Exhibition Stadium

Canadian National Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
CNE Stadium
The Ex
Exhibition Stadium in 1988
Map
LocationLake Shore Boulevard West & Ontario Drive
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°37′55″N 79°25′4″W / 43.63194°N 79.41778°W / 43.63194; -79.41778
Public transit Exhibition
 511  Bathurst
 29  TTC buses
OwnerCity of Toronto
OperatorCity of Toronto
Capacity20,679 (1948)[1]
33,150 (1959–1974 football)
41,890 (1975 football)
54,741 (1976–1988 football)
38,522 (1977 baseball)
43,737 (1978–1989 baseball)
Field sizeLeft Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Left-Centre – 375 ft (114 m)
Centre Field – 400 ft (122 m)
Right-Centre – 375 ft (114 m)
Right Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Backstop – 60 ft (18 m)
SurfaceGrass (1959–1971)
AstroTurf (1972–1989)
Construction
Built1948 (grandstand)
1959 (football bleachers)
1976 (football and baseball seats)
OpenedAugust 5, 1959
Closed1996
DemolishedJanuary 31, 1999
Construction cost$3 million (1948 north grandstand)[1]
$650,000 (1959 south bleachers)[1]
$17.5 million (1976 renovations)[2]
ArchitectMarani and Morris (1948)
Bill Sanford (1976)
Tenants
Toronto Argonauts (CFL) (1959–1988)
Serbian White Eagles (NSL) (1973–1974)
Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) (1977–1989)
Toronto Blizzard (NASL) (1979–1983)

Canadian National Exhibition Stadium (commonly known as Exhibition Stadium or CNE Stadium and nicknamed The Ex[3]) was a multi-purpose stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the grounds of Exhibition Place. Originally built for Canadian National Exhibition events, the stadium served as the home of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1959 to 1988, the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1977 to 1989, and the Toronto Blizzard of the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1979 to 1983.[4][5] The stadium hosted the Grey Cup game 12 times over a 24-year period.

The grandstand (known as CNE Grandstand) was used extensively throughout the summer months for hosting concerts.[6]

In 1999, the stadium was demolished and the site was used for parking until 2006. BMO Field was built on the site in 2007 roughly where the northern end of the covered grandstand once stood.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference noteworthy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference thedays was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Lott, John, and McGrath, Kaitlyn (May 8, 2020). "Inside the Ex: Tales from the Blue Jays' ugly, quirky, yet lovable first home". The Athletic. Retrieved November 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Beard, Randy (April 25, 1979). "Blizzard Hope Revenge Snowballs The Rowdies". Evening Independent. p. 1C. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  5. ^ Beard, Randy (May 4, 1984). "Down 3 more teams, but NASL is stronger". Evening Independent. p. 6C. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  6. ^ "1985 CNE Grandstand Performers". Cnearchives.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.