What to know
- BMO Field was temporarily renamed Toronto Stadium for the FIFA World Cup and expanded its capacity from just over 30,000 to more than 45,000 through the addition of 17,000 temporary seats.
- Other FIFA-related upgrades to the venue included enhanced player facilities, improved locker rooms, and upgraded broadcasting infrastructure to support international teams and global coverage.
- Permanent improvements added ahead of the tournament include four new LED video screens, upgraded Wi-Fi, self-serve concession kiosks, a new kitchen, new team dugouts, and a centre-field lounge.
- After the World Cup, the temporary seating and Toronto Stadium name will be removed, but most infrastructure upgrades will remain, with a new 1,000-person rooftop patio also planned for the venue.
Toronto’s BMO Field has been home to Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts since its opening in 2007. Now, the venue has transformed into Toronto Stadium, adding thousands of seats, new screens, and branding ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
But with the competition now in its midway point, how many of the stadium upgrades will stick around?
What FIFA enhancements were put in place?
BMO Field took the empty grounds of its predecessor, Exhibition Stadium, in 2007. After 19 years, the venue was changed to Toronto Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup, where six matches would be played on its field across the tournament.
With the name change came multiple other changes. For the World Cup specifically, the stadium added 10,000 temporary seats on the north grandstand and 7,000 temporary seats on the south grandstand, increasing the capacity from more than 30,000 to over 45,000 seats. These temporary seats are expected to be removed following the World Cup, reverting to their former capacity.
Player areas and locker rooms were also enhanced to accommodate visiting international teams for those playing in Toronto during the six matches. Additionally, the stadium’s broadcasting capabilities were upgraded to support international coverage during the games.
What other changes were made?
On top of the changes made for FIFA, the stadium also had four new LED video screens installed at each corner of the building, for fans to view the games with ease. Additionally, self-serve kiosks were added to select concession stands, wireless internet was upgraded to handle an increased fan capacity, a new kitchen to accommodate food orders, new team dugouts, and a centre-field lounge were also added to the stadium.
What will stick around following the World Cup?
The venue’s name was only temporarily changed from BMO Field to Toronto Stadium as a way to comply with FIFA rules and regulations, which prohibit brand sponsors who don’t have any affiliation or sponsorship with the FIFA World Cup.
Aside from the name and the temporary grandstands, Toronto Stadium is expected to keep the new improvements that came due to FIFA.
In a release, the City of Toronto said they hope the changes promote future international events to be held in the city as well.
“The planned infrastructure upgrades will enable the city to host more major international events and boost the local economy,” the statement reads.
Following FIFA, a ticketed rooftop patio with a 1,000-person capacity will also be added to a section of the stadium, allowing fans to access both concessions and the beautiful game with ease.
All enhancements were completed by March 2026. The City of Toronto has yet to share when construction for the rooftop patio will begin.
All of the upgrades were backed by a $123 million investment from the city and a $23 million investment from MLSE.
