city is looking to secure at least 2,200 hours of public access for community programming, which will include registered and drop-in programs, permits for other activities, and CampTO programs.
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Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow praised the new project, positioning it as an initiative that “delivers real benefits for residents while strengthening Toronto’s leadership in women’s sport.”
“We’re partnering with the Toronto Tempo to turn an underused site into a world-class facility that serves both professional athletes and the public.”
Monica Wright Rogers, general manager of the Toronto Tempo, says “this performance centre is about building the foundation for sustained excellence.”
“Our players deserve a world-class environment that supports every aspect of their development, and our community deserves access to spaces that inspire the next generation. This facility will be both.”
Construction is set to begin this fall, pending city council approval.
