York Lions Stadium
{{Short description|Outdoor sports venue in Toronto, Ontario}}
{{coord|43.775|N|79.507|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox venue
| image = York Lions Stadium prior to a Toronto Arrows match (photo by Djuradj Vujcic).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = York Lions Stadium in 2022
| stadium_name = York Lions Stadium
| fullname =
| nickname =
| location = North York, Toronto, Ontario
| pushpin_map = Canada Toronto#Canada Ontario#Canada
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Toronto##Location in Ontario##Location in Canada
| coordinates =
| publictransit = {{rint|toronto|subway|1}} {{stl|TTC|Pioneer Village}}
{{rint|york|yrt}} YRT Pioneer Village Terminal
| owner = York University
| operator = York University
| built = 2012–2014
| opened = 2015
| architect = CannonDesign
| Rebuilt =
| seating_capacity = 4,000 (seated)
| former_names = CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletics Stadium
| tenants = York Lions (U Sports) 2015–present
York United FC (CPL) 2019–present
Toronto FC II (MLSNP) 2022–present
Toronto Arrows (MLR) 2022–2023
AFC Toronto (NSL) 2025–present
| dimensions = {{convert|450|×|250|ft|m}}
{{convert|105|×|65|m|yd}} (soccer){{cite web | url=https://www.yorku.ca/facilities/construction/york-lions-stadium-conversion/ | title=York Lions Stadium Conversion }}
| surface = Artificial turf
}}
York Lions Stadium is an outdoor sports stadium on the Keele Campus of Toronto's York University in the former city of North York. It is home to the York Lions, the varsity teams of York University, the Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby and York United of the Canadian Premier League. The facility was primarily built for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, where it hosted track and field events{{cite web|url=http://www.therecord.com/pan-am-games-story/5607692-last-piece-of-track-laid-at-pan-am-stadium/|title=Last piece of track laid at Pan Am Stadium |publisher=The Canadian Press|date=May 7, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2015}} and the opening ceremony.{{cite web |first=Robin |last=Levinson-King |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/panamgames/2015/08/07/live-coverage-at-7-pm-parapan-am-games-opening-ceremony.html |title=Enthusiastic opening for the biggest Parapan Am Games ever |publisher=The Toronto Star |date=2015-08-07}} In 2021, the stadium's running track was removed to expand the playing surface used for football and soccer.
History
File:CIBCPanAmParapanAmAthleticsStadium.JPG
Initial plans had a multi-purpose athletics and soccer stadium to be built somewhere in the vicinity of Hamilton, Ontario; however, the final plans separated the soccer and athletics venues. The soccer stadium, Tim Hortons Field, was built on the site of Ivor Wynne Stadium, while the athletics stadium was built at York University.[http://www.toronto2015.org/assets/files/pdf/Toronto-2015-Bid-Book-EN.pdf Toronto 2015 bid book] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110113712/http://www.toronto2015.org/assets/files/pdf/Toronto-2015-Bid-Book-EN.pdf |date=January 10, 2012 }} During the games the venue was known as the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletics Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2015/09/16/come-out-have-fun-during-pan-de-mo-ni-um-in-the-stadium-sept-21/|title=Pan.de.mo.ni.um in the stadium takes place Sept. 21|publisher=YFile - York University|date=September 16, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cibc-pan-amparapan-am-athletics-stadium-handed-back-to-york-university-528082271.html|title=CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium Handed Back to York University |publisher=CNW Group|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2015}}
The stadium was expected to seat approximately 5,000 spectators – 3,000 permanent and 2,000 temporary. During the games an additional 7,500 temporary seats were added, bringing total capacity to 12,500.[http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/to2015-officially-breaks-ground-on-new-athletics-stadium-at-york-university.html TO2015 officially breaks ground on new athletics stadium at York University] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129040708/http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/to2015-officially-breaks-ground-on-new-athletics-stadium-at-york-university.html |date=November 29, 2012 }} The facility cost roughly $45.5 million, with $34.9 million attributed to the design and construction with the rest for running costs.
On May 26, 2016, it was announced that the stadium would play host to the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.{{cite news |last=Laskaris |first=Sam|date=June 2, 2016 |title=North American Indigenous Games 2017 Get $7 Million From Canada and Ontario Governments|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/06/02/north-american-indigenous-games-2017-get-7-million-canada-and-ontario-governments-164678|publisher=Indian Country Today Media Network|access-date=June 6, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Smith Cross |first=Jessica|date=March 9, 2016 |title=North American Indigenous Games coming to Toronto next summer|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/03/09/north-american-indigenous-games-coming-to-toronto-.html|publisher=Metro News|access-date=June 6, 2016}} The stadium will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics competitions in July 2017.{{cite news |date=May 27, 2016 |title=York University to serve as site of 2017 North American Indigenous Games|url=http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2016/05/27/york-university-to-serve-as-site-of-2017-north-american-indigenous-games/|publisher=York University Y File|access-date=June 6, 2016}}{{cite news |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Government of Canada Supports the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/government-canada-supports-toronto-2017-153000637.html|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=June 6, 2016}}{{cite news |title= Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games - Venues|url=http://naig2017.to/schedules-events/venues/|publisher=North American Indigenous Games|access-date=June 6, 2016}} In the same year, the stadium was also used as an event facility for the Invictus Games.
