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 9,600 seating capacity stadium is also used for soccer, with the playing surface dually marked for both soccer and field hockey. The stadium was named for long-time Toronto politician Allan Lamport, who was associated with sporting activities in the city.[1]
The Den | |
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Full name | Allan A. Lamport Stadium |
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Location | 1151 King Street West Toronto, Ontario M6K 1E9 |
Coordinates | 43°38′20″N 79°25′23″W / 43.63889°N 79.42306°WCoordinates: 43°38′20″N 79°25′23″W / 43.63889°N 79.42306°W |
Public transit | ![]() |
Owner | City of Toronto |
Operator | Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation |
Capacity | 9,600 |
Field size | 110 x 75 m |
Surface | Artificial turf |
Construction | |
Built | 1974–1975 |
Opened | July 1, 1975 |
Renovated | 2007–2008, 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. The artificial turf was most recently replaced in 2018.
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] During the winter-time, the field is covered by the dome. The indoor field measures 68 metres by 105 metres, allowing a full eleven-a-side game.[5] MLSE has a license from the city to run community soccer programs during the winter under the bubble.[6][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.
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) Highschool Team also uses Lamport Stadium as both a practice field, and uses it for home games as well.
Rugby leagueEdit
It was announced on 21 May 2012, 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 thrilling comeback from the Wolverines. The stadium also hosts professional rugby league club, Toronto Wolfpack, which began competing 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. They will be competing for promotion to the Super League in fall 2018.
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 |
7 September 2013 | Canada | 20-28 | United States | Colonial Cup | 3,128[15] |
24 September 2013 | Canada | 22-30 | United States | Colonial Cup | 5,176[16] |
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 |
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15 October 2016 | Canada | 10-22 | South Wales Ironmen | International | - |
Rugby unionEdit
The Toronto Arrows will split its home games at Alumni Field of York University and Lamport Stadium during its inagural 2019 MLR season.[17]
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.
See alsoEdit
- List of rugby league stadiums by capacity
- Canada Rugby League
- Rugby league in Canada
- Canada national rugby league team
- Centennial Park Stadium - City of Toronto
- Downsview Park Sports Centre
- Varsity Stadium - University of Toronto
- Esther Shiner Stadium - City of Toronto
- Monarch Park Stadium - Toronto District School Board
- Metro Toronto Track and Field Centre - City of Toronto
- Rosedale Field - City of Toronto
- York Lions Stadium - York University
- Alumni Field - York University
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Best, Michael (June 25, 1975). "Allan Lamport's work deserves a memorial". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. D1.
- ^ "Government loan launches stadium on old Mercer site". The Toronto Star. Toronto. October 31, 1974. p. C3.
- ^ "Stadium named for Allan Lamport". The Toronto Star. Toronto. June 14, 1974. p. A8.
- ^ "Grass at BMO Field Attains Final Approval". Major League Soccer. January 23, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "Lamport Stadium". Ontario Soccer Association. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
- ^ "Upgrades to BMO Field at Exhibition Place and Allan Lamport Stadium" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2009-09-22.
- ^ "Upgrades to BMO Field at Exhibition Place and Allan Lamport Stadium - Attachment 1" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2009-09-09.
- ^ "Argonauts to relocate football-operations staff". The Sports Network. 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- ^ Kelly, Tim (2017-08-29). "TFC II leaving Vaughan for Toronto after 3-season run; stadium size at issue". Vaughan Citizen. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ "Toronto FC II 2019 USL League One Regular Season Schedule Announced". Toronto FC. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
- ^ RLFC, Canada (May 21, 2012). "Canada Wolverines to take on the World at Lamport Stadium". Canada RLFC News. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ^ "Rugby Football League officials joined by Mayor John Tory to unveil team brand and league information". April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. 2012-07-21. Archived from the original on 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. 2012-08-11. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "RLEF". Rlef.eu.com. 2013-09-07. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "USA edge Canada in Colonial cup decider". Canadarugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "Toronto Arrows Announce Ticketing Details, Home Venues for 2019 Major League Rugby Season". Toronto Arrows. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-01-20.