MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke said that the company is "completing the first phase" of a $99M (all figures U.S.) renovation of BMO Field that will "put its premium amenities on par with NFL stadiums," according to Don Muret of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Toronto FC plays its first regular-season home game this Sunday, and fans "will see an 8-year-old stadium that has grown by 8,400 seats with 17 new suites, two new event-level clubs, and an expanded Rogers Club on the second level along the west side." Overall, the stadium will have "30,000 seats, making it the biggest soccer-specific building in MLS, with more than 50 suites and about 1,500 club seats." All premium inventory "is sold out for the coming season." For phase two, a roof canopy "will be built" for $33M with "new lighting and sound systems built into the structure." Construction "will start in early November after the MLS season" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/4 issue). In Toronto, Kurtis Larson reports TFC "appears to be on pace to selling out" Sunday's home opener against the Dynamo. Around 1,500 tickets "remained as of Saturday for the club’s first home date" following a seven-game road trip to open the season. The team’s top brass are "hopeful they’ll sell out 30,000 seats at the newly-renovated and expanded BMO Field by this weekend." Beyond the "anticipated home opener, the first handful of TFC’s home matches are said to be selling well heading into summer" (TORONTO SUN, 5/4).
