Lamport Stadium

Last updated

Lamport Stadium
Lamport Stadium (37511251886).jpg
Lamport Stadium pictured in September 2017
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Lamport Stadium
Location in Toronto
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Lamport Stadium
Location in Ontario
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Lamport Stadium
Location in Canada
Full nameAllan A. Lamport Stadium
Location1151 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 1E9
Coordinates 43°38′20″N79°25′23″W / 43.63889°N 79.42306°W / 43.63889; -79.42306
Public transit BSicon CLRV.svg   504   King
Owner City of Toronto
OperatorToronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
Capacity 9,600
Field size110 x 75 m
Surface Artificial turf
Construction
Built1974–1975
OpenedSeptember 19, 1976;48 years ago (1976-09-19)
Renovated2007–2008, 2018
Tenants
Rugby League
Canada national rugby league team (2013–present)
Toronto Wolfpack (TWCC) (2017–present)
Rugby Union
Toronto Arrows (MLR) (2019)
Soccer
TFC Academy (CSL) (2008–2012)
SC Toronto (CSL) (2008–2012)
Toronto FC II (USL) (2018)
Internacional de Toronto (L1O) (2014)
Serbian White Eagles FC (CSL) (1975–79, 2014)
Lacrosse
Toronto Nationals (MLL) (2010)
Athletics
Ryerson Rams (U Sports) (2012)
Toronto Rush (Ultimate Frisbee Association) (2024)

Allan A. Lamport Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on King Street West in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the practice facility for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. It is also partial home for 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]

Contents

History

Lamport Stadium began construction during the winter of 1974 on the site of the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women. [2] [3] Construction was completed on July 1, 1975. [4] The stadium was originally set to open in April 1976 [5] [6] but was officially opened on September 19, 1976. [4]

Renovation works at Lamport Stadium in April 2008. Lamport Stadium Field.jpg
Renovation works at Lamport Stadium in April 2008.

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. [7] [8] [9] 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.

Facilities

Since opening in 1976, the playing surface has been artificial turf. [4] Lamport Stadium's indoor field measures 68 metres by 105 metres, allowing a full eleven-a-side game. [10]

Sports usage

Canadian football

The home games of the semi-professional American football team Toronto Athletics Football Team were played at the stadium from 1993 to 1996. The team provided players looking to keep playing sought to be scouted by professional gridiron football teams. 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 ]

In 2018, the professional Canadian football team, the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, announced that they would use the stadium as their practice facility. [11]

Lacrosse

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

Soccer

Since the opening of Lamport Stadium the National Soccer League used the stadium as a home venue for many of its clubs based in Toronto. [12]

In 1980, Lamport was one of the hosts of a friendly tournament known as the Toronto International Soccer Cup which featured Benfica and Partizan Belgrade. [4]

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. [13] 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. [14] The University of Toronto Schools high school team also uses Lamport Stadium as a practice field and for home games.

Rugby league

On 21 May 2012, it was announced that Lamport Stadium would be the new home of the Canada national rugby league team, the Wolverines. [15] The 2013 Colonial Cup opener against the United States national rugby league team saw a crowd of 7,168 turn out to witness a comeback victory for the Wolverines. [16]

The stadium also hosted a professional rugby league club, the Toronto Wolfpack who played there between 2017 and 2019. [17]

The Toronto Wolfpack playing against the London Broncos at Lamport Stadium in 2018 Toronto Wolfpack v London Broncos 3 - June 9, 2018.jpg
The Toronto Wolfpack playing against the London Broncos at Lamport Stadium in 2018

On May 18, 2019, Lamport hosted the inaugural Americas 9s tournament. [18]

International matches

DateHomeScoreAwayCompetitionAttendanceRef.
July 21, 2012Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 18–12Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Caribbean Carnival Cup4,630 [19] [20]
August 11, 2012Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 36–18Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon International Friendly2,300 [21] [22]
September 8, 2012Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 24–28Flag of the United States.svg  United States Colonial Cup 4,675 [23]
October 6, 2012Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4–68 Flag of England.svg England Lions International Friendly5,000 [24]
July 6, 2013Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 36–20Flag of the United States.svg  United States Colonial Cup 7,168 [16] [25]
July 20, 2013Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 38–14Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Caribbean Carnival Cup5,700 [26]
September 7, 2013Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 20–28Flag of the United States.svg  United States Colonial Cup 3,128 [27] [28]
September 24, 2013Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 22–30Flag of the United States.svg  United States Colonial Cup 5,176 [29] [30]
June 21, 2014Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 18–40 Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Air Force Friendly
July 5, 2014Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 12–36 Flag of England.svg England Lions International Friendly
July 19, 2014Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 24–20Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Caribbean Carnival Cup3,129 [31]
August 9, 2014Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 52–14Flag of the United States.svg  United States Colonial Cup 7,356 [32]
August 20, 2016 Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario State6–38 Flag of England.svg North West English LionheartsInternational Friendly [33]
September 3, 2016 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg East Canada18–22 Flag of England.svg England Young LionsInternational Friendly [34]
September 24, 2016Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 8–14Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2016 Americas Rugby League Championship
Colonial Cup
[35] [36]
October 15, 2016Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 10–22 Canberra colours.svg South Wales Ironmen Club vs. Country
September 16, 2017Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 18–38Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2017 Americas Rugby League Championship
Colonial Cup
8,456 [37] [38]
October 19, 2024Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 28–6Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica International Friendly [39] [40]
Canada's International Record at Lamport
CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLost % Won
Caribbean Carnival Cup3300100%
Colonial Cup 720528.57%
International Friendly420250%
Total1470750%

Updated 22 October 2024

Toronto Wolfpack Attendance

Toronto Wolfpack
LeagueFixturesAverage AttendanceHighestLowest
2017 League 1 107,6567,9725,646
2018 RFL Championship 77,6048,2175,287
2018 Rugby League Qualifiers 58,1339,2667,540
2019 RFL Championship 127,8829,9746,735

References: [41]

Rugby union

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. [42] They were scheduled to play games at the stadium in 2020, but the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team moved their home games to York Lions Stadium for the 2022 season. [43]

Ultimate Frisbee

The Toronto Rush of the Ultimate Frisbee Association will play the 1st half of their 2024 home schedule at Lamport Stadium while their regular home stadium Varsity Stadium is undergoing renovations. [44]

Non-sports usage

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 ]

Homeless encampment

The area around the stadium became a homeless encampment for a period of time, but was cleared by police and city staff on July 21, 2021, resulting in arrests of both homeless people who had been staying there and protestors standing in solidarity with them. Images of police brutality from the incident were heavily circulated on various social media platforms as well as getting coverage from a variety of news outlets. [45] [46] [47]

See also

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