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Rob Ford Stadium

Coordinates: 43°39′13″N 79°35′04″W / 43.65361°N 79.58444°W / 43.65361; -79.58444
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rob Ford Stadium
The stadium pictured in 2024
Rob Ford Stadium is located in Toronto
Rob Ford Stadium
Rob Ford Stadium
Location in Toronto
Rob Ford Stadium is located in Ontario
Rob Ford Stadium
Rob Ford Stadium
Location in Ontario
Rob Ford Stadium is located in Canada
Rob Ford Stadium
Rob Ford Stadium
Location in Canada
Former namesCentennial Park Stadium (1975–2024)
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°39′13″N 79°35′04″W / 43.65361°N 79.58444°W / 43.65361; -79.58444
OwnerCity of Toronto
OperatorToronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
Capacity2,200
SurfaceArtificial turf
ScoreboardYes
Construction
Built1975
Opened1975
Renovated2009
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)

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.

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

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Name

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The 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

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  1. ^ "1975 WMA News Archives". www.shaggysphotos.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  2. ^ Glover, Robin. "Voyageurs Soccer Talk". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  3. ^ "October 30, 2010 CSL--Final preview (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  4. ^ "October 26, 2011 CSL--preview of CSL Final (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  5. ^ "October 25, 2012 CSL--pregame article on CSL Final (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  6. ^ "Toronto mayor backs renaming stadium after Rob Ford".
  7. ^ Rider, David (28 September 2017). "'Rob Ford Memorial Stadium' proposal triggers groans, gratitude" – via Toronto Star.
  8. ^ "No 'Rob Ford Memorial Stadium' in Toronto after council rejects renaming proposal | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Toronto council votes to rename Etobicoke stadium after Rob Ford - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  11. ^ Tsekouras, Phil (28 May 2024). "Stadium in Etobicoke officially renamed in honour of Rob Ford". CP24. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  12. ^ Vujcic, Djuradj (31 May 2024). "Eagles Count to Twelve: A Dozen Goals at Rob Ford Stadium". serbianwhiteeagles.ca. Retrieved 5 June 2024.

See also

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