Turf Removal Starts At BMO Field
Work began on Friday morning
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Bob Hunter speaks with Luke Wileman about the grass installation process. |
The turf will be removed along with around eight to 12 inches of gravel. "After the turf has been removed, they will then start to rebuild in stacking layers," said MLSE Executive Vice President Venues and Entertainment, Bob Hunter. "A drainage system will form the base and then there will be a heating system and on top of that will be eight inches of topsoil. We will bring that in next spring but we can get all of the other preparation work done in the next four to six weeks before the ground freezes."
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is investing $5.5 million in the project to install a grass pitch at BMO Field. $3.5 million is benig spent to replace the Field Turf at BMO Field with a natural grass pitch and there is a $2.0 million investment in community sports facilities; including an estimated $1.2 million to upgrade Allan Lamport Stadium with a winter bubble and an $800,000 investment in another artificial turf soccer field in the city.
"Converting BMO Field into a natural grass surface will have tremendous benefits for our community, our city, Toronto FC and soccer in Canada," said Hunter. "BMO Field's natural grass surface will support growing and developing soccer at amateur, national and professional levels, by creating greater levels of access and opportunity. It will also help attract high-profile soccer events to our stadium, creating a positive economic impact for our city."
