Rob Ford Stadium (formerly Centennial Park Stadium) is a 2,200-seat stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is primarily used for soccer, track and field, football and occasionally for kabaddi.
.jpg) The stadium pictured in 2024 | |
  Rob Ford Stadium Location in Toronto  Rob Ford Stadium Location in Ontario  Rob Ford Stadium Location in Canada | |
| Former names | Centennial Park Stadium (1975–2024) |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°39′13″N 79°35′04″W / 43.65361°N 79.58444°W |
| Owner | City of Toronto |
| Operator | Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation |
| Capacity | 2,200 |
| Surface | Artificial turf |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1975 |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Renovated | 2009 |
| Tenants | |
| Serbian White Eagles (2006–present) FC Ukraine United (2006–present) Etobicoke Eagles (2009–present) GTA Grizzlies (2015–present) Toronto Supra Portuguese (2001–2007) Toronto Lynx (2002–2017) Toronto Lady Lynx (1997–2015) Toronto Atomic FC (2015–2017) | |
It is located within Centennial Park in Etobicoke, just south of Toronto Pearson International Airport and near the intersection of Rathburn Road and Renforth Drive. It was built in 1975.
The stadium has seating in a grandstand on the west side and a small scoreboard on the north end of the field. The stadium was renovated in 2009 with the installation of new seating and artificial turf.
Usage
edit- The stadium hosted the first edition of Veteran Athletes Championships in 1975.[1]
- The stadium hosted the closing ceremony of the 1976 Summer Paralympics and some of the sporting events.
- The stadium hosted the CPSL/CSL Championship finals in 1998, 2010, 2011, and 2014.[2][3][4][5]
- The stadium hosts the Relay For Life in Toronto West event each June, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.
- The stadium is also used for the ROPSSAA football finals and the PSAA (Private Schools Athletic Association) on the first Monday of May for an annual Track and Field Meet.
Name
editThe stadium was originally named for Centennial Park, which it is located in and opened during Canada's centennial year of 1967; the stadium was opened in 1975, eight years after the centennial.
In 2017, there were calls and support for the stadium to be renamed after former mayor Rob Ford[6] as Rob Ford Memorial Stadium,[7] but city council voted down the motion 11 to 24 on October 4, 2017.[8] In 2023, amid the re-imagining of the park through the Centennial Park Master Plan that was also approved in 2021, city council again considered a motion to rename the stadium after Ford, this time passing 17 to 6.[9][10]
The stadium was officially renamed Rob Ford Stadium on May 28, 2024.[11] The first game played on the re-named stadium was a Canadian Soccer League encounter between Serbian White Eagles FC and Spanish Future Stars on May 31, 2024.[12]
References
edit- ^ "1975 WMA News Archives". www.shaggysphotos.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ^ Glover, Robin. "Voyageurs Soccer Talk". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ "October 30, 2010 CSL--Final preview (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ "October 26, 2011 CSL--preview of CSL Final (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ "October 25, 2012 CSL--pregame article on CSL Final (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ "Toronto mayor backs renaming stadium after Rob Ford".
- ^ Rider, David (28 September 2017). "'Rob Ford Memorial Stadium' proposal triggers groans, gratitude" – via Toronto Star.
- ^ "No 'Rob Ford Memorial Stadium' in Toronto after council rejects renaming proposal | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ^ "City council votes to rename stadium at Centennial Park after late mayor Rob Ford | CityNews Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "Toronto council votes to rename Etobicoke stadium after Rob Ford - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Tsekouras, Phil (28 May 2024). "Stadium in Etobicoke officially renamed in honour of Rob Ford". CP24. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Vujcic, Djuradj (31 May 2024). "Eagles Count to Twelve: A Dozen Goals at Rob Ford Stadium". serbianwhiteeagles.ca. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
See also
edit- Birchmount Stadium – City of Toronto / Toronto District School Board
- Varsity Stadium – University of Toronto
- Esther Shiner Stadium – City of Toronto
- Lamport Stadium – City of Toronto
- Monarch Park Stadium – Toronto District School Board
- Toronto Track and Field Centre – City of Toronto
- Rosedale Field – City of Toronto
- York Lions Stadium – York University