Varsity Stadium
) (2016–2018) |
Varsity Stadium is an outdoor collegiate football
History
Athletic teams of the University of Toronto have used the site as an athletic ground since 1898. In 1911, the university opened Varsity Stadium.
First stadium
Canadian sprinter Percy Williams set a world record in the 100 metres with a time of 10.3 seconds at Varsity Stadium during the Canadian Track and Field Championships in 1930.[1]
Varsity Stadium has for its entire history been host to the University of Toronto's collegiate Canadian football team, the
During the 1976 Summer Olympics, Varsity Stadium hosted several soccer matches, and was the site of the semi-final game between Brazil and Poland.[2][3]
The NASL's
In mid-1986, Varsity Stadium played host to the
The new Toronto Blizzard returned to Varsity in 1987 as part of the Canadian Soccer League but would move to the smaller Centennial Park Stadium as a cost-cutting move. They returned in 1993 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League but again were forced to move, this time to Lamport Stadium, again due to financial difficulties. Varsity Stadium continued to host the Canadian intercollegiate championship, the Vanier Cup (as it had been for most years from 1965 to 1988 [with exception of 1973–75]), but that too moved to larger quarters such as SkyDome (now known as Rogers Centre) as the popularity of the collegiate championship grew.
Canada's national soccer team played several matches at Varsity Stadium, including crucial World Cup qualifying matches versus Costa Rica in 1985 and Mexico in 1993. Friendly matches versus Germany and the Netherlands were also staged in 1994.
Minor league professional soccer team Toronto Lynx moved into the stadium in 1997 but was forced to move to Centennial Park Stadium due to the impending demolition of the historic facility.
The stadium was demolished mid-2002 after the cost of maintaining the large facility was far more than it generated in revenue. At that time, several structural sections of the stadium were being held up by temporary repairs, and the future integrity of the structure was in question. The field and track were retained after the demolition. During the demolition and re-building of the site
Second stadium
From 2003 through 2005, temporary seating of about 1,500 was installed to permit the use of the field for intercollegiate games. The name Varsity Field was used from 2002 to 2006 during the period when the old stadium was demolished and the new stadium was being built.
A plan to build a new 25,000 seat
Facilities and features built in the first phase of the stadium's reconstruction include an IAAF Class II 400m eight-lane track, artificial field turf (FIFA 2 Star rated surface by Polytan), and a winter bubble enabling use during inclement weather. The multi-use capability was one of the main reasons that the plan was passed by the governing council, as opposed to the 25,000-seat stadium. Compared to the old Varsity Stadium, the seating is closer to Varsity Arena, almost making the two structures one conjoined complex. Part of the red brick wall along Bloor Street was maintained for historic purposes, but the new facility is much more open and visible from the streets overall. The new facilities are designed by
Following the renovation, the Argonauts returned to the stadium, hosting their 2013 preseason game at their former home.[6] Their 2014 and 2015 preseason home games were also scheduled for the stadium.[7][8]
For the 2015 Pan American Games the facility hosted archery between July 14 and 18. During the games, the facility was configured to hold roughly 2,000 spectators per session. The facility also hosted the archery events of the 2015 Parapan American Games[9]
Major events
In addition to hosting several University of Toronto athletic programs, the stadium has also hosted several events including military, musical, and sporting games.
Music
The stadium has also been host to several concerts most notably the 1969
KISS performed at the stadium during their Destroyer Tour on September 6, 1976.[12] Rush performed at the stadium on September 2, 1979, during their Permanent Waves Warm-up Tour.[13]
Sports
Game | Date | Winning team | Score | Losing team | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3rd | November 25, 1911 | University of Toronto Varsity Blues (3) | 14–7 | Toronto Argonauts | 13,687 |
6th | December 5, 1914 | Toronto Argonauts | 14–2 | University of Toronto Varsity Blues | 10,500 |
7th | November 20, 1915 | Hamilton Tigers (2) | 13–7 | Toronto Rowing Association | 2,808 |
8th | December 4, 1920 | University of Toronto Varsity Blues (4) | 16–3 | Toronto Argonauts | 10,088 |
9th | December 3, 1921 | Toronto Argonauts (2) | 23–0 | Edmonton Eskimos | 9,558 |
11th | December 1, 1923 | Queen's University (2) | 54–0 | Regina Rugby Club | 8,629 |
12th | November 29, 1924 | Queen's University (3) | 11–2 | Toronto Balmy Beach | 5,978 |
14th | December 4, 1926 | Ottawa Senators (2) | 10–7 | Toronto Varsity Blues | 8,276 |
15th | November 26, 1927 | Toronto Balmy Beach | 9–6 | Hamilton Tigers | 13,676 |
18th | December 6, 1930 | Toronto Balmy Beach (2) | 11–6 | Regina Roughriders | 3,914 |
22nd | November 24, 1934 | Sarnia Imperials | 20–12 | Regina Roughriders | 8,900 |
24th | December 5, 1936 | Sarnia Imperials (2) | 26–20 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 5,883 |
25th | December 11, 1937 | Toronto Argonauts (4) | 4–3 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 11,522 |
26th | December 10, 1938 | Toronto Argonauts (5) | 30–7 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 18,778 |
