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Exhibition Place Stadium is a Soccer-specific Stadium under-construction located in Exhibition Place in the city of Toronto . The open-air structure will seat 20,000 spectators, and be used as a multi-purpose facility. Construction should be complete by 2007 and will be owned by the City of Toronto. HISTORY The stadium was part of Canada's bid to host the with the university contributing $15 million toward the cost of the new stadium. However in May of 2005 the university was forced to back out. {Link without Title} Major League Soccer (MLS), the North America's highest level of soccer, currently has twelve teams and is planning to expand to thirteen by 2007 . Toronto has all but been finalized as the thirteenth team, in a large part due to their plans to build the stadium. Having soccer-specific stadiums is a critical part of the MLS's success and Don Garber , MLS's commissioner, is adamant that expansion teams have plans for a soccer-specific stadium in place. The Toronto Lynx, Toronto's other profesional soccer team, which plays in the USL will also be moving into the new stadium. The Lynx currently play in the 3,500 seat Centennial Park Stadium which is in dire need of renovation. MANAGEMENT, OWNERSHIP AND FUNDING The MLS team itself will be owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), owners of the National Hockey League 's Toronto Maple Leafs and the National Basketball Association 's Toronto Raptors . In addition, MLSE will contribute towards the cost of the building of the stadium. With the total costs in the realm of $62 million, contributions will come from multiple sources. MLSE will contribute $8 million towards the construction of the stadium and $10 million towards securing the naming rights of the stadium. The Canadian Federal Government will contribute $27 million, with Ontario's government adding an additional $8 million. Toronto will pay $9.8 million, and have the rights to the stadium. (All figures are in Canadian Dollar s.) STADIUM SPECIFICS Exhibition Place Stadium will have an infill turf field rather than one of natural grass. As well, the stadium will be built as such that an inflatable bubble will be errected around it so that it may be used during the winter months. The stadium will also be modified for the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championships, adding 5,000 temporary seats which will be dismantled after the championships. TARGET OPENING Exhibition Place Stadium is projected to open in the Spring of 2007, coinciding with the start of the 2007 MLS season. MLS's commissioner has declared that the 2008 All-Star Game will take place in Exhibition Place Stadium, as will an MLS Cup by the year 2012. SEE ALSO |
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