A sports facility in the heart of the GTA
TORONTO, October 18, 2004 -- York University announced today that an agreement has been reached for the construction of a new 25,000-seat stadium on the York University Keele campus. The stadium will be the new home of the Toronto Argonauts and a world-class venue for Canadian soccer, and will host the FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Youth Championship in the summer of 2007.
The new stadium, which will become part of the regional athletic centre being created on York’s campus, will play a significant role in the Canadian Soccer Association’s (CSA) hosting of the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship, which will be played in six Canadian cities. The Championship has a budget of approximately $30 million, almost half of which will be spent in Toronto.
Photo From left: Argos co-owners Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon, York President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna Marsden, VP Finance and Administration Gary Brewer
“This $70 million project is an example of successful co-operation between governments, York University, amateur and professional sports,” said the Hon. Joe Volpe, federal Minister Responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, (GTA), who confirmed that the federal government will be contributing $27 million toward the cost of the new stadium.
Ontario Minister of Tourism and Recreation Jim Bradley stated, "The McGuinty government is pleased to be a part of a project that will greatly improve recreational opportunities for the local community, the university, and athletes across Ontario."
York University will provide the land for the new stadium as well as $15 million, private capital led by Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon will contribute another $20 million, and the Ontario government will provide $8 million. In addition, the Argos will be responsible for any operating shortfall on an annual basis that might arise from the operation of the stadium.
“York is proud to be home to this superb sports stadium, further enhancing our position as a premier sports and recreation destination in the GTA,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor, Lorna Marsden. “York students, including a wide variety of York teams, will be the beneficiaries of this new facility, which will be used for sporting events and training throughout the year,” she added.
Kevan Pipe, Chief Operating Officer of the CSA, stated, “It will give Toronto a much-needed stadium of the quality required to host international soccer matches and it will be a great home for Canadian and international soccer events in the future.”
“On behalf of the Canadian Soccer Association, we thank everyone involved as well as our international governing body, FIFA, and its President, Joseph Blatter and Vice President Jack Warner, both for providing initial financial support to get this project underway as well as awarding the hosting rights of the FIFA World Youth Championship 2007 to Canada. We are most sincerely appreciative of their ongoing support,” said Pipe.
York University’s 60,000-member community, young soccer players, local community organizations, and sport, entertainment and athletic groups will all benefit from the new stadium, which will be easily accessible by both public transit and by car, because of the proximity of highways 400, 401 and 407.
“This will truly be a resource for the whole community" added Minister Volpe who said that York University is very keen to work with local schools, youth and community groups in the surrounding areas to ensure that they can benefit from these wonderful new facilities.
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For more information, the media should contact:
Nancy White, Director Media Relations, York University, 416-736-5603 / whiten@yorku.ca
YU/000/04
Why York U?
The answer is clear.
Canada’s Interdisciplinary University
York University is located at the geographic nexus of the 416 / 905 area code encompassing Toronto, York, Durham, Peel and Halton Regions.
The third largest university in the country and single largest post-secondary campus, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 180,000 alumni.
York’s 10 faculties and 21 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research – including in Kinesiology and Health Science – that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries.
A Premier Sports Destination
Home to $45-million Rexall Centre, a premier tennis venue, York University has a successful history of hosting major sporting events. York is building a university-based centre for local and national amateur sports excellence and a venue attractive for a wide range of sports competitions complete with facilities for track and field, tennis, soccer, football and hockey.
Getting to the ‘Big Game’
Are you driving? In addition to a robust road system, the Keele campus has plenty of parking for any sporting event with spaces for more than 12,000 vehicles.
York University is at the geographical centre of the GTA and is easily accessible from major highways -- 400, 401, 407 -- with Pearson International Airport literally minutes away by Highways 407 / 427.
The Keele campus is served by more than 1,100 bus trips a day -- TTC, GO and York Region Transit – making York one of the largest and busiest transit hubs in the GTA.
All three major transit providers have indicated interest in providing special transit service for stadium events.
The TTC is in the final stages of the Environmental Assessment to build dedicated bus lanes from Downsview subway station to York University to improve travel times and the reliability of bus service until the proposed Spadina Subway extension through York’s Keele campus can be built. Construction of the bus lanes is expected to take place in 2005 and 2006.
York Connections
In October 2003, Toronto businessmen and former York football player David Cynamon became one of the new owners of the Toronto Argonauts, marking the first time in over 30 years that the team has had local ownership.
Jeff Johnson (York running back - 1996-99), now a member of the Argos, signed as a free-agent on February 22, 2002. He is York’s career rushing leader with 3365 yards on 553 carries.
In 2003 Paul James was appointed master soccer coach at York. A former Canadian World Cup player, he represented Canada at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
The Argos’ athletic therapist Erin Brooks is a graduate of York’s Athletic Therapy Certificate program.
Frank Hoffman, who attended York, was recently drafted by the Argos.
Top Notch Sport and Recreation Facilities
York has a history of on-time, on-budget project management.
Rexall Centre
The newly opened $45-million Rexall Centre, which was constructed within a one-year span, is a world-class tennis venue with a 12,500 Centre Court stadium, a grandstand court, 10 outdoor practice courts and four permanent indoor courts. The core 15-acre site expands to more than 20 acres during the Canadian Open and, in addition to being the home of Tennis Canada, houses the Ontario Tennis Association.
