Varsity Stadium bites the Dust ...

[n_v]

I don't know about you but something is fishy to me in this. There is more to the story than what is being told.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/news_story.asp?id=100375

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040930.wvarsity30/BNStory/Front/

 

[RayFinkel]

Overpriced tiny stadium downtown with no
parking. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I wonder why it
wont get built?

 

[n_v]

Overpriced tiny stadium downtown with no
parking. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I wonder why it
wont be built?

My point is who says it is overpriced ..seems to me there are some powers at U of T who don't want to see it built. the cost is not the issue ... smoke screen for themedia.

 

[happywanderer]

U of T has had a hard-on to get rid of sports for over 10+ years now. IMHO, the lords that be there have wanted to emasculate the sports program, and, by killing the deal they just may have done it. Not only does it screw the University's athletic department, it kills the Argo's momentum, the Soccer tourney (?) that was specially going to be held @ Varsity.
The size was right... 20, 000+ seat stadium. 3 Subway stops within easy walking distance, and I though we were all trying to drive less and take public transit more anyways. To put U of T's football team up around York makes no sense what so ever.
Whomever made the decision @ U of T is an idiot of major league proportions.


TTFN

 

[ToronToto]

happywanderer is correct, UofT has the intent of being "ivy league" for some time, akin to the American schools. Strictly academics, post-grad programmes, high/higher tuition fees.

Varsity Stadium was torn down several years ago. It is prime real-estate.

btw, is the UofT hockey rink still around? do they still have a hockey team?

 

[Argocock]

As you can tell I am an Argo fan. I've had seasons tickets for 6 years and I was looking forward to seeing them play in the new stadium. THat sucks.

 

[brualex33]

The US "ivy league" schools have very strong athletic programs. So ToronToto I think you're wrong. Let's be honest, the Ufdoesn't need a 25,000 stadium. They were putting up most of the money. I'm sure the Argos owners were smart enough to offload most of the risk. They didn't get to where they are by taking stupid bets.
It's a great sight and selfishly I would have loved it there but oh well: they are the Argos - they'll survive.

 

[n_v]

The U of T is looking to build something there anyway. They do need some sort of athletic complex plus with this deal the arena was going to get a facelift. The Argos were going to pay the loan financed by U of T. And the CSA was gong to make financial contributions as well. In this city of 2.5 million and metro area of over 5 million we don't have a regular field sized configured stadium (don't go there with skydome). This was more about a few residents complaining and some brass at the school who are not fond of athletics than anything else. The CSA and the Argos got the rug pulled from under them.

 

[n_v]

The US "ivy league" schools have very strong athletic programs. So ToronToto I think you're wrong. Let's be honest, the Ufdoesn't need a 25,000 stadium.

And how do the 'IVY' league schools compare in athletics to other NCAA school? Hmmmmmm... that's right they suck for the most part. They are better than what we have here but compared ot their surroundings they don't amount to much. My point is that if the same MC2 theory is applied to Univeristy athletics progams here in Canada, U of T brass is looking to have mediocre programs.
U of T may not need it but they sure could use it. They retain the ownership while two organizations use the facilities. The school could use it to attract Canadian Univeristy Bowls and promote other events such as track and field meets like they have in Europe. Toronto will get a new stadium but building a stadium at York U is not as sexy as one where the old Varsity stood.

 

[jwmorrice]

I say it's a good decision. There are better things on which to spend university money.

jwm
UofT Alumnus

 

[n_v]

There are better things on which to spend university money.

They are spending it anyway. Except this time they have to build the stadium with their own money. No Argo money, no CSA money, no government money. Shot themselves in the foot if u ask me.