Saputo Stadium
| Saputo Stadium Stade Saputo |
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| Location | Montreal, Quebec |
| Broke ground | April 18, 2007 |
| Opened | May 21, 2008 |
| Owner | Saputo |
| Operator | Montreal Impact |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $14.1M CAD ($15.2 million in 2012 dollars)[1] |
| Architect | Zinno Zappitelli Architectes |
| Capacity | 13,034 [2] (2007-2011) 20,341 (2012-future) |
| Tenants | |
| Montreal Impact (MLS) (2012-future) Montreal Impact (NASL) (2008-2011) Montreal Impact Academy (CSL) (2010-present) Canada men's national soccer team (2007-present) |
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Saputo Stadium (French: Stade Saputo) is a soccer-specific stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The stadium opened on May 21, 2008, and is the current home of the Montreal Impact. The stadium is built on the former practice track and field site on the grounds of the 1976 Summer Olympics, while the stadium's west side has a view of Olympic Stadium's inclined tower. It has a three-stand configuration. Saputo Stadium, the second largest soccer-specific stadium in Canada after BMO Field in Toronto, holds 13,034 people and is to be expanded to 20,341 by the summer of 2012.
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[edit] Construction
The stadium cost $14.1 million CAD to build, with one-half of the cost paid by the Saputo family, and the rest coming from other private-sector contributions. Saputo Stadium is now the Impact's administrative headquarters and also includes a training field, 20 corporate boxes and full player welfare areas. The complex covers approximately 1,600,000 square feet (150,000 m2). Designed and fabricated by Dant Clayton Corporation and built by Broccolini Construction Inc.
While it is currently mostly used by the Impact, other local teams are allowed to play there. The stadium features a natural grass playing surface and was reportedly preferred over BMO Field for this reason by members of the Canada men's national soccer team.[3] BMO Field has since installed a heated and fully irrigated natural grass field similar to what is found in the English Premier League.
Anticipating a Montreal entry into Major League Soccer, plans were made to expand the stadium from the existing 13,034 capacity to 20,000 to cope with the anticipated boost in attendance. The Impact were able to expand the stadium primarily through $23 million financial investment by the Quebec government.[4][5] These plans will go into effect, since MLS has officially granted Montreal their nineteenth franchise set to begin play for the 2012 season.[6]
[edit] Sports usage
The stadium welcomed its first Impact home game on May 19, 2008, a scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Impact's first goal in the stadium was scored by Rocco Placentino against the Charleston Battery on June 13, 2008. This also gave the Impact its first victory in the stadium, with a score of 1-0. The Impact's first game in the newly renovated and expanded Saputo Stadium is scheduled for June 16, 2012 vs. the Seattle Sounders FC.
The first international at Saputo Stadium was the second leg of Canada's second stage CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying match on June 20, 2008. [1]
[edit] Gallery
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View inside the stadium
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Saputo Preferential Tribune
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Saputo Stadium at night
[edit] References
- ^ Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada. "Consumer Price Index, historical summary". CANSIM, table (for fee) 326-0021 and Catalogue nos. 62-001-X, 62-010-X and 62-557-X. Last modified: 2011-01-25. Retrieved January 16, 2012
- ^ http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/247071.html
- ^ Campbell, Morgan (2008-09-18). "Natural grass 'not hot on radar' for BMO Field". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/501277. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^ Montréal se joint à la MLS en 2012 (7 May 2010).
- ^ Daigle, Frédéric (7 May 2010), Joey Saputo : « Montréal aura enfin le soccer qu'il mérite », La Presse Canadienne, http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/soccer/201005/07/01-4278193-joey-saputo-montreal-aura-enfin-le-soccer-quil-merite.php
- ^ Freedman, Jonah (May 7, 2010). ""Passionate" Montreal named as 19th MLS city". MLSSoccer.com. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/passionate-montreal-named-19th-mls-city. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saputo Stadium |
| Preceded by Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard 1993—2007 |
Home of the Montreal Impact 2008—2011 |
Succeeded by current (in MLS) |
| Preceded by first stadium |
Home of the Montreal Impact (MLS) 2012—present |
Succeeded by current |
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Coordinates: 45°33′47.07″N 73°33′9.56″W / 45.563075°N 73.5526556°W
