BMO Training Ground
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name = BMO Training Ground
| nickname =
| logo_image = BMO Training Ground logo.png
| logo_caption =
| image = Kia training ground.jpg
| caption =
| fullname =
| address = 85 Carl Hall Road
| location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| coordinates =
| type =
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = June 2012
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
| operator =
| surface =
| production =
| cost = $21 million
| architect =
| project_manager =
| suites =
| general contractor =
| former_names = KIA Training Ground (2012-2018)
| tenants = Toronto FC (Major League Soccer)
Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro)
TFC Academy (MLS Next)
| seating_capacity = 1000
| dimensions = {{convert|14|acres|m2|abbr=on}}
| website =
}}
BMO Training Ground is the practice facility of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) and its minor league reserve team Toronto FC II of MLS Next Pro, and the home of the TFC Academy of MLS Next. The facility, which opened in 2012 and features a stadium with 1000 seats, is located at Downsview Park, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
History
In March 2011, Downsview Park was selected as the site of Toronto FC's new state-of-the-art Academy and Training Facility. Construction began in May 2011, and the facility opened in June 2012. Spanning 14 acres, it includes three grass fields, one domed turf field for year round use, a 1000 seat stadium, and a field house.{{citeweb|url=https://torontosun.com/2012/05/29/tfc-high-on-new-facility|title=TFC high on new facility|date=2012-05-29|accessdate=2023-11-13|first=Ryan|last=Wolstat|newspaper=Toronto Sun}} The first team facilities include a dressing room, hot tub, ice bath, rehabilitation pool, physiotherapy room, private dining, as well as seven dressing rooms for the Academy teams, and a kitchen, cafeteria, media room, classroom and offices for coaching staff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2012/05/30/new_tfc_facility_by_the_numbers.html|title=New TFC facility by the numbers|first=Daniel|last=Girard|date=May 30, 2012|website=Toronto Star}} Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), owner of Toronto FC, spent more than $21 million building the facility and pays rent for the land,{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/tfc/2011/10/12/video_tfc_building_permanent_training_facility_at_downsview_park.html|title=Video: TFC building permanent training facility at Downsview Park|date=2011-10-12|access-date=2014-01-03|last=Girard|first=Daniel|newspaper=Toronto Star}} with an aim to becoming the epicentre of soccer development in Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.torontofc.ca/trainingground|title=About the facility|access-date=2014-01-01|publisher=Toronto FC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209160116/http://www.torontofc.ca/trainingground|archive-date=2014-02-09}} The facility was originally known as KIA Training Ground, due to a naming rights deal with Kia.{{citeweb|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/toronto-fc-training-ground-naming-rights/|title=Kia buys TFC training ground name rights|date=2012-05-29|accessdate=2023-11-13|publisher=Sportsnet}}
In July 2014 it was announced that MLSE would expand the training grounds at a cost of $2 million to house a temporary practice facility for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, which would rent the facility from MLSE and practice on a nearby city owned field.{{cite web|url=http://www.argonauts.ca/article/argos-partner-with-mlse-to-build-new-practice-facility|title=Argos partner with MLSE to build new practice facility|date=2014-07-24|access-date=2014-07-24|publisher=Toronto Argonauts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730020701/http://www.argonauts.ca/article/argos-partner-with-mlse-to-build-new-practice-facility|archive-date=2014-07-30|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://theaquilagroup.com/argos-practice-facility/|title=Argos Practice Facility|publisher=The Aquila Group|access-date=2019-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602154247/https://theaquilagroup.com/argos-practice-facility/|archive-date=2019-06-02|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/argos/2014/07/24/argos_maple_leafs_sports_and_entertainment_partner_on_new_practice_facility.html|title=Argonauts, MLSE partner on new practice facility|date=2014-07-25|access-date=2014-07-25|newspaper=Toronto Star|first=Josh|last=Rubin}} The team moved in that September,{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/09/new-practice-facility-gives-argonauts-some-stability|title=New practice facility gives Argonauts some stability|date=2014-09-09|access-date=2014-09-09|first=Frank|last=Zicarelli|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=460968|title=Argos' players, staff grow frustrated over work conditions|date=2014-09-04|access-date=2014-09-10|first=Matthew|last=Scianitti|publisher=TSN}} but later moved their practice facility to Lamport Stadium in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/argonauts-to-relocate-football-operations-staff-1.1100509|title=Argonauts to relocate football-operations staff|date=2018-06-01|access-date=2018-06-01|publisher=The Sports Network}}
In 2018, BMO acquired the naming rights to the training ground, renaming it to the BMO Training Ground & Academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2018/01/22/bmo-acquires-naming-rights-toronto-fc-s-training-grounds-becomes-official-partner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227142059/https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2018/01/22/bmo-acquires-naming-rights-toronto-fc-s-training-grounds-becomes-official-partner|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-02-27|title=BMO acquires naming rights to Toronto FC's Training Grounds, becomes Official Partner of Toronto FC Academy|date=2018-01-22|access-date=2018-02-27|publisher=Toronto FC}}
With their drop to the division 3 USL League One for the 2019 season, Toronto FC II moved their home games to BMO Training Ground.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2018/12/10/toronto-fc-ii-2019-usl-league-one-regular-season-schedule-announced|title=Toronto FC II 2019 USL League One Regular Season Schedule Announced|date=2018-12-10|access-date=2019-01-06|publisher=Toronto FC}} On April 4, 2022, after the team left USL League One to join the newly formed MLS Next Pro, Toronto FC II announced that York Lions Stadium would serve as their new home stadium.{{Cite web |url=https://www.torontofc.ca/tfc2/news/toronto-fc-ii-announce-york-lions-stadium-as-home-field-for-2022-mls-next-pro-se |title=Toronto FC II announce York Lions stadium as home field for 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season |date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |publisher=Toronto FC II Communications}}
