View source for Exhibition Stadium

{{Short description|Former multi-purpose stadium in Toronto}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox venue
| image             = Exhibition Stadium before the Toronto Blue Jays faced the Chicago White Sox on May 27, 1988 1.jpg
| image_size        = 280px
| caption           = Exhibition Stadium in 1988
| stadium_name      = Canadian National Exhibition Stadium
| nickname          = ''Exhibition Stadium'' <br />''CNE Stadium''<br />''The Ex''
| location          = Lake Shore Boulevard West & Ontario Drive<br />[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| coordinates       = {{Coord|43|37|55|N|79|25|4|W|display=it}}
| built             = 1948 (grandstand)<br />1959 (football bleachers)<br />1976 (football and baseball seats)
| opened            = August 5, 1959
| closed            = 1996
| demolished        = January 31, 1999
| owner             = [[Municipal government of Toronto|City of Toronto]]
| operator          = City of Toronto
| surface           = Grass (1959–1971)<br />[[AstroTurf]] (1972–1989)
| construction_cost = [[Canadian dollar|$]]3 million (1948 north grandstand)<ref name="noteworthy" /><br />[[Canadian dollar|$]]650,000 (1959 south bleachers)<ref name="noteworthy" /><br />[[Canadian dollar|$]]17.5 million (1976 renovations)<ref name="thedays" />
| architect         = Marani and Morris (1948) <br /> Bill Sanford (1976)
| publictransit = {{rint|gotransit|rail|A}} [[Exhibition GO Station|Exhibition]]<br/>{{rint|toronto|streetcar|511}} [[511 Bathurst|Bathurst]]
<br/>{{rint|toronto|bus|29}} [[List of Toronto Transit Commission bus routes|TTC buses]]
| former_names      = 
| tenants           = [[Toronto Argonauts]] ([[Canadian Football League|CFL]]) (1959–1988)<br />[[Serbian White Eagles FC|Serbian White Eagles]] ([[Canadian National Soccer League|NSL]]) (1973–1974)<br />[[Toronto Blue Jays]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) (1977–1989)<br />[[Toronto Blizzard (1971–84)|Toronto Blizzard]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]]) (1979–1983)
| seating_capacity  = 20,679 (1948)<ref name="noteworthy" /><br />33,150 (1959–1974 football)<br />41,890 (1975 football)<br />54,741 (1976–1988 football)<br />38,522 (1977 baseball)<br />43,737 (1978–1989 baseball)
| dimensions        = '''Left Field''' – 330 ft (101 m)<br />'''Left-Centre''' – 375 ft (114 m)<br />'''Centre Field''' – 400 ft (122 m)<br />'''Right-Centre''' – 375 ft (114 m)<br />'''Right Field''' – 330 ft (101 m)<br />'''Backstop''' – 60 ft (18 m)
[[File:ExhibitionStadiumDimensions.svg|frameless]]
}}
'''Canadian National Exhibition Stadium''' (commonly known as '''Exhibition Stadium''' or '''CNE Stadium''' and nicknamed '''The Ex'''<ref>{{cite web|last=Lott, John|first=and McGrath, Kaitlyn|title=Inside the Ex: Tales from the Blue Jays' ugly, quirky, yet lovable first home|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1912358/2020/07/08/inside-the-ex-tales-from-the-blue-jays-ugly-quirky-yet-lovable-first-home/|publisher=[[The Athletic]]|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=November 6, 2023}}</ref>) 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 CFL season|1959]] to [[1988 CFL season|1988]], the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from [[1977 Major League Baseball season|1977]] to [[1989 Major League Baseball season|1989]], and the [[Toronto Blizzard (1971–84)|Toronto Blizzard]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL) from [[1979 North American Soccer League season|1979]] to [[1983 North American Soccer League season|1983]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Beard |first=Randy |title=Blizzard Hope Revenge Snowballs The Rowdies|date=April 25, 1979|newspaper=Evening Independent|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19790425&id=bgEMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=61gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2260,2414559&hl=en|page=1C|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Beard |first=Randy |title=Down 3 more teams, but NASL is stronger|date=May 4, 1984|newspaper=Evening Independent|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19840504&id=FMNaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i1kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2443,1156313&hl=en|page=6C|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnearchives.com/download/Grandstand%20Performers%201948-1994.htm |title=1985 CNE Grandstand Performers |publisher=Cnearchives.com |access-date=June 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052612/http://www.cnearchives.com/download/Grandstand%20Performers%201948-1994.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.

