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York United FC Stadium/National Soccer Training Facility (at Woodbine Racetrack)

We need @MisterF here telling us about how this is a waste of space if it isn't configured for hand egg.

Quit pissing about in the Lamport thread, mistaking AFL for American hand egg and get in here, bruv!
 
A lot can be learned from the successful clubs, Halifax and Hamilton's experience this season in terms of attendance. Both teams have a stadium in their downtowns and it was a recipe for success. This is also something that plays out in soccer clubs in the United States at both MLS and USL levels.

Halifax is playing in a pop up stadium in a big park in their downtown, and it is a relatively cheap, and obviously effective solution. So much so that Halifax is foregoing stadium locations outside their downtown and forcing a stadium location downtown to build on their huge success.

Translating that success to York Region is much more difficult given that it is sprawling upper municipality with many regional centres. That being said, a lot has been invested in creating a downtown for Vaughan at VMC, and a stadium could be part of that.
 
Canadian Premier League “very close” to adding three teams

Commissioner confirms soccer league is eyeing up expansion after inaugural season.

Posted: November 4 2019
By: Sam Carp

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) is already discussing expansion having completed its inaugural season, commissioner David Clanachan has revealed.

Speaking to Reuters, Clanachan said that the professional men’s soccer league, which currently has seven teams, has received expressions of interest from 18 communities, with three of those “very close” to joining the competition.

The commissioner added that the league expects to make an expansion announcement before the end of November, but said it is unlikely any new teams will begin play until the 2021 campaign.

 
Very likely to be Quebec City and Saskatoon, alongside bringing in Ottawa Fury from the American Div 2 league USL.

My bet is that the first new team announced will be Quebec City as they just announced that they figured out the stadium situation over there (I don't count Ottawa Fury because they could theoretically start playing in CPL tomorrow).

Outside contenders still are Moncton and Laval. Hopefully Moncton is chosen to provide Halifax with a rival, and also because the Laval bid needs to think about the poor showing of York 9 in attendance numbers in the inaugural season and consider how they'll find a place in the Montreal market.
 
Hmm...the Ottawa Fury have just announced they're suspending operations for one season (in the USL). ?

It's currently unclear what their future plans are.


Ugly situation, CONCACAF has been providing Fury all kinds of problems ever since the CPL was created. If Ottawa Fury simply joined CPL, they would have been forced to pay expensive expansion fee shortly after having paid one to the USL in 2017. In a way, they've been held hostage by the situation, and may decide that it is better to simply fold. We will have to await tomorrow to learn what's happened. A Friday announcement is not confidence-inspiring though.

There are other mitigating circumstances for why they don't just join the CPL. Their staff wage bill is supposedly higher than the entire CPL combined, and apparently the CPL has a spending cap for staff.

As much as it would have been great to just have Ottawa start playing in 2020, the best case scenario is probably to suspend operations for one season (such as FC Edmonton), re-evaluate your situation and rebuild your squad and staff, and begin competition in the CPL in 2021. I worry that the club owner might decide to just fold the club instead though.

I hope whatever comes tomorrow, that the Fury branding and name is preserved.
 
Relocation of Fury FC to the US could be an option, as the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group assess their future plans.

In a lengthy statement from the club, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group CEO Mark Goudie blamed behind-the-scenes politics for the suspension.

“I feel angry, betrayed and deeply sorry for our fans, players, coaches and staff that their club will not operate in 2020,” Goudie said. “I believe we were purposely run out of time.”

...

“I think it’s apparent that soccer’s hierarchy is trying to force Fury FC out of the USL,” said Goudie. “The governing bodies do not respect the investment that we have made in Canadian soccer, our contribution to the development of soccer in Canada or the value of our USL franchise. The USL has been very supportive and has vigorously lobbied the US Soccer Federation and CONCACAF on our behalf, but match and TV schedules must be set, venues booked, coaches hired, players signed and tickets sold. I believe they intentionally ran us out of time.”

