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Lamport Stadium

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

Lamport Stadium
The Den
Lamport Stadium (37511251886).jpg
Full nameAllan A. Lamport Stadium
Location1151 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 1E9
Coordinates43°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 transitBSicon CLRV.svg  504  King
OwnerCity of Toronto
OperatorToronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
Capacity9,600
Field size110 x 75 m
SurfaceArtificial turf
Construction
Built1974–1975
OpenedJuly 1, 1975 (1975-07-01)
Renovated2007–2008, 2018
Tenants
Current
Canada national rugby league team (2013–present)
Toronto Wolfpack (Championship) (2017–present)
Toronto Arrows (MLR) (2019-present)
Former
Ryerson Rams (U Sports) (2012)
TFC Academy (CSL) (2008–2012)
SC Toronto (CSL) (2008–2012)
Toronto FC II (USL) (2018)
Toronto Nationals (MLL) (2010)
Internacional de Toronto (L1O) (2014)
Serbian White Eagles FC (CSL) (2014)

Contents

FacilityEdit

Lamport Stadium was built during the winter and spring of 1974–1975 on the site of the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women,[2] and opened on July 1, 1975.[3] Since construction, the playing surface has been artificial turf.[citation needed]

As part of a deal with the city to convert BMO Field to natural grass, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment spent CA$1.2 million adding a winter bubble to Lamport Stadium in the winter of 2009–2010.[4][5][6] MLSE manages the operations of the facility during the winter season, when the field is covered by the dome and community soccer programs are held.

The indoor field measures 68 metres by 105 metres, allowing a full eleven-a-side game.[7]

Sports usageEdit

FootballEdit

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.[citation needed]

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

SoccerEdit

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] However, with their drop to the division 3 USL League One for the 2019 season, the team moved their home games to BMO Training Ground.[10] The University of Toronto Schools (UTS) high school team also uses Lamport Stadium as a practice field and for home games.

Rugby leagueEdit

On 21 May 2012, it was announced that Lamport Stadium would be the new home of the Canada national rugby league team, the Wolverines.[11] 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 comeback from the Wolverines.[citation needed] The stadium also hosts a professional rugby league club, the Toronto Wolfpack, which began playing in the third-tier British League 1 competition.[12] The club won promotion to the second division Championship for the 2018 season, and won that as well.

International matchesEdit

Date Home Score Away Competition Attendance
21 July 2012   Canada 18-12   Jamaica Caribbean Carnival Cup 4,630[13]
11 August 2012   Canada 36-18   Lebanon Friendly 2,300[14]
6 October 2012   Canada 4-68   England Friendly 5,100
6 July 2013   Canada 36-20   United States Colonial Cup 7,200[15]
20 July 2013   Canada 38-14   Jamaica Caribbean Carnival Cup 5,700[16]
7 September 2013   Canada 20-28   United States Colonial Cup 3,128[17]
24 September 2013   Canada 22-30   United States Colonial Cup 5,176[18]
21 June 2014   Canada 18-40   Royal Air Force International
5 July 2014   Canada 12-36   England International
19 July 2014   Canada 24-20   Jamaica Caribbean Carnival Cup 3,129
9 August 2014   Canada 52-14   United States Colonial Cup 7,356
20 August 2016   Canada 6-38   England International
3 September 2016   East Canada 18-22   England Young Lions International
24 September 2016   Canada 8-14   United States 2016 Americas Rugby League Championship,
Colonial Cup
15 October 2016   Canada 10-22   South Wales Ironmen International -
16 September 2017   Canada 18-38   United States 2017 Americas Rugby League Championship [19]

Rugby unionEdit

In January 2019, Major League Rugby expansion team, the Toronto Arrows announced that they would split home games between Lamport Stadium and Alumni Field at York University for their inaugural season.[20]

LacrosseEdit

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

Non-sports usageEdit

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

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  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. ^ "Upgrades to BMO Field at Exhibition Place and Allan Lamport Stadium" (PDF). City of Toronto. September 22, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "Upgrades to BMO Field at Exhibition Place and Allan Lamport Stadium" (PDF). City of Toronto. September 9, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Grass at BMO Field Attains Final Approval". Major League Soccer. January 23, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "Lamport Stadium". Ontario Soccer Association. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "Argonauts to relocate football-operations staff". The Sports Network. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. ^ Kelly, Tim (August 29, 2017). "TFC II leaving Vaughan for Toronto after 3-season run; stadium size at issue". Vaughan Citizen. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Toronto FC II 2019 USL League One Regular Season Schedule Announced". Toronto FC. December 10, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  11. ^ RLFC, Canada (May 21, 2012). "Canada Wolverines to take on the World at Lamport Stadium". Canada RLFC News. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  12. ^ "Rugby Football League officials joined by Mayor John Tory to unveil team brand and league information". April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. July 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  14. ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  15. ^ "Canada comes from behind to beat the USA 36-20". Canadarugbyleague.com. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. July 20, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  17. ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  18. ^ "USA edge Canada in Colonial cup decider". Canadarugbyleague.com. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  19. ^ http://www.rlif.com/article/8326/usa-hawks-defeat-canada-to-lift-americas-championship
  20. ^ "Toronto Arrows to split Major League Rugby home games between York and Lamport". National Post. January 17, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
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