Western Alumni Stadium
 | |
 | |
| Former names | TD Stadium TD Waterhouse Stadium[5] |
|---|---|
| Location | London, Ontario |
| Owner | University of Western Ontario |
| Operator | University of Western Ontario |
| Capacity | 8,000[4] |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 28, 1999[1] |
| Opened | September 16, 2000[2] |
| Renovated | 2007 |
| Construction cost | $10.65 million[1] |
| Architect | Stantec Consulting Ltd.[3] |
| Main contractors | Norlon Builders London Ltd.[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Western Mustangs(U Sports): 2000–present FC London(USL PDL): 2009–2013 London Beefeaters(CJFL) 2000–2019 London Silverbacks (NAFL): 2004–2008 | |
Western Alumni Stadium(formerly TD Stadium) is an 8,000-seatCanadian footballstadiumlocated on the campus of theUniversity of Western OntarioinLondon, Ontario.It is home to theWestern Mustangs football teamand is one of the largest stadiums in the OUA provincial conference.[6]It was built in 2000[4]at a cost of approximately $10.65 million by Norlon Builders London Ltd and designed byStantec Consulting Ltd.[1][3]
The stadium was built as a replacement for the formerJW Little Stadium,which held its last game in 1999 before demolition. JW Little Stadium had been on Western's campus since 1929.[2]The stadium was opened on September 16, 2000, when the first Western Mustangs home game was played.[7]
During the request for sponsorship funding, the Canadian-owned bankTD Canada Trustgave $1.5 million[8]towards the stadium construction. Originally named the TD Waterhouse Stadium,[9]the name was changed in 2013 to reflect new branding for TD[5]and then changed to its current name in 2021 after a donation of $1.4 million was given by the Alumni Association.[10]
In addition to the Western Mustangs, the stadium is also home to theLondon Beefeaters,who are part of theCanadian Junior Football League.[11]
In spring 2009, the newly formed FC London of the USL Premier Development League began playing their home games at this venue.
Facility
[edit]The stadium has a regulationCFLCanadian footballsized field (110 yards by 65 yards) made out ofFieldTurf.Surrounding the field is an 8-lane, 400-metreMondorubber track. The seating has two separate grandstands with a total capacity for 8,000. During large games, the stadium can accommodate 10,000 additional standing spectators.[4]
In addition to the track, the facility also as multiplelong jumpsand pits,javelinand adiscuscircle.
The main building is known as the JW Little building and houses the players changing rooms, the Michael Kirkley Training Centre, coaching offices, as well as a lounge and terrace.[4]
Renovations
[edit]In summer 2007, the AstroTurf was replaced by FieldTurf at a cost of approximately $1 million.[12]
The stadium field and track underwent renovations in summer 2021 to replace the track surface and the artificialFieldTurf.Along with those playing surfaces, the stadium lights were upgraded to facilitate better visibility during night games.[13]The budgeted cost for this project was $4.6 million.[14]
Notable events
[edit]The stadium hosts a number of events outside of the university. Every year, localLondonpublic schools through the Thames Valley School Board use the facilities often to host track and field events.[15]The stadium also hosts local London high school football games known asRed Feathergames, in which local senior high school football teams play their first game of the season.
The stadium was used as the main venue for the 2001Canada Summer Games.[16]
In 2002, the stadium was used for an exhibitionCFLgame between theToronto ArgonautsandHamilton Tiger-Cats[17]which was a sellout at 9,178 fans.
The stadium was the host of the2004 Men's Pan American Cupfor the men's internationalfield hockeychampionship.[18]
In 2006, the stadium hosted the2006 World Lacrosse Championshipand the game attendance was 7,735.[19]
London hosted the 2010Canadian Special Olympicsand the stadium became one of a number of venues across the city.[20]
In the summer of 2018, the stadium was the main venue for the 2018 Ontario Summer Games.[21]The stadium is again the main venue for the 2021 Ontario Summer Games,[22]being held in London for the second time in a row.
References
[edit]- ^abcdeIntini, John (September 24, 1999)."Stadium receives backing".Western Gazette.
- ^ab"JP Metras Sports Museum".lib.uwo.ca.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^abValeriote, Jeremy (2010-05-01),TD Waterhouse Stadium,retrieved2020-03-02
- ^abcd"TD Stadium".Western Mustangs Sports.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^ab"Western University and TD announce new name for stadium".Media Relations.Western University.2013-08-27.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^Clarke, Charlie O'Connor (14 September 2016)."How does TD Stadium stack up?".The Gazette • Western University's Student Newspaper.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"WESTERN INDUCTS THIRD CLASS OF FOOTBALL GREATS - Ontario University Athletics (OUA)".oua.ca.5 May 2006.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"MacCulloch, Nash look back at where careers got started".The Globe and Mail.2001-08-09.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"Western University's TD Waterhouse Stadium renamed".The London Free Press.2013-08-27. Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2018.
- ^"Western News - Western renames iconic stadium to Western Alumni Stadium".Western News.2021-10-02.Retrieved2021-10-03.
- ^"LONDON BEEFEATERS 2019 SCHEDULE".
- ^[1][usurped]
- ^"Western upgrades football field, hockey arena in long-overdue makeover".lfpress.Retrieved2021-09-11.
- ^"Western University: 2021-22 Operating and Capital Budgets"(PDF).
- ^"Track & Field – Thames Valley Regional Athletics".Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"Canada Games Council - Past Games".canadagames.ca.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"The Official Site of the Canadian Football League as powered by SLAM! Sports".2002-10-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2002-10-20.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"PAHF - 2nd Pan American Cup - Men".panamhockey.org.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"Activity Workshop - Lacrosse World Cup 2006 - Reports 22 July 2006".activityworkshop.net.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"Canadian Special Olympics to be hosted by London, Ont. in July 2010".CP24.2009-04-10.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"2018 Ontario Summer Games".Athletics Ontario.2017-10-06.Retrieved2020-03-02.
- ^"Ontario Summer Games postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 | London 2021 Ontario Summer Games".london2021.ca.Retrieved2021-02-16.