The possibility of U of T building a new stadium to replace the one torn down in 2002 is as close to becoming a reality as it has been in years. The only committee left to vote on the latest proposal put forth by the Project Planning Committee is Governing Council.
There is no doubt that U of T is in much need of new athletics facilities, as the current ones are in marked disrepair. What used to be known as Varsity Stadium is currently nothing more than Varsity Field, U of T can’t boast of anything resembling a respectable outdoor ‘track’, and Varsity Arena has looked like it’s on the verge of collapsing for years.
The main issue Governing Council will have to settle when they debate the Project Planning Committee report for the new Varsity Centre for Physical Activity and Health on June 29 is whether this is the best blueprint for the long-term future of U of T. There are many pros working in favour of the latest proposal, but there are also some significant cons and question marks that go along with the plan.
On the plus side, the proposal calls for a new 5,000-seat stadium to be built, along with a new Wellness Centre, a new running track, other training facilities, and a small amount of non-athletic space (i.e. a cafeteria where weary students can sit and enjoy a warm beverage and babysitting facilities). There is also $6 million allocated to renovate Varsity Arena, which can only be a good thing given the shape the old building is in.
Intramural sports and interuniversity teams outside soccer and football also stand to gain considerably from this new project. An artificial surface will be used on the field of the new stadium instead of grass because it holds up better under heavy use and can be used in the winter, allowing the facility to be used for significantly more hours each year. This surface will allow a variety of teams to have more practice time on the field and will allow more squads to compete in intramural competition.
The other element that will allow the stadium to be used for a greater number of hours per year is more troubling. The proposal report calls for the building of a “temporary, air supported structure over the playing field” which will “extend the use of the field through the winter months.” This enclosure will basically be a large, white bubble that will cover the field during the winter so the facility can be utilized in cold, wet weather-the likes of which can be seen enclosing many tennis courts throughout the GTA.
While it is excellent that the bubble is practical and will increase the stadium’s usage, it will be an eyesore at the corner of St. George and Bloor. The cover will not be in place all year, but when it is in place it detracts from the aesthetics of the area.
Also, there are many question marks surrounding the funding of the project. The university is set to cover $16.386 million of the project’s estimated cost of $56 million. The university is hoping to obtain the rest of the money through private fundraising, and sponsorship and naming rights for the new buildings. U of T is looking to raise $39.2 million from these outside sources.
The danger with selling naming rights is that students could end up watching football games at a blue Pepsi Stadium or attending yoga classes in the Pizza Pizza room of the Wellness Centre. It is becoming clear that this university either no longer has the capital, or is unwilling to spend the money needed to construct new athletic facilities without significant financial assistance from private and corporate partners.
If all goes well, U of T hopes to break ground on the project by April 2006 and hope to have the main field and new seating in place by fall 2006. The expected completion date for the project is fall 2008. All eyes will be fixed on governing council come June 29 to see if the plan is approved-or if it will be back to the drawing board yet again.