OSEG will now explore further options for the future of the Ottawa Fury FC, which could include relocation to the U.S.

 
Ottawa's abysmal year in sports: Why it’s so difficult to build sustainable teams here

Very fascinating read about the Ottawa Fury, the OSEG ownership group, and the challenges of building up professional sports in smaller markets like Ottawa.

Lots of interesting real estate redevelopment and stadium discussions re: Landsdowne site, LeBreton Flats site, and relations between OSEG and Melnyk (Senators) ownership groups in there too.
 
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Coming Soon: York University’s State-of-the-Art Seasonal Sports Dome, One of the Largest in Ontario

August 21, 2020

Excitement is in the air as York University begins construction of a new multi-use seasonal sports dome and turf conversion. As a result, York University will boast one of Ontario's largest air-supported sports domes that will be among the largest domes in the country.

York Lions Stadium (formerly the 2015 Pan American Stadium) Conversion Project features a state-of-the-art air-supported dome and a world-class, internationally-certified artificial turf, providing the highest quality sport surface in the country.
Highlights of the project are:

  • 450' x 250' x 75' Air-supported Dome
  • FIFA Quality Pro (previously known as 2 Star in soccer) and World Rugby (WR) 22 certified turf
  • Turf size is equal to 450' x 250' (112,500 sq. ft. of playing surface)
  • Seating capacity of 4,000 with additional seating that could increase the maximum capacity to 12,500
  • $8.2M investment
  • Spring 2021 Official Opening
The anticipated transformation of York Lions Stadium (YLS) to a multi-use sports and entertainment facility will provide increased utilization of the stadium that will benefit not only York students, staff, faculty and alumni but also local sports & community groups. The new and improved YLS will also be the future home of YORK9 Football Club.

"We are thrilled that the conversion project is now underway here at York Lions Stadium. This is a part of an overall vision to create better access to space where we can continue to deliver top quality programs and services to the York community and beyond. The newly renovated venue gives us the capacity to increase use for students, intramural programming, student-athletes, and sport clubs, while also assisting with things like orientation events, concerts and other entertainment opportunities for the campus," said York University, Executive Director of Athletics & Recreation, Jennifer Myers.

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The Dome & Turf Conversion Project is slated for completion in Spring 2021. A virtual ground-breaking ceremony is being planned for Thursday, September 17 at 12:00pm. For more details on the project visit yorkulions.ca
 
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York University's York Lions Stadium moves from track to turf in $8.2-million transformation

Former track training site will now host varsity football and soccer


July 28, 2021

A track and field stadium at York University’s Keele campus that was built for the 2015 Pan-Am Games has undergone an $8.2-million transformation.

Construction to convert York Lions Stadium (YLS) from track to turf will be completed Friday, July 30, with the facility re-opening that evening for a Canadian Premier League soccer game between York United FC and Hamilton Forge FC.

“It’ll be more of a multi-purpose stadium,” said York University head soccer coach Carmine Isacco, noting the facility will house sports such as soccer, football, rugby and field hockey.

Terrence Hawkins, superintendent at Chandos Construction, the general contractor for the project, has been on site since construction began in August 2020. “Every square inch inside the field has been excavated and reworked to (make) this beautiful soccer field,” he said. “We had a few challenges with the snow and the ground freezing, but we overcame every obstacle Mother Nature threw at us.”

 
Ah, I remember Carm Isacco. He coached the men's and women's York soccer teams to perfection. They just didn't know how to stop winning games and titles, especially the men's team. Glad he's still around and getting some investment in his facility.
 
York might potentially be going here

https://woodbine.com/woodbine-news/...ccer-training-facility-and-community-stadium/
https://globalnews.ca/news/8703973/woodbine-entertainment-soccer-stadium-training-facility/

StadiumRender-WoodbineTrainingFacility.jpg

BirdsView-WoodbineTrainingFacility.jpg

OverheadView-WoodbineTrainingFacility.png


 

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