==History==

===CNE Grandstand===
Exhibition Stadium was the fourth stadium to be built on its site since 1879.<ref name="noteworthy">{{cite news|title=The noteworthy and not-so-worthy Ex Stadium has survived fires, storms and seagulls|date=May 23, 1989|first=Robert|last=Brehl|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> When the original grandstand was lost due to a fire in 1906, it was quickly rebuilt.<ref name="noteworthy" /> A second fire destroyed the stadium in April 1946, which led to the city constructing a covered north-side grandstand (known as CNE Grandstand) for {{CAD|3.5}}&nbsp;million in 1948.<ref>{{cite news|title='To Cost Over 4 Million,' Asks Grandstand Probe|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=September 21, 1948}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fireworks Over CNE: Council Would Let Ex Boss Grandstand, Field; Fiery Aldermen Object|date=November 2, 1948|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=By Jim Coleman|last=Coleman|first=Jim|date=September 29, 1948|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sweet reason|first=Frank|last=Tumpane|date=December 7, 1949|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Spring Rehabilitation: Offer to Improve CNE Sports Field For 1950 Grey Cup|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=December 7, 1949}}</ref> This part of the stadium's structure stayed even as the stadium underwent various changes to its configuration over the years until its 1999 closure.

The new building seated {{formatnum:22000}}, {{formatnum:6000}} more than the previous grandstand. The building held two dining halls that could seat {{formatnum:1000}}, a {{convert|1500|ft2|m2}} Exhibition Hall, electric plant and storage facilities. It was designed by firm Marani and Morris, and built by Piggott Construction. It had a large {{convert|300|ft|m}}-wide stage and three radio rooms for broadcasting. The roof had a total of 300 floodlights and spotlights. The roof was specially designed to provide no place for pigeons to roost.<ref name="gm1948">{{cite news |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |title=Almost Pigeon-Proof; CNE Grandstand Ready |date=August 2, 1948 |page=5}}</ref>

===Expansion for CFL football===
When the [[Toronto Argonauts]] moved from [[Varsity Stadium]] for the 1959 season, a smaller {{CAD|650000}} bleacher section was added along the south sideline.<ref name="noteworthy" /><ref>{{cite news|title=With $450,000 Stake the City couldn't lose, it was said, but it did|date=August 5, 1960|last=Westall|first=Stanley|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CNE Stadium Muddle|date=November 24, 1959|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> In this form the stadium seated 33,150.<ref>Toronto Argonauts 1959 Fact Book, inside front cover.</ref>

[[File:Toronto Argonauts vs Hamilton Ti-Cats at Exhibition Stadium Fall of 1971.jpg|thumb|left|1959 south side expansion seen during 1971 Argonauts game]]

The inaugural game at the renovated Exhibition Stadium was an [[Chicago Cardinals–Toronto Argonauts exhibition game|exhibition interleague game]] between the hometown Toronto Argonauts of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) and the [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) on August 5, 1959. The game was the first time an [[National Football League in Toronto|NFL team played in Toronto]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Teitel |first=Jay |date=1983 |title=The Argo Bounce |location=Toronto, Ontario |publisher= Lester and Orpen Dennys|isbn=0-88619-033-9 |pages= 54–55}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19590806&id=o9gxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kOQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7096,863998|title=Argos Smothered By Cardinals And Lose Norm Stoneburgh|date=August 6, 1959 |agency=Canadian Press |access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> It was also the first [[List of National Football League games played outside the United States|NFL–CFL exhibition match]] held since the establishment of the CFL in 1958, and marked the beginning of a three-year, four game exhibition series between the leagues.

When the [[58th Grey Cup]] was played at the stadium in 1970, [[Calgary Stampeders]] coach [[Jim Duncan (defensive end)|Jim Duncan]] described the condition of the natural-grass surface as "a disgrace."<ref>{{cite web|title=History - Grey Cup - 1970 |url=https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1970 |work=Canadian Football League website |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823210808/http://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1970 |archive-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref> In January 1972, [[Metropolitan Toronto]] Council voted 15–9 to spend $625,000 to install [[AstroTurf|artificial turf]]. The vote passed despite five councillors changing their vote to oppose the motion, because the cost had increased from a previous estimate of $400,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports to boom at CNE stadium with mod sod|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=January 26, 1972|page=14}}</ref> Two months later, contracts totalling {{CAD|475000}} were approved to install the AstroTurf, with work to be completed by June, in time for the start of the Toronto Argonauts' 1972 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Estimate was $625,000: CNE artificial sod to cost $475,000|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=March 29, 1972|page=45}}</ref>

