Let's Talk About BMO Field's World Cup Upgrades

Last week, I went to the international friendly between Canada and Iceland at the new-look BMO Field (which will also be known as the "Toronto Stadium" for the purposes of the upcoming World Cup). While I can talk about the match and the atmosphere, I want to talk about the upgrades to the stadium. While I know there has been some chatter that BMO Field will be the worst-looking stadium in the World Cup, after being in the stadium, I can say that this sentiment is true. However, I do not think this stadium looks completely terrible.

As I make my way to the stadium and see the exposed steel pipes of the north stand, BMO Field has the feel of a temporary home. I know that just looking at these exposed steel pipes may cause some people to think that the temporary stands are unsafe, but I think the stands can handle a full set of fans.

I will say one positive thing about the upgrades to BMO Field. With the addition of the north and south temporary stands, it will create a significantly better atmosphere in the stadium, because it closes the gaps in the stadium. I always thought BMO Field as a stadium looked unfinished, but the addition of the temporary stands makes the stadium look less unfinished. I also like the addition of the corner screens and the upgraded sound system; upgrades that the stadium sorely needed.

I was walking in the west stand concourse, and there was a temporary structure right in the middle of the concourse which has some lounges and other rooms which I am assuming are for hospitality clients. The thing that I did not like about this concourse is that it reduces passing through the concourse to a single two-person-wide hallway, which could be a potential bottleneck.

In the temporary stands, due to how the ends of the stands slant towards the field, there are some rows in some sections that have two, or even one seat in the row, which I find hilarious. This would be an introvert's dream.

Overall, I found walking through this iteration of BMO Field to be rather weird with all these temporary structures in the stadium like the lounges and other amenities. Again, I will say that I appreciate the heightened atmosphere that the temporary stands brought (even if they were empty for this match) because they help to contain the noise, and it was something I felt while watching the match from section 114. It will be interesting to see the organization of trying to move 45,000 people to the stadium and away from the stadium when World Cup matches conclude, because I did notice some bottlenecks when I hopped off the train station and made my way to the stadium.

Anyways, those were my thoughts.