City of Toronto Track and Field Centre
The City of Toronto Track and Field Centre (owned and operated jointly by York and the City) is one of the finest indoor/outdoor track facilities in Canada featuring a 4-lane, 200-metre indoor chevron track; 7-lane, 60-metre indoor sprint and hurdle runways; and 8-lane, 400-metre outdoor chevron track with 2 sprint strips.
Ice Gardens
The Ice Gardens is a full-service facility featuring 5 NHL sized rinks at 100’ x 85’. The Olympic sized rink at 200’ x 100’ has played host to Canada’s National Junior and World Championship Men’s and Women’s Teams.
Tait McKenzie Centre
The Tait McKenzie Centre features a newly-renovated and expanded 11,100 square feet fitness centre, features 4 gyms, (including a competition gym with a 1,500 person seating capacity); 6 squash courts; martial arts, dance, spinning and aerobic studios; 25-metre swimming pool; state of the art sport injury clinic; cardio and weight training facility; and 5 outdoor playing fields, 4 softball fields and 9 tennis courts.
World-class Academic, Sport and Recreation Programs, Research, Athletes
York is building a healthy life-style school and contributing through its expertise, talent and commitment to athletic excellence to a healthier Canada.
Programs
York is home to Canada’s most leading-edge undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Kinesiology and Health Science, as well as an undergraduate certificate program in coaching, sport administration and fitness assessment and exercise counseling.
The Athletic Therapy Certificate in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science has emerged as one of Canada's most innovative and unique programs. It is the leading university program in Ontario to have accreditation with the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association (CATA).
Research
York is also home to the most advanced sports research including facilities for the study of the integrative physiology of exercise (including DNA sequencing access, a large molecular biology facility, equipment for the study of in vivo muscle function and biochemistry), health and fitness behaviours, and neural and biomechanical movement control.
Additionally, York is a leader in research examining the sociological factors that lead to violence in sport; factors in human performance; the physiological effects and detection of performance enhancing drugs; ergonomic applications in physically demanding occupations and applied fitness research such as employee fitness.
Sport and Recreation
Sport York offers 24 varsity sport teams including 13 women’s and 11 men’s teams that compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
During the 2003-04 school year, more than 20,000 people were registered with York’s Fitness Centre and related programs. Recreation York also offers more than 30 aerobic and cross training classes offered each week, as well as 46 different instructional courses each semester, including martial arts, aquatics, racquets, dance and certifications.
Recreation York provides numerous intramural sport opportunities including 35 tournament and sport leagues as well as a number of special events including three-on-three basketball and the All Night Rage Volleyball Tournament.
York Athletes
World champion Karen Cockburn took Olympic silver in the women’s individual trampoline event at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games. Cockburn, 23, a York economics student, took home bronze in trampoline four years ago during the Sydney Olympic Games.
York Lions running back Andre Durie is currently the second leading rusher in the CIS. Durie tied a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) single-game record with six touchdowns in the Lions 55-33 win over the Waterloo Warriors earlier this season. He also made headlines last year when he broke the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) single-game record with 349 yards against Ottawa on October 18, 2003.
The New Sports Stadium at York U
A Stadium for all Seasons
The new stadium at York is scheduled to become operational in 2006 and will play host to the 2007 FIFA World Youth Soccer Championship.
York students, including a wide variety of York teams, will be major beneficiaries of this new facility which will be used for sporting events – including soccer and football – and athletic training throughout the year.
As the home field for the Toronto Argonauts Football Club, the new stadium will be easily accessible by both public transit and by car (via highways 400, 401 and 407).
York will be working with local sports and community groups to ensure they enjoy the benefits of this premier facility.
Where the money will come from
Total estimated cost: $70 million
Federal contribution: $27 million
Private capital led by Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon: $20 million
York University’s contribution: the land for the project plus $15 million
The Ontario government’s contribution: $8 million
In addition the Argos will be responsible for any operating shortfall on an annual basis that might arise from the operation of the stadium.
Sports Stadium at York by the numbers
Number of seats: 25,000
Year the stadium will become operational: 2006
Number of Argos regular season and pre-season home games to be played: 10
Number of Toronto Lynx games to be played per year (2007 and beyond): 15
Number of concerts at Sports Centre stadium per year: 6
Additional annual Canadian soccer events: 5-7
Number of spectators, (including floor seating) for concerts: 30,000
Soccer in Canada
Soccer is hugely popular: 900,000 players are registered with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA).
Another 1.1 million Canadians participate in soccer in schools or agencies not registered with the CSA .
Soccer is the most popular sport by participation in Canada, exceeding hockey’s registered player base by almost 300,000 participants.
Ontario is the soccer hotbed of Canada with 43.9% or nearly 350,000, of all registered players, and the next closest Provincial organization holding approximately 18% (Federation Quebecoise) (this compares to Ontario’s 38% share of the general population, compared to Quebec’s 24% share).
York Sports Stadium in Toronto, Canada’s International City
Toronto is the most ethnically diverse large city in North America.
44% of Torontonians were born outside Canada, outranking Miami, Los Angeles and New York.
Toronto’s cultural mosaic actively supports and participates in the world’s most popular sport – soccer.