===Reconfiguration for baseball===

In 1974, in a bid to acquire a [[Major League Baseball]] team, the city voted to reconfigure the stadium to make it compatible for baseball,<ref name="startfall">{{cite news|title=Work could start this fall: Metro votes 23 to 6 to enlarge the CNE Stadium|date=February 27, 1974|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|last=Simpson|first=Jeff}}</ref> leading to the arrival of Major League Baseball in Toronto in 1977 in the form of the expansion [[Toronto Blue Jays]] after a failed attempt to lure the [[San Francisco Giants]] to the city.
[[File:Blue Jays v White Sox 1977.jpg|thumb|left|A Toronto Blue Jays game during the 1977 season]]
Originally planned to cost {{CAD|15}}{{nbsp}}million<ref name="startfall" /> before growing to {{CAD|17.5}}{{nbsp}}million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|17500000|1976}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars){{inflation-fn|CA}}, the renovations, which were funded by the city and province, added seating opposite to the covered grandstand on the first base side and curving around to the third base side.<ref name="noteworthy" /><ref name="thedays">{{cite news|title=Those were the days? Exhibition Stadium had it all: cold and rain and shivering fans. "Enough's enough", declared two sports nuts, vowing to build a dome|date=May 23, 1989|first=Robert|last=Brehl|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CNE Stadium: $17.8 million home for baseball|date=June 5, 1976|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|first=Neil|last=MacCarl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Blue Jays score in millions for Metro|date=July 18, 1977|newspaper=Toronto Star |first=Michael|last=Best}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Forum music, CNE noise: Will they ever co-exist?|first=Bruce|last=Kirkland|newspaper=Toronto Star |date=July 2, 1977}}</ref> Football capacity was increased from 33,150 before the renovations to 41,890 initially, then finally to 54,741 after work was completed.<ref name="startfall" /> Although the stadium was expanded to accommodate baseball, the new seats were first used for football and allowed the [[64th Grey Cup]] in November 1976 to be watched by a then-Grey Cup record crowd of 53,467. For baseball, the stadium originally seated 38,522; however, by the Blue Jays' second season this increased to 43,739,<ref name="Cathedrals" /> although only about 33,000 seats were usually made available (see below).

Even in its new, expanded form, Exhibition Stadium was problematic for hosting both baseball and football. Blue Jays' President Paul Beeston said it "wasn't just the worst stadium in baseball, it was the worst stadium in sports."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Macleod|first1=Robert|title=Paul Beeston heads for the bench|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/paul-beeston-heads-for-the-bench/article26425321/|access-date=September 30, 2015 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 25, 2015}}</ref>

====Baseball problems====
[[File:exhibition stadium.jpg|thumb|The stadium exterior in 1992]]
Exhibition Stadium was unusual among MLB ballparks in that it was a football-specific venue later renovated for baseball, whereas most U.S. venues hosting baseball and football were either ballparks where football was a secondary consideration or "cookie-cutter" facilities designed from the outset to host both sports. [[Hard_Rock_Stadium#Florida_Marlins|Joe Robbie Stadium]] was built primarily for football but it was also designed to easily accommodate baseball and soccer. Like most multi-purpose stadiums, in Exhibition Stadium the lower boxes were set further back than comparable seats at baseball-only stadiums to accommodate the wider football field. 

Moreover, at the time of the renovation a [[Canadian football]] field was almost 34% larger than an [[American football]] field.{{efn|group=note|Until the size of the CFL endzones were reduced from 25 yards to 20 in 1986, the Canadian field was {{convert|40|yards|m|abbr=out}} longer and {{convert|35|feet|m|abbr=out}} wider.}} While in some respects the larger Canadian field arguably made retrofitting for baseball somewhat easier than was the case south of the border with previous examples such as [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] or future examples such as [[Mile High Stadium]], it nevertheless left many of the seats down the right-field line and in right-centre extremely far from the infield; they actually faced each other rather than the action. Some seats were as far as {{convert|820|feet|m|abbr=out}} from home plate — the largest such distance of any stadium ever used as a principal home field in the major leagues.<ref name="Cathedrals">{{cite book|last=Lowry|first=Phillip|title=Green Cathedrals|url=https://archive.org/details/greencathedralsu0000lowr_u1c9|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=Walker & Company|location=New York City|isbn=0-8027-1562-1}}</ref> The Blue Jays realized early on that these seats were too far from the field to be of any use during the regular season. As such, they were only sold when necessitated by demand during the 1985 and 1987 pennant races, as well as the 1985 American League Championship Series.

As the original grandstand was used for the outfield seats, these were the cheapest seats but were the only ones which offered some protection from the elements;<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Curt|author-link=Curt Smith (author)|title=Storied Stadiums|url=https://archive.org/details/storiedstadiumsb00curt|url-access=registration|year=2001|publisher=Carroll & Graf|location=New York City|isbn=0-7867-1187-6}}</ref> the Blue Jays were the only MLB team using a stadium with such a configuration.

