Saputo Stadium

Saputo Stadium Stade Saputo
Location	Montreal, Quebec
Broke ground	April 18, 2007
Opened	May 21, 2008
Owner	Saputo
Operator	Montreal Impact
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	$14.1M CAD ($14.4 million in 2011 dollars)[1]
Architect	Zinno Zappitelli Architectes
Capacity	13,034 [1] (2007-2011) 20,341 (2012-future)
Tenants
Montreal Impact (MLS) (2012-future) Montreal Impact (NASL) (2008-present) Montreal Impact Academy (CSL) (2010-present) Canada men's national soccer team (2007-present)

Saputo Stadium (French: Stade Saputo) 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. [2]

View inside the stadium

Saputo Preferential Tribune

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). 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.^[2] 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.^[3][4] These plans will go into effect, since MLS has officially granted Montreal their nineteenth franchise set to begin play for the 2012 season.^[5]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Saputo Stadium at night

References

1. ^ Canadian inflation numbers based on data available from Consumer Price Index, by province (monthly) (Canada) Statistics Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2011 and Consumer Price Index, historical summary Statistics Canada. Retrieved December 7, 2010
2. ^ 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. 
3. ^ Montréal se joint à la MLS en 2012 (7 May 2010).
4. ^ 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 
5. ^ 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. 

External links

• Official site
• [3]
• [4]

Preceded by Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard 1993—2007

Home of the Montreal Impact 2008—present

Succeeded by current

Preceded by first stadium

Home of the Montreal Impact (MLS) 2012—present

Succeeded by current

Coordinates: 45°33′47.07″N 73°33′9.56″W / 45.563075°N 73.5526556°W / 45.563075; -73.5526556