28th | November 30, 1940 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 8–2 | Toronto Balmy Beach | 4,998 |
29th | November 29, 1941 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3) | 18–16 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 19,065 |
30th | December 5, 1942 | Toronto RCAF Hurricanes | 8–5 | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 12,455 |
31st | November 27, 1943 | Hamilton Flying Wildcats
|
23–14 | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 16,423 |
33rd | December 1, 1945 | Toronto Argonauts (6) | 35–0 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 18,660 |
34th | November 30, 1946 | Toronto Argonauts (7) | 28–6 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 18,960 |
35th | November 29, 1947 | Toronto Argonauts (8) | 10–9 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 18,885 |
36th | November 27, 1948 | Calgary Stampeders | 12–7 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 20,013 |
37th | November 26, 1949 | Montreal Alouettes | 28–15 | Calgary Stampeders | 20,087 |
38th | November 25, 1950 | Toronto Argonauts (9) | 13–0 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 27,101 |
39th | November 24, 1951 | Ottawa Rough Riders (4) | 21–14 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | 27,341 |
40th | November 29, 1952 | Toronto Argonauts (10) | 21–11 | Edmonton Eskimos
|
27,391 |
41st | November 28, 1953 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12–6 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 27,313 |
42nd | November 27, 1954 | Edmonton Eskimos
|
26–25 | Montreal Alouettes | 27,328 |
44th | November 24, 1956 | Edmonton Eskimos (3)
|
50–27 | Montreal Alouettes | 39,417 |
45th | November 30, 1957 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2) | 32–7 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 27,425 |
Game | Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | November 20, 1965 | Toronto | 14–7 | Alberta
|
2nd | November 19, 1966 | St. F.X. | 40–14 | Waterloo Lutheran |
3rd | November 25, 1967 | Alberta
|
10–9 | McMaster |
4th | November 22, 1968 | Queen's | 42–14 | Waterloo Lutheran |
5th | November 21, 1969 | Manitoba | 24–15 | McGill
|
6th | November 21, 1970 | Manitoba (2) | 38–11 | Ottawa |
7th | November 20, 1971 | Western
|
15–14 | Alberta
|
8th | November 25, 1972 | Alberta (2)
|
20–7 | Waterloo Lutheran |
12th | November 19, 1976 | Western (3)
|
29–13 | Acadia |
13th | November 19, 1977 | Western (4)
|
48–15 | Acadia |
14th | November 18, 1978 | Queen's (2) | 16–3 | UBC |
15th | November 17, 1979 | Acadia | 34–12 | Western
|
16th | November 29, 1980 | Alberta (3)
|
40–21 | Ottawa |
17th | November 28, 1981 | Acadia (2) | 18–12 | Alberta
|
18th | November 20, 1982 | UBC | 39–14 | Western
|
19th | November 19, 1983 | Calgary | 31–21 | Queen's |
20th | November 24, 1984 | Guelph | 22–13 | Mount Allison |
21st | November 30, 1985 | Calgary (2) | 25–6 | Western
|
22nd | November 22, 1986 | UBC (2) | 25–23 | Western
|
23rd | November 21, 1987 | McGill
|
47–11 | UBC |
24th | November 19, 1988 | Calgary (3) | 52–23 | Saint Mary's |
Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 18, 1976 | Brazil | 0–0 | East Germany | Group A | 21,643 |
July 19, 1976 | Israel | 0–0 | Guatemala | Group B | 9,500 |
July 21, 1976 | North Korea | 3–1 | Canada | Group D | 12,638 |
July 25, 1976 | Brazil | 4–1 | Israel | Quarter-finals | 18,601 |
July 27, 1976 | Poland | 2–0 | Brazil | Semi-finals | 21,743 |
Game | Date |
---|---|
Archery | July 14–18, 2015 |
See also
- Birchmount Stadium – City of Toronto
- Centennial Park Stadium – City of Toronto
- Lamport 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
References
- ^ Samuel Hawley. "Percy Williams: World's Fastest Human". samuelhawley.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ 1976 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 226–9.
- ^ 1976 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 3. pp. 227–89.
- ^ Beard, Randy (April 25, 1979). "Blizzard Hope Revenge Snowballs The Rowdies". Evening Independent. p. 1C. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- ^ Beard, Randy (May 4, 1984). "Down 3 more teams, but NASL is stronger". Evening Independent. p. 6C. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- ^ "Recap:Argos win in return to Varsity Stadium". Toronto Argonauts. June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ "Toronto Argonauts announce 2014 schedule!". Toronto Argonauts. February 12, 2014. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ "TORONTO ARGONAUTS ANNOUNCE 2015 GAME SCHEDULE". Toronto Argonauts. February 13, 2015. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- ^ "Varsity Stadium". TO2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ Mullen, Pat (December 15, 2022). "Revival69: The Concert that Rocked the World Review - Toronto's Ragtag Revue". POV Magazine. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ "Whiskey Howl Handbill at Wolfgang's Vault". August 30, 2009. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ "KISS Concert History Online - Decades on Tour Detailed: 09/06/76". www.kissconcerthistory.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ "Permanent Waves". Rush.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
External links
Events and tenants | ||
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Preceded by | Home of the Toronto Argonauts 1898–1907 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Home of the Toronto Argonauts 1916–1958 |
Succeeded by |