The Lakeshore Terrace

I lived in three places - at work, at home, and at the stadium - but my real life was at the stadium.

Forgive my bastardized quote adapted from the short story The Hockey Sweater but I wanted to write an ode to my home away from home. I am from Toronto and a massive footy fan, so of course I am talking about BMO Field, and even more specifically, section 114.

I am writing this under the backdrop of my time going to the CONCACAF Nations League match between Canada and Honduras a couple of weeks ago, which was the first time I was in the south end of BMO Field in 2023. It was great to be back among familiar faces and familiar surroundings as Canada ran out 4-1 winners and booked themselves a place in the Nations League Final Four in Las Vegas. I have never aggressively flag-waved so much in my life. Seriously, it was fun to just go out and lose myself in the singing, jumping, and the occasional "Fuck the CSA" chants. Being in the stadium last week made me experience a retrospective in my mind, which I want to share with you.

Before I continue, I want to share an experience that I am sure many sports venue-goers can relate to. I always get goosebumps whenever I am in the stadium concourse, and I enter the walkway/tunnel that leads out to the stands/seating. You are walking through the walkway to the rowdy sections, and the crowd on top of you is already jumping and singing, and you are feeling like the stand is flexing and bending with the timing of the jumps of the crowd. You walk through the walkway into the open of the pitch and the stands all around you, and it feels like you entered another world within a world. I felt like I had to romanticize this experience but at its essence, the walk from the stadium concourse to the pitch feels special.

I have written about many of my times at BMO Field (and section 114), where I have experienced my biggest triumphs, biggest heartbreaks, and everything in between. I remember when I used to support Toronto FC and sneak into section 114 to chant with the Inebriatti. One beautiful moment when I was in section 114 was when I witnessed Toronto FC qualify for the MLS Playoffs for the first time. There were playoff matches, MLS Cups, and last-minute TFC game winners where I felt so blessed to be in the stadium and witness, and not have to worry about my life outside the stadium.

However, there were times when my life inside the stadium and my life outside the stadium collided in unfortunate circumstances. I remembered going to a TFC match in 2014 where I met my friend from university who I had a crush on, be in the arms of another man. My internal response at that time was to drink more and lose myself even more in the atmosphere.

The most awkward I have ever felt inside BMO Field was when I went with my former co-workers to the 2018 Campeones Cup between Toronto FC and Tigres. We had tickets in section 114, which were made available after the Inebriatti were banned as a Toronto FC supporters group due to crowd trouble. I ultimately had a good time, but it just felt so weird. I think about that night from time to time. I think about the contrast between getting rowdy and chanting songs and obscenities with like-minded TFC supporters, and being in a sedate 114 with your co-workers of all people. I wanted to lead some sort of chanting or get some sort of atmosphere going, but I also did not want to share my true colours with my co-workers. It almost felt like I was at work. I never want to feel that way again.

Nowadays, I am more active supporting the Canada men's team rather than Toronto FC, and with this boom period of talent and winning important matches, I feel like I am drinking from the chalice of delirium again. Maybe this is an addiction. I tend to drink much more and get more vocal and rowdier when I am in the stadium, and especially in section 114. Maybe this is what I really am and this is the only way I get to be me. All I am hoping is that these times in the section and in the stadium never end.