U of T is known for its academics but has also established a strong foundation for athletics in Toronto and wider Canada. The Varsity Stadium, located at Bloor and Bedford Road, was first founded in 1898 and remains the oldest sports stadium in the city. 

The history of the Varsity Stadium

The Varsity Stadium has been, and continues to be, a proud landmark in U of T’s history; however, it hasn’t always looked the same as it does today. 

While the field opened in 1898, the original stadium was not actually built until 1911, providing the university with a more dedicated space for athletic events. 

In the early 2000s, the original stadium faced several structural and financial challenges — temporary repairs were holding up several sections and maintenance costs severely outcast revenue — leading to its demolition for safety reasons. 

The transformation into the present-day Varsity Stadium was neither inexpensive nor small in scale, as it took place in three major phases. Between 2002 and 2006, the construction of the current Varsity Stadium cost the university $21.7 million. While the field and surrounding track of the original stadium were preserved, 1,500 temporary seats were added to host intercollegiate or U SPORT games while the new stadium was built. It also now features a FIFA two-star-rated turf field and a winter dome for year-round use. 

The second phase of the project led to the construction of the Varsity Pavilion in 2009, which cost $9.5 million. It serves as the main entrance for both the Stadium and Varsity Arena. The final phase, which saw the addition of the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport in 2014, came with a hefty price tag of $58 million. 

The Goldring Centre caters to a variety of needs, including strength and conditioning sessions in the fitness centre, appointments at the sports medicine clinic, research labs hosted by the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (FKPE), and Varsity Blues basketball and volleyball games in the Kimel Family Field House. 

The total cost for the entire state-of-the-art Varsity Centre amounted to an estimated $98 million. More than simply a sporting facility, U of T’s Varsity Centre serves as a hub for current and future athletic achievement, while also providing cutting-edge infrastructure for research, all while upholding the university’s tradition of excellence.

Toronto icons are born 

Before becoming the beloved Toronto Argonauts Football team, in 1872, U of T students established the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club. The club saw the addition of football as a way for rowers to have another outlet for fun beyond rowing. 

While other Toronto-based teams were also playing football around this time, the Argonauts emerged as the best — the team has a league record 19 Grey Cups. Some of their competitors included well-known teams such as the Toronto Lacrosse Club, Trinity College, Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club, and U of T’s very own Varsity Blues football team. 

Despite the university’s long history with the Argos, they have not played at the Varsity Stadium for over 50 years now. However, the Varsity Stadium holds the record for hosting the most Grey Cup games, solidifying Toronto’s status as a national sports landmark. 

Another notable Toronto icon with deep ties to the Varsity Stadium is Bruce Kidd, a renowned track and field athlete who competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Like U of T, he is known for both sporting and academic excellence. Kidd remains an honoured Blues’ member and is the founding dean of FKPE, as well as professor emeritus. 

To celebrate his achievements, the FKPE is home to the Bruce Kidd Field House located in the Benson Building in the Athletic Centre. The facility is frequented by students for workouts, Varsity Blue training, or even to catch up on school work.

The Varsity Stadium has also played a key role in boosting professional soccer in Toronto. In the 1980s, the Varsity Stadium was home to the Toronto Blizzards, the city’s very first professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League. This helped grow the popularity of soccer in Toronto, paving the way for the eventual rise of Major League Soccer in the city. 

Furthermore, what do you and one of the greatest soccer legends, Pelé, have in common? You have both walked the grounds of the Varsity Stadium. In 1971, Santos FC, Pelé’s club team, played an exhibition match against Italy’s Bologna FC at the Varsity Stadium. This iconic sporting moment drew a massive crowd of 26,000 fans who had the chance to see the Brazilian icon in person. The match remains a monumental event not only in Toronto’s sports history but also in the U of T’s athletic legacy.