[Monarch Butterfly]

Argos will apparently have three "home" games played elsewhere, one each in Regina, Winnipeg, and Hamilton.

Argos to Play Select Home Games Away From BMO Field Next Summer During 2026 FIFA World Cup - Toronto Argonauts

TORONTO – As Toronto welcomes the world to BMO Field next summer when the city plays host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Toronto Argonauts’ 2026 home schedule will be adjusted to accommodate the major event. BMO Field, which has been undergoing renovations for the biggest soccer event in the...

www.argonauts.ca

Too bad having a Argonauts "home game" in Buffalo's new stadium is out. The Bills' new Highmark Stadium is slated to open July 1, 2026. The first FIFA game is at or after June 11, 2027. However, would not want to go with the current far-right government in the USA.

 

[SubHuman]

To be more precise, World Cup facilities cannot be booked or used for a month prior to their first matches, and they cannot be used for friendly matches in the leadup to the World Cup.

I assume the 'facility' would just be the stadium, and this would be largely about not damaging the playing surface?
I don't see how or why they would otherwise require that everything else at Exhibition Place must be shut down for a month ahead of time.

I've read some comments elsewhere fearing that setting up any of the grandstands, fences, barriers, etc., for the IndyCar race wouldn't be able to start in June as usual, and not until after the World Cup was over. I think they might be confused over the 'not using the stadium' thing.
At most I could maybe see there being some kind of stipulation to not be doing anything within a certain distance of the stadium, and not displaying advertising banners there. But particularly with the FIFA Fan Festival being outside of Exhibition Place and over at The Bentway, I don't see how or why they wouldn't have enough time to finish setting up the rest of the race track in the (presumably) two full weeks before the race weekend.

 

[Mihairokov]

I assume the 'facility' would just be the stadium, and this would be largely about not damaging the playing surface?
I don't see how or why they would otherwise require that everything else at Exhibition Place must be shut down for a month ahead of time.

Yes, this specifically means BMO Field, and specifically means anything using the pitch.

I've read some comments elsewhere fearing that setting up any of the grandstands, fences, barriers, etc., for the IndyCar race wouldn't be able to start in June as usual, and not until after the World Cup was over. I think they might be confused over the 'not using the stadium' thing.

I think it's possible that they prevent IndyCar from setting up as it would interfere with potential usage of BMO Field during the World Cup. If it's being kept as a reserve venue after its scheduled matches I doubt they're going to allow IndyCar to set up in a way that would be intrusive, but i'm assuming.

 

[GenerationW]

Apparently they need 2-3 weeks after the last Toronto World Cup game to tear down the W.C. bells and whistles, which puts the 2026 Indy race in jeopardy. Don't think there has been an official announcement yet.

 

[narduch]

The Indy Car set up probably screws up their security plans as well.

There will be 15,000 extra fans per match compared to a normal BMO Field crowd and those concrete barriers may get in the way.

 

[Richard White]

The Indy Car set up probably screws up their security plans as well

Not to mention safety.

If FIFA is anything like the NHL or MLB they need to have easy access for emergency vehicles.

As well, with that many people you need alot of clear space for evacuations. You can't have any part of the indycar setup preventing a quick evacuation.

Another thing to is optics on TV. They likely want a clean, crisp view unhindered by construction and other events.

 

[SubHuman]

Apparently they need 2-3 weeks after the last Toronto World Cup game to tear down the W.C. bells and whistles, which puts the 2026 Indy race in jeopardy. Don't think there has been an official announcement yet.

What "bells and whistles"? The extra stands are at the north and south ends of the stadium, and not on, or really even that close to, any part of the race track. As previously mentioned, the FIFA Fan Festival will be outside of Exhibition Place at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway.

 

[SubHuman]

There's no shortage of theories and rumours online about what's supposedly being considered regarding the 2026 Toronto IndyCar race and if, when, and where it might happen. It would be one thing if it was all just a bunch of people imagining whatever came into their mind, but now it's the supposedly more legitimate sources that are spouting different and conflicting things. The latest one I see is "downtown" Markham? (I'm not sure there is a "downtown" Markham.)

