A press conference is scheduled for Monday morning, where it is expected that the Toronto Argonauts will announce a partnership with York University to build a new multi-purpose stadium. Representatives of the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) are also scheduled to be on hand, as the stadium is expected to house their Toronto operations.

The Argos were forced to look for a new location for the facility when U of T suddenly bailed out on the proposal to build a 25, 000 seat facility on the site of the old stadium. Escalating costs were cited as the primary reason for the decision by the university faculty.

Other sources have suggested that this may not be the only reason, or even the primary reason, why U of T will not have a new stadium as planned. The Argos said they would pay the extra costs for a new facility, according to an interview with Argo owner David Cynamon that aired on The Sports Network (TSN) last week

“Our immediate reaction was ‘well that’s not a problem, we’ll pay the difference'” Cynamon said of the escalating costs in that interview with TSN. He went on to say that U of T representatives told him that “internal noise” coming mainly from Trinity College and the Royal Conservatory of Music was the real reason that the deal died.

"As far as I know, everyone at Trinity is opposed to the project," said Trinity Provost Margaret MacMillan just before the plug was pulled on the proposal just weeks ago. "And we are certainly not alone in this. Massey College and the Royal Conservatory of Music, for example, are also opposed."

 These comments give legitimacy to the claim that internal conflicts were taking place at U of T, which may have been enough to sour the deal.

A new stadium for the Argos will be built at York instead of U of T, no matter what the real cause of U of T’s decision to axe the project was. No one will ever know the full story, except for Bruce Kidd, Jon Dellandrea and a handful of others.

The Toronto Star sights sources that suggest York will have to pay $15 million from their own pockets, while $35 million will come from the federal government and $8 million will come from the province. Any other costs will be paid by the Argos. 

These figures will be made official at the press conference, which is going to be held at the Tait Mckenzie Centre at York's Peel Campus. MP Joe Volpe, York President Dr. Lorna Marsden, Kevan Pipe of the CSA and various representatives from the Toronto Argonauts will be on hand to speak and answer questions.

The Argos were going to pay the interest and mortgage in the Varsity Stadium proposal. It is as yet unknown whether the same will hold true at York.

U of T will is now left with finding ways to fund a new stadium on its own, now that government and Argonaut money are being committed to York University. University money, student levies and alumni donations are the only funding avenues left, unless another unexpected partner steps up to the plate. 

Jon Dellandrea, U of T Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, was quoted in the Globe and Mail on Wednesday, saying that he is now trying to plan the construction of a 10 000 seat stadium on the old Varsity site. He is trying to work with a budget of no more than $40 million, which would be provided by the school, sponsorship deals and student contributions. 

It is doubtful that students would accept another attempt at a stadium levy, since one was turned down just two years ago. Unfortunately, this may be the only way to get a new stadium built on campus.

Read the Thursday edition of The Varsity for coverage of the press conference at York and further news on the future of Varsity Stadium.