In early 2021, the stadium's track and grass field was replaced with a larger FIFA and World Rugby certified artificial turf surface.{{cite web |title=York University's York Lions Stadium moves from track to turf in $8.2-million transformation |url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/local-toronto-north-york/news/2021/07/28/york-university-s-york-lions-stadium-moves-from-track-to-turf-in-8-2-million-transformation.html |website=The Peterborough Examiner |access-date=April 19, 2022 |language=en |date=July 28, 2021}} The renovations also allow for the playing surface to be covered with an air-supported dome during winter months.{{cite news |title=Coming Soon: York University's State-of-the-Art Seasonal Sports Dome, One of the Largest in Ontario |url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2020/8/17/business-development-the-largest-state-of-the-art-dome-in-ontario-is-coming-to-york-university.aspx |website=York University Athletics |access-date=August 22, 2020 |language=en |date=August 18, 2020}}
Professional sports
The Toronto Arrows, a professional rugby union club which joined Major League Rugby in 2019,{{cite web|url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/11/13/new-york-ontario-major-league-rugby-talks/|title=New York and Ontario in Major League Rugby talks|date=2017-11-13|access-date=2017-11-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/08/25/ontario-arrows-launch-elite-rugby-team-september/|title=Ontario Arrows to launch Elite Rugby Team in September|date=2017-08-25|access-date=2017-09-20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/09/08/ontario-arrows-take-first-step-toward-becoming-pro-rugby-outfit.html|title=Ontario Arrows take first step toward becoming pro rugby outfit|first=Neil|last=Davidson|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=2017-09-08|access-date=2017-09-20}}{{cite web|url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/03/07/mlr-reveals-finals-locations-and-expansion-plans/|title=MLR reveals Finals Locations and Expansion Plans|date=2018-03-07|access-date=2018-03-31}} played exhibition games in 2018 at York Lions Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://rugby.ca/en/news/2018/03/ontario-arrows-announce-york-university-as-2018-home-venue|title=ONTARIO ARROWS ANNOUNCE YORK UNIVERSITY AS 2018 HOME VENUE|date=2018-03-06|access-date=2018-03-31|publisher=Rugby Canada}} However, during its inaugural 2019 MLR season the team split its home games between Alumni Field and Lamport Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://torontoarrows.com/2019/01/17/toronto-arrows-announce-ticketing-details-home-venues-for-2019-major-league-rugby-season/|title=Toronto Arrows Announce Ticketing Details, Home Venues for 2019 Major League Rugby Season|date=2019-01-17|access-date=2019-01-20|publisher=Toronto Arrows}} They hosted their games at York Lions Stadium from 2022{{cite web|url=https://torontoarrows.com/news/schedule-2022/|title=ARROWS ANNOUNCE 2022 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE|date=2021-11-09|accessdate=2021-11-10|publisher=Toronto Arrows}} to 2023, before the team ceased operations.{{cite web|title=Toronto Arrows To Not Compete In 2024 MLR Season
|url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/toronto-arrows-to-not-compete-in-2024-mlr-season/|publisher=Major League Rugby|website=usmlr.com|access-date=November 27, 2023}}
York United FC, a soccer team in the Canadian Premier League, has played their home games at York Lions Stadium since their inaugural season in 2019.
Toronto FC II, a soccer team in MLS Next Pro, began playing their home games at York Lions Stadium in 2022.{{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}}
AFC Toronto, a soccer team in the Northern Super League, began playing their home games at York Lions Stadium in 2025{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2024-08-28 |title=AFC Toronto Announces Stadium for 2025 Inaugural Season |url=https://www.ontariosoccer.net/news_article/show/1316823-afc-toronto-announces-stadium-for-2025-inaugural-season |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Ontario Soccer |language=en-us}}
Major competitions hosted
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Year ! Date ! Event ! Level |
| 2015
| July 18–26 | International |
| 2015
| August 7–15 | International |
| 2017
| July 16–23 |2017 North American Indigenous Games | Continental |
| 2017
| September 23–30 | International |
| 2019
| July 18–21 | 2019 NCCWMA Masters Athletics Championships | Continental |
Gallery
York Lions Stadium during the 2015 Pan Am Games.jpg|The stadium in 2015
York Lions Stadium photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg|The stadium in 2021
York Lions Stadium panoramic photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg|A panoramic of the stadium in 2021
See also
- List of Canadian Premier League stadiums
- Venues of the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games
- Birchmount Stadium – City of Toronto / Toronto District School Board
- Centennial Park Stadium – City of Toronto
- Esther Shiner 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
- Varsity Stadium – University of Toronto
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.yorkulions.ca/index.aspx York University Lions Page]
- [http://www.toronto2015.org/venue/athletics-stadium Toronto 2015 – CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium Page]
{{York United FC}}
{{York University}}
{{Toronto Arrows}}
{{Canadian Premier League stadiums}}
{{2015 Pan American Games venues}}
{{2015 Parapan American Games venues}}
{{Sport venues in Toronto}}
Category:Soccer venues in Ontario
Category:Sports venues in Toronto
Category:Venues of the 2015 Pan American Games
Category:York University buildings
Category:Major League Rugby stadiums
Category:MLS Next Pro stadiums
Category:Venues of the 2015 Parapan American Games
Category:University sports venues in Canada
Category:Toronto Arrows stadiums
Category:Pan American Games athletics venues
Category:2015 establishments in Ontario
Category:Sports venues completed in 2015