Montreal Stadium Thread

Joe MacCarthy · 10-12-2005, 07:01 AM

THE IMPACT WILL PLAY IN A NEW STADIUM
http://montrealimpact.com/news.asp?no_id=362

Capacity - 13,500 expandable to 17,000
Surface - Turf
Corporate boxes - 20
Distance from sidelines - 3.5m
Dressing rooms - 6
Practice fields - 3
Indoor fields - 1 in 2007
Cost - 15 million

MONTREAL, May 4, 2005 – The Montreal Impact will have a new home. The Saputo Stadium, a 13,500-seat stadium, will open its doors in the actual Technoparc and will be part of a larger sport complex designed specifically for soccer: the Complexe Place du Public.The news was confirmed at a press conference, Wednesday, by Montreal Impact president, Joey Saputo, the mayor of Montreal, Gérald Tremblay, the mayor of the Burrough of Sud-Ouest, Jacqueline Montpetit, and Mr. Lino Saputo.

“The Impact’s primary mission has always been to develop soccer in Quebec. But to continue to progress, we had to innovate for the future, ” said Montreal Impact president, Joey Saputo. “With a lack of fields on the territory, the need for high-level installations on the island of Montreal and a Claude-Robillard Stadium that was getting smaller and smaller, we had to find an innovative solution to accommodate the sport in order to ensure its development.”

Located north of the Bonaventure autoroute and south of the downtown area, the Complexe Place du Public will have an overall surface area of 1.6 million square feet and will be entirely financed by private funds to the cost of 15 million dollars. The Saputo family announced they will donate 7.5 million dollars in the project.

“I’m extremely proud of the Complexe Place du Public, declared Mr. Lino Saputo. “For my family and me this project is an ideal opportunity to give something back to the community that has supported us so outstandingly since the founding of our company in 1954. I’m already enjoying the prospect of soccer players, young ones as well as older ones, practicing their favourite sport in these high-level facilities.”

The new complex will have three soccer fields that will be available for regional soccer clubs and associations. The stadium, which could be expanded to 17,000 seats, could also host regional, provincial, national or international soccer competitions.

The Complexe Place du Public will be managed by a non-profit organization whose mission will be to promote the development of soccer by offering high-level installations to the citizens of the Greater Montreal region.

The Impact won the First Division United Soccer Leagues last season in front of a crowd of 13,648 spectators at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. The Impact finished the 2004 season with an average of 9,279 fans per game, a team record which eclipsed the previous mark of 7,236 spectators per game set in 2003.

Edit: This wasn't posted at SFN originally on May 4, 2005

Joe MacCarthy · 10-12-2005, 07:28 AM

Tks to Daniel from Vs for this post

In an article in the Journal de Montréal today:

The stadium will be ready in March 2007
The financial planning will be ready before mid-November for firms interested in presenting a submission

The construction firm will be chosen at the beginning of December
The stadium will seat 14,673, will be turf and there will be 5 surrounding fields, including a covered one

1,675 parking places
The Impact and Saputo Stadium will form 2 distinct non-profit organizations
The Impact will pay rent for stadium use and office space

Annual revenues of $2m (rent, rent from the fields, parking)

The Impact have generated a surplus every year since 2002

Current operating budget is on the underside of $2m and includes since 2002 $650,000 a year from the three main partners (Saputo, Hydro-Quebec and the Government of Quebec)

The 5-year sponsor provisions were $300,000 in 2002 to attain $700,000 in 2006. They accounted for $1.2m in 2005

Total attendance went from 25,000 in 2001 (year of the bankrupcy) to 150,000 in 2005, a 500% increase in 4 years

Joe MacCarthy · 03-08-2006, 01:26 AM

Look for some news to come out of Montreal soon about the new stadium and stadium drawings etc.

Joe MacCarthy · 03-21-2006, 10:11 PM

CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SOCCER COMPLEX AT THE TECHNOPARC
WILL BE DELAYED
http://www.impactmontreal.com/newsEN.asp?no_id=469

MONTREAL, March 21, 2006 - Construction of the new soccer complex, which was slated to begin at the end of the month in the Technoparc, located south of Montreal’s downtown area, will be delayed.

Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo, who is spearheading the $15-million, privately funded stadium project, made the announcement Tuesday.

“My family is committed to giving back to the community and our commitment to build a new soccer complex is firm,” said Joey Saputo. “But we were recently approached by la Régie des installations olympiques (Olympic Installations Board) in order to examine the possibility of moving the project to the Olympic Park. After considerable thought, we have decided to take the time to explore that option, always in the interest of better serving the future of soccer in Quebec.”

The soccer complex, which will include Saputo Stadium as well as training facilities, will be the new home of the Montreal Impact.

