BMO Field expansion funding approved by council
Article content
TORONTOMaple Leaf Sports and Entertainment scored a deal with city council Thursday to expand BMO Field.
Council voted 39-3 in favour of the deal that gives MLSE a $10 million loan from the city for a $120 million expansion that will add 10,000 seats to the stadium and a partial roof.
Mayor Rob Ford, Councillor Doug Ford and Councillor Mike Del Grande all voted against the deal.
The renovation — which is still dependent on $10 million each from the province and the federal government — sets the stage for BMO Field becoming the new home for the Toronto Argonauts.
Ford has called the deal “corporate welfare” but didn’t get the chance to speak against it on the council floor. Council voted to end debate and have an immediate vote before Ford got up to speak — the mayor voted against that move as well.
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly spoke passionately in favour of the “good deal” in the lead up to the vote.
“We’re not giving any money to a private corporation — we are co-investing,” Kelly told council. “We’re co-investing in our own asset.”
“Why on heaven’s earth would you want to turn that down?”
City manager Joe Pennachetti argued the city was “enhancing our own asset and it is costing us nothing at the end of the day.”
Councillor Mark Grimes — the chairman of the Exhibition Place Board of Governors — called the deal a “great example of a public-private partnership.”
Former budget chief Mike Del Grande urged council to give the deal a second thought.
“You’re inconsistent and you’re asking for more taxpayers’ dollars to go into sports and I don’t think that’s our business,” Del Grande said.
MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke said they were “very grateful for the leadership and support of the city” but argued there is more work to be done before the expansion is a done deal.
“This is an important issue, not just for Toronto FC, but also the CFL, the Pan Am Games, and our ability to host Winter Classics, Grey Cups, and the proposed 2026 World Cup bid for Canada,” Leiweke said. “Without support from the provincial and federal governments this deal does not happen, so together with the city, we will focus our attention over the coming days and weeks to finding the matching funds. “Without these matching funds, we will be looking at a major issue for all of the proposed uses for BMO Field. We have work to do.”
— Files from Kurt Larson
Get updates from City Hall on Thursday. Click here for a mobile-friendly version
tap here to see other videos from our team.
BMO Field expansion funding approved by council Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
