Tom Anselmi, chief operating officer at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), recently announced plans for a new soccer academy and training facility to be built at Downsview Park.
MLSE owns and operates Toronto’s professional soccer program, Toronto FC, and Anselmi says the new facility will be the first of its kind in Canada.
“One of the bigger challenges that soccer players have had in Canada is finding a facility. Kids grow up wanting to play for … Toronto FC, but they need facilities and they need programming.” The academy, which will consist of 14 acres at Downsview Park, will include three new soccer fields, a 40,000-square-foot field house, change rooms, training facilities and team offices. Building costs are expected to exceed $17.5 million.
The academy will become part of the Downsview Park Sports Centre, where Anselmi said over a thousand kids are already playing soccer. He said students accepted into the academy will likely train five days a week, and the programs will be both training and theory focused.