Saputo Stadium
Encyclopedia
Saputo Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium
in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
which 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 can be expanded to 20,000. Major League Soccer
's expansion plans include the Montreal Impact, slated to play beginning 2012. Upgrading the stadium to a capacity of 20,341 will begin in September 2011 and be completed by Summer 2012. Season tickets will cost $250 to $1,250.
Designed and fabricated by Dant Clayton Corporation and built by Broccolini Construction Inc., the stadium welcomed its first Impact home game on May 19, 2008, a scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The first international at Saputo Stadium was the second leg of Canada's second stage CONCACAF
World Cup Qualifying match on June 20, 2008. http://tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=235495&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_soccer
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 1600000 square feet (148,644.9 m²). While it is currently mostly used by the Impact, other local teams will also be 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
. 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. These plans will go into effect, since MLS has officially granted Montreal their nineteenth franchise set to begin play for the 2012 season
.
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 games in the MLS, including the home opener, will be played at the Montreal Olympic Stadium.
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
which opened on May 21, 2008, and is the current home of the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
. The stadium is built on the former practice track and field site on the grounds of the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, while the stadium's west side has a view of Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
's inclined tower. It has a three-stand configuration. Saputo Stadium, the second largest soccer-specific stadium in Canada after BMO Field
BMO Field
BMO Field is a Canadian soccer stadium located in Exhibition Place in the city of Toronto. The open-air structure can seat up to 21,800 spectators, depending on seating configurations. It is owned by the City of Toronto, and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, holds 13,034 people and can be expanded to 20,000. Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
's expansion plans include the Montreal Impact, slated to play beginning 2012. Upgrading the stadium to a capacity of 20,341 will begin in September 2011 and be completed by Summer 2012. Season tickets will cost $250 to $1,250.
Designed and fabricated by Dant Clayton Corporation and built by Broccolini Construction Inc., the stadium welcomed its first Impact home game on May 19, 2008, a scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The first international at Saputo Stadium was the second leg of Canada's second stage CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
World Cup Qualifying match on June 20, 2008. http://tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=235495&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_soccer
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
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 1600000 square feet (148,644.9 m²). While it is currently mostly used by the Impact, other local teams will also be 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
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. 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
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, 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. These plans will go into effect, since MLS has officially granted Montreal their nineteenth franchise set to begin play for the 2012 season
2012 Major League Soccer season
The 2012 Major League Soccer season is the upcoming 100th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 34th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 17th season of Major League Soccer...
.
The Impact's first goal in the stadium was scored by Rocco Placentino
Rocco Placentino
Rocco Placentino is a Canadian international soccer player who plays as a midfielder. He is currently without a club-Club:...
against the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
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 games in the MLS, including the home opener, will be played at the Montreal Olympic Stadium.