Construction of the complex at the Technoparc will therefore be delayed as a more detailed survey of the Olympic Park is undertaken, jointly with the RIO, to determine if it could respond to the growing needs of soccer in the province.

“However, we are not saying no to the Technoparc,” added Mr. Saputo. “It’s more a question of taking the necessary time to do what’s best for soccer. We have the responsibility to get the most out of our investment, to ensure the future of soccer in Quebec. We foresee taking a decision regarding the final location of the new complex within a few months.”

The stadium, which was originally planned to open in time for the Impact’s 2007 season, was also to host Youth World Championship games next year. Montreal is one of six host cities for the event. Montreal’s involvement in the championship is not jeopardized even if the new building will not be ready in time.

“I’m also a member of the organizing committee and an alternate site has already been identified for Youth World Championship games to be played in Montreal,” noted Mr. Saputo.

The Quebec government, Saputo and Hydro-Québec are all founding partners of the Montreal Impact, which was re-launched in 2002 as a non-profit organization.

The new soccer complex will be entirely financed through private funds, at a cost of $ 15 million. The Saputo family has announced it will contribute $ 7.5 million to the project.

The Impact will kick off its 13th season on April 23, in Miami. The club’s home opener will be played on Sunday, May 21, at Claude Robillard Sports Complex, against the Minnesota Thunder.

Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)

Joe MacCarthy · 07-07-2006, 12:45 AM

Tks to Winnipeg Fury at Vs for headsup

PRESS RELEASE: July 6, 2006
SAPUTO STADIUM IS HEADED TO OLYMPIC PARK
MONTREAL — Saputo Stadium, complete with soccer complex and training grounds, will be built at Olympic Park.
http://montrealimpact.com/News/News....&ArticleID=542

That is the wish of Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo, who is spearheading the $15-million, privately funded project.

“Following our discussions with the Régie des installations olympiques (Olympic Installations Board), and looking at the feasibility of the project with them over the past few months, my family and I have decided that Olympic Park represents the best option for the future of soccer in Montreal and Quebec,” said Joey Saputo.

Originally slated to begin construction in the Technoparc in March of 2006, the project was put on hold after the RIO offered to host the new complex.

The soccer-specific complex, which will include Saputo Stadium as well as training facilities, will be the new home of the Montreal Impact. The team, which is currently playing its 13th season at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, attracted a club-record average of 11,176 fans per home game last year.

Transferring the project to Olympic Park proved to be the most advantageous option because of several key factors, such as accessibility, parking and the overall vocation of the project, Mr. Saputo explained.

“We are building a soccer complex which we want to be accessible to soccer enthusiasts in Montreal and Quebec,” pointed out Mr. Saputo. “But we also want this facility to be a tribute to soccer for future generations. The Olympic Park fits in well with our philosophy of leaving a soccer legacy to the community and with the sports vocation of the overall site.”

Mr. Saputo and his group will now continue their work with the RIO in order to finalize the plans for the new facility, as well as to put forth a precise timeline for construction. To that effect, discussions are underway with the City of Montreal, including the Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Borough, which will be called upon to approve the project. As part of that process, the project will be the object of public hearings this fall.

“We have received outstanding support from the RIO, the City of Montreal and the borough in this project and our intention is to continue to work with them to make sure we follow all procedures,” said Saputo. “In the end, we will work with the community so that we build a facility we can all be proud of.”

While construction may begin as early as this fall, Mr. Saputo has ruled out the possibility of hosting Montreal’s share of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 games next year at the new complex. Montreal is one of six Canadian host cities for the event, which will take place in July of 2007.

“We have to be realistic in our approach and we want to take the time to do this right,” said Mr. Saputo.

The Quebec government, Saputo and Hydro-Québec are all founding partners of the Montreal Impact, which was re-launched in 2002 as a non-profit organization.

As originally announced on May 4, 2005, the new soccer complex will be entirely financed through private funds, at a cost of $15 million, and the Saputo family will contribute $7.5 million to the project through a private donation. The new complex will also be managed by a non-profit organization.

The Montreal Impact will play its next game Friday, July 7 at 8:00 pm at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)

Joe MacCarthy · 07-08-2006, 01:58 AM

Impact to get new complex
By BILL BEACON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Can...671666-cp.html

MONTREAL (CP) - The new home of the Montreal Impact will be a $15-million soccer stadium and training complex near Olympic Stadium in the city's east end, team president Joey Saputo announced Thursday.

Original plans called for the privately funded Saputo Stadium to be built in the Technoparc, a mostly vacant property near downtown Montreal. Plans were changed after the Olympic Installations Board, the provincial government agency that runs Olympic Park, offered free land in the park near Olympic Stadium, the little-used former home of the Montreal Expos baseball team.

