Rob Ford Stadium

Last updated
Rob Ford Stadium
Centennial
Rob Ford Stadium (photo by Djuradj Vujcic).jpg
The stadium pictured in 2024
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Red pog.svg
Rob Ford Stadium
Location in Toronto
Canada Ontario relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Rob Ford Stadium
Location in Ontario
Canada relief map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Rob Ford Stadium
Location in Canada
Former namesCentennial Park Stadium (1975–2024)
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates 43°39′13″N79°35′04″W / 43.65361°N 79.58444°W / 43.65361; -79.58444
Owner City of Toronto
Operator Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
Capacity 2,200
Surface Artificial turf
ScoreboardYes
Construction
Built1975
Opened1975
Renovated2010
Tenants
Serbian White Eagles (2006–present)
FC Ukraine United (2006–present)
Etobicoke Eagles (2009–present)
GTA Grizzlies (2015–present)
Toronto Supra Portuguese (2001–2007)
Toronto Lynx (2002–2017)
Toronto Lady Lynx (1997–2015)
Toronto Atomic FC (2015–2017)

Rob Ford Stadium (formerly Centennial stadium) is a 2,200-seat stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is primarily used for soccer, track and field, football and occasionally for kabaddi. The park is also used for the ROPSSAA football finals and the PSAA (Private Schools Athletic Association) on the first Monday of May for an annual Track and Field Meet.

The stadium was originally named for the city park it is located in, which opened during Canada's centennial year of 1967; the stadium was opened in 1975, eight years after the centennial.

It is located within Centennial Park in the Etobicoke district, just south of Toronto Pearson International Airport and near the intersection of Rathburn Road and Renforth Drive. It was built in 1975. The stadium hosted the first edition of Veteran Athletes Championships in 1975 [1] as well.

The stadium hosted the closing ceremony of the 1976 Summer Paralympics and some of the sporting events.

The stadium has seating in a grandstand on the west side and a small scoreboard on the north end of the field.

The stadium is home to the Toronto Lynx soccer clubs (men's and ladies'). It hosts the Relay For Life in Toronto West event each June, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. The stadium hosted the CPSL/CSL Championship finals in 1998, 2010, 2011, and 2014. [2] [3] [4] [5]

In 2017, there were calls and support for the stadium to be renamed after former mayor Rob Ford [6] as Rob Ford Memorial Stadium, [7] but city council voted down the motion 11 to 24 on October 4, 2017. [8] In 2023, amid the re-imagining of the park through the Centennial Park Master Plan that was also approved in 2021, city council again considered a motion to rename the stadium after Ford, this time passing 17 to 6. [9] [10]

The stadium was officially renamed Rob Ford Stadium on May 28, 2024. [11]

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References

  1. "1975 WMA News Archives". www.shaggysphotos.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  2. Glover, Robin. "Voyageurs Soccer Talk". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  3. "October 30, 2010 CSL--Final preview (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  4. "October 26, 2011 CSL--preview of CSL Final (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  5. "October 25, 2012 CSL--pregame article on CSL Final (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  6. "Toronto mayor backs renaming stadium after Rob Ford".
  7. Rider, David (28 September 2017). "'Rob Ford Memorial Stadium' proposal triggers groans, gratitude" via Toronto Star.
  8. "No 'Rob Ford Memorial Stadium' in Toronto after council rejects renaming proposal | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  9. "City council votes to rename stadium at Centennial Park after late mayor Rob Ford | CityNews Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  10. "Toronto council votes to rename Etobicoke stadium after Rob Ford - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  11. Tsekouras, Phil (28 May 2024). "Stadium in Etobicoke officially renamed in honour of Rob Ford". CP24 . Retrieved 28 May 2024.

See also