 

[Richard White]

There's no shortage of theories and rumours online about what's supposedly being considered regarding the 2026 Toronto IndyCar race and if, when, and where it might happen. It would be one thing if it was all just a bunch of people imagining whatever came into their mind, but now it's the supposedly more legitimate sources that are spouting different and conflicting things. The latest one I see is "downtown" Markham? (I'm not sure there is a "downtown" Markham.)

I wonder if Mosport could be a consideration?

 

[SubHuman]

I wonder if Mosport could be a consideration?

It is a race track, but it wouldn't make sense for this.
The Toronto promoters would have to pay to rent the track, and then also pay a lot to update it to acceptable modern safety standards. And then get less revenue than usual because fewer corporate sponsors and casual spectators would be interested in showing up out there at this place in the middle of nothing except farms, forests, and gravel quarries.
-----------------

It appears as though what is named "Downtown Markham" is a new office park.
I don't understand what benefit they would receive by having a temporary race track there for one weekend.

A municipality having a temporary street race is usually a large city with a real downtown or other area with a waterfront and/or skyline of distinctive buildings or other features that it hopes will be seen by TV viewers and attract tourists. Some temporary tracks might not have those, but they instead have more open spaces that can have a better race track with better views of the racing for the spectators. (It might at least attract some crowds of people like me who would want to see the races.)
An office park has none of those. It will be a bad, and bad-looking, race track with nothing but suburban parking lots. Is the mayor of Markham (if this is real, I'm guessing he's very likely behind this, going by the NHL Arena nonsense a few years ago) thinking something like "the world will see our mundane office park on TV and then have to come see it in person! Look -- one of the office buildings has a Popeyes chicken outlet!"

I'll also guess that the only reason the race promoters would be considering having a race here would be that the mayor naively said he would offer them some arrangement financially better for them than any other option.
And the race would still have 'Toronto' in its name, and TV views would repeatedly show the skyline in the distance.

(Not a realistic or practical proposition, but a race on the Island Airport would provide almost constant great TV views.)

 

[Richard White]

It is a race track, but it wouldn't make sense for this.

Fun fact: Mosport did host the Canadian Grand Prix in the 60s and 70s.

I agree though, I do think that they will either skip it or punt it to Montreal for the season given that they already have an F1 track.

 

[AnnetteMeetsJane]

Rumours on Reddit are that the IndyCar will be held at Downsview next year...

 

[SubHuman]

... It appears as though what is named "Downtown Markham" is a new office park.
I don't understand what benefit they would receive by having a temporary race track there for one weekend.

A municipality having a temporary street race is usually a large city with a real downtown or other area with a waterfront and/or skyline of distinctive buildings or other features that it hopes will be seen by TV viewers and attract tourists. Some temporary tracks might not have those, but they instead have more open spaces that can have a better race track with better views of the racing for the spectators. (It might at least attract some crowds of people like me who would want to see the races.)
An office park has none of those. It will be a bad, and bad-looking, race track with nothing but suburban parking lots. Is the mayor of Markham (if this is real, I'm guessing he's very likely behind this, going by the NHL Arena nonsense a few years ago) thinking something like "the world will see our mundane office park on TV and then have to come see it in person! Look -- one of the office buildings has a Popeyes chicken outlet!"

I'll also guess that the only reason the race promoters would be considering having a race here would be that the mayor naively said he would offer them some arrangement financially better for them than any other option.
And the race would still have 'Toronto' in its name, and TV views would repeatedly show the skyline in the distance.

Oh, no. This might be a real proposition?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1962887846785654971

 

[Richard White]

Oh, no. This might be a real proposition?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1962887846785654971

Come to think of it.. there is a bunch of space near Birchmount and Highway 7.

There are huge plots of empty land there ripe for development. It makes sense that they could turn it into a proper racetrack unlike what currently have a Exhibition Place.

A purpose built track may also invite the relocation of the F1 Series back to Ontario.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Come to think of it.. there is a bunch of space near Birchmount and Highway 7.

There are huge plots of empty land there ripe for development. It makes sense that they could turn it into a proper racetrack unlike what currently have a Exhibition Place.

A purpose built track may also invite the relocation of the F1 Series back to Ontario.

Have the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto Race take over the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway. But don't close it to regular traffic. Just have the Indy cars weave in and out the traffic jams, and not get a ticket. Set up grandstands on the condo balconies.