Despite the poor sightlines of many seats, as well as the cold weather from the close proximity to the lake (see below), the Blue Jays nonetheless enjoyed strong attendance.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Worst stadium in sports’ – Blue Jays president slammed own home before $407m relocation saw World Series glory |url=https://talksport.com/sport/baseball/3681541/mlb-world-series-blue-jays-dodgers-exhibition-stadium-history/ |publisher=Talks Sport |access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref>

====Football problems====
Because the full length of the third-base line had to be fitted between the north stand (the original grandstand) and the new south stand, they could no longer be parallel to each other. As a compromise between placements suitable for the two stands, the football field was rotated anticlockwise away from the north stand.<ref>Illustration at: {{cite web
|url=http://football.ballparks.com/CFL/Toronto/oldindex.htm
|title=Exhibition Stadium
|access-date=June 4, 2014}}</ref> Thus, the only seats as close to the field as before were those near the eastern end zone, and no seats had as good a view of the whole field as the centre-field seats before the conversion.

Although the Argonauts recorded average attendances of above 40,000 fans per game in the first few seasons following the stadium's expansion, by the mid-1980s average attendance had fallen to fewer than 30,000 fans per game.

===Problems with the wind and cold===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:ExhibitionStadium.jpg|thumb|right|275px|alt=A baseball field photographed from behind home plate, with an outfield fence and seating visible. The outfield is covered in snow, the infield has been cleared of snow, and some people are standing to the left.|April 7, 1977. A snow-covered field prior to the first Toronto Blue Jays game at Exhibition Stadium.]] -->
Being situated relatively close to [[Lake Ontario]], the stadium was often quite cold at the beginning and end of the baseball season (and the end of the football season). The first Blue Jays game played there on April 7, 1977, was the only major league game ever played with the field covered entirely by snow. The Blue Jays had to borrow [[Maple Leaf Gardens]]' [[Ice resurfacer|Zamboni]] to clear off the field. Conditions at the stadium led to another odd incident that first year. On September 15, [[Baltimore Orioles]] manager [[Earl Weaver]] pulled his team off the field because -- in Weaver's opinion -- he felt the bricks holding down the [[Tarpaulin|tarp]] near the [[bullpen]]s along each baseline were a possible trip hazard for players trying to catch a ball in foul territory. This garnered a win by [[forfeit (baseball)|forfeit]] for the Jays – the only time in major league baseball history since 1914 that a team deliberately forfeited a game (as opposed to having an umpire call a forfeiture).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cooperstownersincanada.com/2013/01/23/remembering-the-game-that-earl-weaver-forfeited-at-exhibition-stadium/|title=Remembering the game that Earl Weaver forfeited at Exhibition Stadium|date=January 23, 2013}}</ref>

An April 30, 1984, game against the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] was postponed due to {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds. Before the game, Rangers manager [[Doug Rader]] named [[Jim Bibby]] as his starting pitcher, stating "he's the heaviest man in the world, and thus will be unaffected by the wind." However, Bibby would never make it to the mound. Two Rangers batters complained about dirt swirling in their eyes, and Blue Jays starting pitcher [[Jim Clancy (baseball)|Jim Clancy]] was blown off balance several times. The umpires stopped the game after only six pitches. After a 30-minute delay, the game was called off.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/once-upon-a-city-archives/2016/03/31/once-upon-a-city-mistake-by-the-lakes-troubled-place-in-toronto-history.html|title=Once Upon A City: Mistake by the Lake's troubled place in Toronto history &#124; The Star|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=March 31, 2016|last1=Bradbeer|first1=Janice}}</ref>

The stadium also occasionally had problems with fog, once causing a bizarre [[inside-the-park home run]] for [[Kelly Gruber]] in 1986, when an otherwise routine pop up was lost by the outfielders in the thick fog.<ref>{{cite news | date=June 13, 2013 |title=Tigers in a Fog as Blue Jays romp to win |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |agency=Canadian Press |access-date=June 23, 2016 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3BoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RagFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2774%2C1553161}}</ref>

[[File:ArchitecturalModelOfExhibitionStadium Aug25-05.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A scale model of stadium seating enclosed within a glass or plastic bubble which reflects an overhead light. There are nine columns of seats in the centre coloured red, two columns on each side of those coloured green, then one column on each side is blue, and one column on each side is grey. The seating is covered by an overhanging roof, and the structure has a concave arc shape.|Original architectural model of the fourth Exhibition Stadium's grandstand, from 1948]]

===As a popular feeding ground for seagulls===
Due to its position next to the lake, and the food disposed by baseball and football fans, the stadium was a popular feeding ground for [[seagull]]s. [[New York Yankees]] outfielder [[Dave Winfield]] was arrested on August 4, 1983, for killing a seagull with a baseball. Winfield had just finished his warm-up exercises in the 5th inning and threw a ball to the [[ball boy]], striking a seagull in the head. The seagull died, and some claimed that Winfield hit the bird on purpose, which prompted Yankees [[Baseball manager|manager]] [[Billy Martin]] to state "They wouldn't say that if they'd seen the throws he'd been making all year. It's the first time he's hit the cutoff man". The charges were later dropped. Winfield would later play for the Blue Jays, winning a [[World Series]] with the club in 1992.