The complex will include a roughly 13,000-seat stadium that can be expanded to up to 18,000 seats if needed.

If approvals from the city and the Mercier/Hochelaga-Maisonneve borough are received on time, construction may begin in the fall and it could be ready to open in the fall of 2007, Saputo said on a conference call.

"It will be a modest stadium," he added. "I hope people don't think it will be like the ones they're seeing at the World Cup (in Germany)."

The complex will be operated by a non-profit organization, but the Impact will control the stadium as well as all concessions and advertising, he said. The team is negotiating a 40-year lease for the site, with control then reverting back to the city.

It will not be completed soon enough to serve as a venue for the under-20 World Cup, which will be played in six Canadian cities, including Montreal, in July, 2007.

"We want to take time to do this right," Saputo said.

The site at the corner of Viau and Sherbrooke streets will include a stadium, an outdoor practice field and two indoor fields. There is a subway stop nearby.

The Impact, who play in the United Soccer Leagues, are in their 13th season at Centre Claude-Robillard in the north end, where they averaged 11,176 spectators per game last season.

The project will give Canada's two largest cities new soccer facilities. Toronto is building a $62.9-million stadium, funded mostly by public money, to be the home of a new Major League Soccer franchise. It is to be completed by May 1, 2007.

The Impact was relaunched jointly in 2002 by the Saputos, Hydro Quebec and the Quebec government as a non-profit club.

Joe MacCarthy · 11-01-2006, 12:24 PM

bushie · 05-10-2007, 05:42 AM

Does anyone know if Montreal's Saputo Stadium is actually being built and if it is when it is due to be opened? The only news I know of is it is due to be opened July this year?!

Joe MacCarthy · 05-10-2007, 09:45 AM

PRESS RELEASE: April 18, 2007
CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE SAPUTO STADIUM
http://www.montrealimpact.com/News/N...&ArticleID=681

MONTREAL – Mr. Lino Saputo, Mr. Joey Saputo, President of the Montreal Impact, Mr. Gilles Lépine, Chairman of the Olympic Installations Board, Mrs. Francine Senécal, Vice-chairperson of the Executive Committee, responsible for sports, recreation and scientific institutions with the City of Montreal, and Mrs. Lyn Thériault, Mayor of Mercier/Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Borough, took part Wednesday in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the future soccer complex and Saputo Stadium, at Olympic Park.

The first phase of the project consists of the construction of a stadium and training field, which will be located on the corner of Sherbrooke and Viau Streets. The Saputo Stadium, a 13,000-seat soccer stadium, will become the new home of the Montreal Impact as of the 2008 season.

“Much like the Impact’s mission is to develop soccer in Quebec, the purpose of these new facilities is to provide a high-end environment to foster this development,” said Impact President Mr. Joey Saputo. “We want the Saputo Stadium to be a unique gathering place for all soccer players and fans alike, as well as for future generations throughout the province.”

Construction of the project is estimated at $15 million, and will be entirely privately funded. Half of this amount -$7.5 million- will be donated by the Saputo family.

“For my family and I, this project also represents a great opportunity to give back to the community who has supported us since the foundation of our company in 1954,” said Mr. Lino Saputo. “It’s really a great honour to know that the Saputo Stadium will be erected at Olympic Park.”

“The construction of this soccer stadium, combined with the arrival of four aquatic sports national teams in our complex, reinforces the athletic orientation of our facilities,” said the President of the Olympics Installations Board, Mr. Gilles Lépine. “By dedicating a portion of our fields to the construction of the Saputo soccer complex, through an emphyteutic lease, we are contributing to increase the sport’s popularity. At the same time, this new complex will promote physical activity among our youth.”

“The City of Montreal is pleased to accompany the Saputo family in the realization of this dream. The building of a sporting facility of this magnitude represents an added value for the city and it will undoubtedly benefit the development of soccer, which has constantly gained in popularity over the years,” declared Mrs Francine Senécal, Vice-chairperson of the Executive Committee, responsible for sports, recreation and scientific institutions with the City of Montreal.

The Saputo Stadium will be expandable to 17,000 seats and will host all Montreal Impact home games, as well as other soccer events, including regional, provincial, national and international matches. The new complex, specifically designed for soccer, will be managed by a non-profit organization.

The Impact played before a total of 161,762 fans during the 2006 regular season, for an average of 11,554 spectators at every home game. The Impact kicks off their final season at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex May 20, 2007, marking the club’s 14th home opener in team history.

juanpabloangel · 07-23-2008, 10:11 PM

So are they playing at this stadium now?

Mavi · 11-28-2008, 10:15 PM