One of the four new videoboards installed, attached to BMO Field’s corner columns. Each videoboard has a resolution of more than 5 million LED pixels. The videoboards are part of Phase 1 upgrades in preparation to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Sarah Espedido/The Globe and Mail
The first phase of BMO Field’s FIFA World Cup makeover is now complete, with four huge video screens at each corner of the ground, a luxury lounge to accommodate heads of state and other dignitaries and preparations underway to add 17,000 seats and a new playing surface before next summer’s soccer extravaganza.
The City of Toronto, which owns the stadium, and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which manages its operations, toured reporters around the stadium Tuesday, describing what has been done and what’s still to come.
“We’re proud to be welcoming the globe and the world to this stadium and to have some things left behind as a legacy that will improve the fan experience long after the World Cup is over,” said Sharon Bollenbach, executive director of the FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto secretariat.
Although it’s normally known as BMO Field, home to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argos, the venue will be known as Toronto Stadium during the World Cup.
Canada’s men’s national team has qualified for the tournament as one of three host nations, along with Mexico and the United States. It will play its first match in Toronto next June. Toronto will play host to six games and Vancouver seven over the course of the tournament, with other games spread across 14 cities in the U.S. and Mexico.
Nick Eaves, chief operating officer of MLSE, said the stadium is now starting Phase 2 of preparations, which he called a “final mile” to being World Cup ready.
MLSE chief operating officer Nick Eaves speaks to media at BMO Field on Tuesday as the City of Toronto and MLSE complete the first phase of upgrades in transforming the space into the 2026 World Cup-ready Toronto Stadium.Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press
The highlight of Phase 1 was the addition of four enormous colour screens, 50 feet by 30 feet, at each corner of the stadium. The screens are capable of displaying more than 5 million pixels, according to the organizers.
“Those are the jewels in the crown, really, for the fan experience. They’re so beautiful visually,” Bollenbach said.
The stadium also now features a lounge that includes premium seating where FIFA will be able to welcome heads of state and other dignitaries who will attend the matches. The lounge was created by merging and renovating four existing luxury boxes located between the upper and lower stands on the stadium’s west side.
The City of Toronto has pledged $123-million to the stadium improvements while MLSE will contribute $23-million.
The hybrid grass pitch that is currently in use at BMO Field will have to be replaced ahead of the World Cup, Eaves said. Although the current playing surface is considered a good pitch, he said, FIFA will want to ensure all playing surfaces are as good as they can possibly be.
“It’s going to be similar to this. It’s a hybrid pitch, which means it’s natural grass, but stitched into a base that allows it to be a little bit more durable. So we’ll be replacing it with a World Cup match-ready pitch,” he said.
The stadium’s lighting will be upgraded to meet FIFA broadcast standards and player locker rooms and dugouts will be enhanced.
The view of BMO Field from the new Centre Field lounge that was renovated as part of Phase 1 upgrades.Sarah Espedido/The Globe and Mail
The major change still to come in Phase 2 is the addition of 17,000 seats, which will bring the stadium’s capacity from about 28,000 to about 45,000 people.
Construction will begin in December to prepare for the installation of 10,000 additional seats on the stadium’s north side and 7,000 seats on the south side. Those seats will be temporary and will come down once the tournament is over. But in the north end, a structure will remain in place that will be converted to an outdoor patio where fans will be able to watch games in future.
“In terms of a legacy leave behind that residents of the city Toronto can enjoy long after the World Cup matches are over, that’s a great example,” Eaves said.
Phase 1 of the upgrades to BMO Field for the 2026 World Cup is now complete, with the second phase to start in December. The next stage will include increasing seating capacity to 45,000 with 17,000 temporary seats in the north and south end.
The Canadian Press