43°46′30″N 79°30′25″W / 43.775°N 79.507°W / 43.775; -79.507

York Lions Stadium
York Lions Stadium in 2022
York Lions Stadium is located in Toronto
York Lions Stadium
York Lions Stadium
Location in Toronto
York Lions Stadium is located in Ontario
York Lions Stadium
York Lions Stadium
Location in Ontario
York Lions Stadium is located in Canada
York Lions Stadium
York Lions Stadium
Location in Canada
Former namesCIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletics Stadium
LocationNorth York, Toronto, Ontario
Public transit Pioneer Village
YRT Pioneer Village Terminal
OwnerYork University
OperatorYork University
Capacity4,000 (seated)
Field size450 by 250 feet (137 m × 76 m)
SurfaceArtificial turf
Construction
Built2012–2014
Opened2015
ArchitectCannonDesign
Tenants
York Lions (U Sports) 2015–present
York United FC (CPL) 2019–present
Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro) 2022–present
Toronto Arrows (MLR) 2022–2023

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[1] and the opening ceremony.[2] In 2021, the stadium's running track was removed to expand the playing surface used for football and soccer.

History

York Lions Stadium under construction in September 2013

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.[3] During the games the venue was known as the CIBC Pan Am and Parapan Am Athletics Stadium.[4][5]

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.[6] The facility cost roughly $45.5 million, with $34.9 million attributed to the design and construction with the rest for running costs.[6]

On May 26, 2016, it was announced that the stadium would play host to the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.[7][8] The stadium will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics competitions in July 2017.[9][10][11] 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.[12] The renovations also allow for the playing surface to be covered with an air-supported dome during winter months.[13]

Professional sports

The Toronto Arrows, a professional rugby union club which joined Major League Rugby in 2019,[14][15][16][17] played exhibition games in 2018 at York Lions Stadium.[18] However, during its inaugural 2019 MLR season the team split its home games between Alumni Field and Lamport Stadium.[19] They hosted their games at York Lions Stadium from 2022[20] to 2023, before the team ceased operations.[21]

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.[22]

Major competitions hosted

YearDateEventLevel
2015July 18–262015 Pan American GamesInternational
2015August 7–152015 Parapan American GamesInternational
2017July 16–232017 North American Indigenous GamesContinental
2017September 23–302017 Invictus GamesInternational
2019July 18–212019 NCCWMA Masters Athletics ChampionshipsContinental

See also

References