===70th Grey Cup and replacement===
Exhibition Stadium's fate was sealed during the [[70th Grey Cup]] in 1982, popularly known as "the Rain Bowl" because it was played in a driving rainstorm that left most of the crowd drenched. Many of the seats were completely exposed to the elements, forcing thousands of fans to watch the game in the concession section. To make matters worse, the washrooms overflowed. In attendance that day was then-Ontario [[Premier of Ontario|Premier]] [[Bill Davis]], and the poor conditions were seen by over 7.862 million television viewers in Canada (at the time the largest TV audience ever in Canada).<ref>[https://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=page&id=33 Canadian Football League], Canada.</ref> The following day, at a rally at [[Toronto City Hall]], tens of thousands of people who were there to see the Toronto Argonauts began to chant, "We want a [[dome]]! We want a dome!" So too did others who began to discuss the possibility of an all-purpose, all-weather stadium.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paikin|first=Steve|title=Paikin on Ontario's Premiers 2-Book Bundle: Bill Davis / Paikin and the Premiers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K1JsDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT785|date=October 22, 2016|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-3833-1|page=785}}</ref>

Seven months later, in June 1983, Premier Davis formally announced that a three-person committee would look into the feasibility of building a domed stadium at [[Exhibition Place]]. The committee consisted of [[Paul Godfrey]], [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]] and former Ontario Hydro chairman Hugh Macaulay.<ref>Miller, David (October 7, 1984). Battle Is On for Right to Build Our Domed Stadium. [[Toronto Star]]. pg A1, A13.</ref> That same year, the city also studied a number of potential sites for the new domed stadium, and in April 1984, CN agreed to donate {{convert|7|acre}} of land near the [[CN Tower]] for the stadium; groundbreaking began in October 1986, and the stadium, which would take on the name [[Rogers Centre|SkyDome]] (now Rogers Centre), opened in June 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torontoist.com/2009/06/historicist_the_road_to_skydome/|title=Historicist: The Road to SkyDome|date=June 13, 2009|website=Torontoist}}</ref> It was intended that the Blue Jays would play at Exhibition Stadium for the last time in 1988, and that the SkyDome would be ready in time for [[Opening Day]] in April 1989. However, due to construction delays caused in part by widespread construction worker strikes across Ontario, this was postponed and the Blue Jays began their season at Exhibition Stadium before moving to the SkyDome in June.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/183101205/ "Delays hit SkyDome, Jays at Ex for opener"], ''[[Toronto Star]]'', July 15, 1988, front page.</ref>

===After replacement by SkyDome===
{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=right|image1=Exhibition Stadium January 1999 Demolition.jpg|image2=Exhibition Stadium January 1999 Demolition 2.jpg|width=260|caption2=Demolition of the stadium in January 1999.}}
Exhibition Stadium mostly stayed inactive over the decade following the opening of SkyDome (being used sometimes as a racetrack or a parking lot), except for the occasional concert or minor sporting event. The World Wrestling Federation (now [[WWE]]), needing a new venue after a decision to discontinue events at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1995, held one [[Card (sports)|card]] at the stadium on August 24, 1996, for a crowd of 21,211. The main event was [[Shawn Michaels]] vs. [[Goldust]] in a ladder match.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kreikenbohm | first=Philip | title=WWF Xperience 1996 | website=The Internet Wrestling Database | date=June 5, 2019 | url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=33040 | access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> A series of [[CASCAR]] races were held at the track during the 1990s, with the stadium being reconfigured for such races.

===Demolition===
The stadium was demolished in 1999 and the site is now the location of [[BMO Field]] and a parking lot. A few chairs from the stadium can be found on the southeast corner just north of the bridge to [[Ontario Place]]'s main entrance. As is common with stadium demolitions, a number of the remaining seats were sold to fans and collectors. The original locations of all bases and home plate are marked in the parking lot south of BMO Field.

Although not widely used while the stadium was in operation (given the well known references to Cleveland's [[Cleveland Stadium|Municipal Stadium]]), the term "Mistake by the Lake" has been used more recently in reflection by Toronto media to refer to the now-demolished venue.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Woolsey|first1=Garth|title=Toronto's dome turns 20|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2009/05/30/torontos_dome_turns_20.html|access-date=August 5, 2009|publisher=Toronto Star|date=May 30, 2009}}</ref>

==New stadium==
{{Main|BMO Field}}
On October 26, 2005, the [[Municipal government of Toronto|City of Toronto]] approved a {{CAD|69}}{{nbsp}}million proposal to build a 20,000-seat stadium near where the old stadium once was. The governments of Canada and [[Ontario]] funded {{CAD|35|year=2005}}{{nbsp}}million, with the city paying {{CAD|9.8}}{{nbsp}}million, and [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment]] paying the rest, including any runoff costs.{{cn|date=November 2024}} Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment was awarded a [[Major League Soccer]] expansion team, [[Toronto FC]], that debuted on April 28, 2007, at the stadium.<ref name="MLS-BMO">{{cite news |last=Stejskal |first=Sam |date=December 8, 2016 |title=BMO Field 101: Toronto FC's stadium set to host MLS Cup after facelift |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/bmo-field-101-toronto-fcs-stadium-set-host-mls-cup-after-facelift |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref>

BMO Field was initially built as a [[soccer-specific stadium]] with field dimensions that were too small to accommodate a Canadian football field and was operated as such until 2015 when MLSE owners [[Larry Tanenbaum]] and [[Bell Canada]] agreed to purchase the Toronto Argonauts. As part of the agreement, BMO Field was renovated to allow the Argonauts to move back to the site in time for the [[2016 CFL season]]; the project involved the addition of new seats and a roof as well as lengthening the playing field by using retractable seating.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Neil |date=April 10, 2015 |title=Clock ticking on BMO Field deal if Argos want to play there in 2016 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/clock-ticking-on-bmo-field-deal-if-argos-want-to-play-there-in-2016/article23880200/ |work=The Globe and Mail |agency=The Canadian Press |url-access=registration |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref> The stadium hosted the [[104th Grey Cup]], [[MLS Cup 2016]], and the outdoor [[NHL Centennial Classic]] game within a 36-day period in late 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brady |first=Rachel |date=December 30, 2016 |title=BMO Field's hat trick: Three sports, four games, five weeks, one stadium |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/bmo-field/article33447399/ |work=The Globe and Mail |url-access=registration |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref> BMO Field also hosted the [[MLS Cup]] in [[MLS Cup 2010|2010]] and [[MLS Cup 2017|2017]], along with the [[2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup]].<ref name="MLS-BMO"/> The stadium is planned to host matches at the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Takagi |first=Andy |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Toronto's BMO Field is getting a new name for the 2026 FIFA World Cup |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontos-bmo-field-is-getting-a-new-name-for-the-2026-fifa-world-cup/article_4a99fc96-c442-11ee-a278-b7a2b416682e.html |work=Toronto Star |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref>

==Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre==

For the [[2015 Pan American Games]] and [[2015 Parapan American Games|Parapan American Games]], the old stadium footprint (parking lot) became the [[Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre]]. The temporary venue had bleachers and a playing area filled with 3,000 metric tonnes of sand.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.toronto2015.org/venue/beach-volleyball-centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427031744/http://www.toronto2015.org/venue/beach-volleyball-centre |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |title=Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre {{!}} Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan American Games}}</ref> After the Pan American Games, the venue was torn down to allow for setup of rides and restore parking spaces for the 2015 [[Canadian National Exhibition]] opening on August 21 of the same year.

==Concerts and events==
Many rock concerts were also held at the stadium, both the grandstand and the whole stadium were used for popular rock and pop acts such as [[Pink Floyd]], [[The Who]], [[U2]], [[David Bowie]], [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], [[New Order (band)|New Order]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Van Halen]], [[Guns N' Roses]], [[Liza Minnelli]], [[Kim Mitchell]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Bette Midler]], [[INXS]], [[Bon Jovi]], [[AC/DC]], [[Elton John]], [[Whitney Houston]] and [[Janis Joplin]], [[New Kids On The Block]].{{citation needed |date=October 2022}}

*On July 18, 1958, [[Richard Petty]] made the first of his 1,184 starts in [[NASCAR]] [[Grand National Series]] competition in a race at the grandstand, entitled the [[1958 Jim Mideon 500]]. The roads of the Exhibition Place were used for the INDYCAR [[Grand Prix of Toronto]] and from 2010 to 2023 it also hosted the [[NASCAR Canada Series]].
*The stadium was featured on a Season 4 ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]'' episode titled "A Long Way from St. Louie" which first aired on December 6, 1963. While on a [[helicopter]] tour over downtown Toronto, Tod Stiles and Linc Case ([[Martin Milner]] and [[Glenn Corbett]], respectively) spot a quintet of girl musicians (two were played by [[Lynda Day George|Lynda Day]] and [[Jessica Walter]]), who were stranded in the city, sleeping on the benches in the covered north grandstand.
*1967 saw the [[Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo 1967]] perform eight shows at the stadium to standing ovations every night. So popular with crowds at the stadium of 30,000 most nights, the 89-year-old never on Sunday taboo had to be waived to permit the Tattoo to put on a Sunday, September 3 performance to accommodate the extraordinary demand for tickets. John Holden, a CNE official stated, "It was breathtaking. You just can't compare it with the like of anything that has come before it." CNE General Manager Bert Powell stated, "We've never had anything like it — fabulous and fantastic. My phone is never quiet. I'm even getting professional critics and entertainers begging for tickets, and that's the ultimate tribute."
*On August 30, 1980, Queen performed a concert from [[The Game Tour]].
*[[Soccer Bowl '81]] was played at Exhibition Stadium.
*In 1982, the [[70th Grey Cup]] game held at the stadium had the largest number of television viewers in Canadian history, with 7,862,000. The record has since been broken.
*The Who It's Hard Tour on October 9, 1982
*[[The Jacksons]] performed three concerts at the stadium on October 5, 6 and 7, 1984, during their [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]] in front of 180,000 in attendance.
*In 1985, the first [[1985 American League Championship Series#Game 7|Game 7]] in the history of the [[American League Championship Series|ALCS]] was played at the stadium. The Blue Jays lost to the [[Kansas City Royals]], 6–2.<ref name="ALCS Game 7">{{cite news |last1=Woosley |first1=Garth |title=IT'S OVER! |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1404744283 |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Toronto Star |date=October 17, 1985 |page=BJ1 |id={{ProQuest|1404744283}} | url-access = subscription }}</ref>
*On August 28, 1986, the stadium played host to the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]'s "Big Event" card in front of 65,000 fans. The main event was then-[[WWE Championship|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Hulk Hogan]] against [[Paul Orndorff]].<ref name="Hulkimania">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=David | last2 = Brehl| first2 = Robert| last3 = Cheney| first3 = Paul |title=Record 65,000, holler for Hulk |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1400472350/sem-2 |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Toronto Star |date=August 29, 1986 |pages=A1, A12}}</ref>
* [[Van Halen]] August 18, 1986, capacity concert sellout during their first tour with [[Sammy Hagar]] as lead singer
* [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] sold out the stadium on September 22, 1986, at 8:00 P.M. to a sold-out crowd of 61,000 people as a part of their North American leg of the [[Invisible Touch Tour]].
* [[AC/DC]] played the stadium on September 12, 1986, on their Who Made Who Tour.
* [[Iron Maiden]] played the stadium in 1988 and 1992.
* [[U2]] played the stadium on the [[Joshua Tree Tour]] on October 3, 1987, and on the [[Zoo TV Tour]] on September 5 and 6, 1992.
*[[Madonna]] brought her [[Who's That Girl World Tour]] to the stadium on July 4, 1987, before a sold out crowd of 50,013 people.
*[[Pink Floyd]] performed three concerts on September 21, 22 and 23, 1987, and next year on May 13, 1988, as part of their [[A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour]]. They returned to the stadium for three nights on July 5, 6 and 7, 1994, as part of their [[The Division Bell Tour]].
*[[Bon Jovi]] played the stadium as part of their [[New Jersey Syndicate Tour]] on June 2, 1989.
*[[The Rolling Stones]] performed at the stadium in September 3 and 4, 1989, during their [[Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour]].
*[[Guns N' Roses]] played the stadium on back-to-back nights, June 7 and 8, 1991, as part of their [[Use Your Illusion Tour]].
*[[Guns N' Roses]] returned to the stadium in just over a year, on September 13, 1992, this time on a double bill with [[Metallica]], performing as part of their joint [[Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour]], with [[Faith No More]] as the opening act.
*[[Paul McCartney]] brought his [[The New World Tour|New World Tour]] to the stadium on June 6, 1993. It would be his last show in Canada until April 2002.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ [[Grey Cup]]s at Exhibition Stadium
! scope=col | Game
! scope=col | Date
! scope=col | Winning team
! scope=col | Score
! scope=col | Losing team
! scope=col | Attendance
! scope=col | Lore
|-
| align=center| [[47th Grey Cup|47th]]
| {{dts|1959|November|28|format=mdy}}
| [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] 
| align=center| {{sort|1421|21–7}}
| [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| align=center| 34,426
|
|-
| align=center| [[49th Grey Cup|49th]]
| {{dts|1961|December|2|format=mdy}}
| [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0721|21–14}}
| [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| align=center| 36,592
|
|-
| align=center| [[50th Grey Cup|50th]]
| {{sort|01962-12-1|December 1–2,{{ref|1|[A]}} 1962}}
| [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0128|28–27}}
| [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| align=center| 32,655
| "[[50th Grey Cup#Fog Bowl|The Fog Bowl]]"
|-
| align=center| [[52nd Grey Cup|52nd]]
| {{dts|1964|November|28|format=mdy}}
| [[BC Lions]]
| align=center| {{sort|1034|34–24}}
| [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| align=center| 32,655
|
|-
| align=center| [[53rd Grey Cup|53rd]]
| {{dts|1965|November|27|format=mdy}}
| [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0622|22–16}}
| [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]]
| align=center| 32,655
| "[[53rd Grey Cup#Weather conditions and change in punting rule|The Wind Bowl]]"
|-
| align=center| [[56th Grey Cup|56th]]
| {{dts|1968|November|30|format=mdy}}
| [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0324|24–21}}
| [[Calgary Stampeders]]
| align=center| 33,185
|
|-
| align=center| [[58th Grey Cup|58th]]
| {{dts|1970|November|28|format=mdy}}
| [[Montreal Alouettes]] 
| align=center| {{sort|1323|23–10}}
| [[Calgary Stampeders]]
| align=center| 32,669
|
|-
| align=center| [[61st Grey Cup|61st]]
| {{dts|1973|November|25|format=mdy}}
| [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0422|22–18}}
| [[Edmonton Eskimos]]
| align=center| 36,475
|
|-
| align=center| [[64th Grey Cup|64th]]
| {{dts|1976|November|28|format=mdy}}
| [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0323|23–20}}
| [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
| align=center| 53,389
| "[[64th Grey Cup#Game summary|The Catch]]"
|-
| align=center| [[66th Grey Cup|66th]]
| {{dts|1978|November|26|format=mdy}}
| [[Edmonton Eskimos]] 
| align=center| {{sort|0720|20–13}}
| [[Montreal Alouettes]]
| align=center| 54,695
|
|-
| align=center| [[68th Grey Cup|68th]]
| {{dts|1980|November|23|format=mdy}}
| [[Edmonton Eskimos]] 
| align=center| {{sort|3848|48–10}}
| [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| align=center| 54,661
|
|-
| align=center| [[70th Grey Cup|70th]]
| {{dts|1982|November|28|format=mdy}}
| [[Edmonton Eskimos]] 
| align=center| {{sort|1632|32–16}}
| [[Toronto Argonauts]]
| align=center| 54,741
| "[[70th Grey Cup#Aftermath and legacy|The Rain Bowl]]"
|-
|}
{{note|1}}A. Game was suspended with 9:29 remaining in the fourth quarter due to extremely dense fog, and completed the next day.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ [[Vanier Cup]]s at Exhibition Stadium
! scope=col | Game
! scope=col | Date
! scope=col | Winning team
! scope=col | Score
! scope=col | Losing team
! scope=col | Attendance

|-
|align=center| [[9th Vanier Cup|9th]]
|November 24, 1973
|[[Saint Mary's Huskies]]
|align=center| 14–6
|[[McGill Redmen football|McGill Redmen]]
|align=center| 17,000
|-
|align=center| [[10th Vanier Cup|10th]]
|November 22, 1974
|[[Western Ontario Mustangs]] 
|align=center| 19–15
|[[Toronto Varsity Blues]]
|align=center| 24,777 
|-
|align=center| [[11th Vanier Cup|11th]]
|November 21, 1975
|[[Ottawa Gee-Gees]]
|align=center| 14–9
|[[Calgary Dinos]]
|align=center| 17,841
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ [[Major League Baseball postseason|Major League Baseball Postseason Games]] at Exhibition Stadium
|-
!colspan=7| [[1985 American League Championship Series]]
|-
! scope=col | Game
! scope=col | Date
! scope=col | Winning team
! scope=col | Score
! scope=col | Losing team
! scope=col | Time
! scope=col | Attendance
|-
| align=center| [[1985 American League Championship Series#Game 1|1]]
| October 8, 1985
| Toronto Blue Jays 
| align=center| 6-1
| Kansas City Royals
| align=center| 2:24
| align=center| 39,115<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1985/B10080TOR1985.htm|title=1985 ALCS Game 1 - Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
|-
| align=center| [[1985 American League Championship Series#Game 2|2]]
| October 9, 1985
| Toronto Blue Jays 
| align=center| 6-5
| