Partners Officially Launch the National Soccer Stadium at Exhibition Place

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and its partners – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Limited (MLSEL), the Ontario and Federal Governments as well as the City of Toronto today officially declared the National Soccer Stadium at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario a reality.
The Federal Government, through Infrastructure Canada, has agreed to contribute $27-million while the Ontario Government has committed a further $8-million. The City of Toronto will contribute the land and $9.8-million and will own the stadium. MLSEL has agreed to pay a total of $18-million ($8-million toward the construction and a further $10-million to secure the naming rights for the stadium). The group has also agreed to provide a $2-million guarantee against operational losses.
“Having just been elected as the President of the CSA in May, I’m delighted that the National Soccer Stadium at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto has become a reality as it will become the major venue for the CSA and all of our National teams for many years to come,” stated Colin Linford, President, CSA.
Construction of the 20,000 seat soccer-specific stadium on the grounds of Exhibition Place has already begun and will be managed on behalf of the City of Toronto by MLSEL.
“Following almost four years of intensive work today is a celebratory day for everybody in Canadian Soccer. I wish to pay tribute to all three levels of government as well as our private sector business partner (MLSEL) for working together with us in such a collaborative way in order to bring this stadium to reality and in time for the start the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007,” said Kevan Pipe, COO, CSA
“For the first time in the game in our country we finally have a soccer specific, state of the art home which we look forward to using on a regular basis for all forms of soccer programming, including community usage during the winter when a full sized inflatable bubble is installed.”
Canada vs USA
Canada’s U-20 National Team will be hosting the United States in a two game series beginning at 7:00 pm on Friday, July 7th, 2006 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The teams will meet again on Sunday, July 9th at 7:00 pm at Richardson Stadium at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
July 7 – CANADA vs. USA – Presented by adidas
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON – 19:00 ET
July 9 – CANADA vs. USA – Presented by CIBC
Richardson Stadium, Kingston, ON – 19:00 ET
FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
In 2007, Canada will host the World’s finest youth players in six cities across the country – Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Burnaby, and Victoria – with the tentative dates for the tournament set for June 30-July 22, 2007.
The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players – Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Ruiz Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.
Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 – July 2, 2005.
Canada enjoyed it’s its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.
For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, please visit www.FIFA.com.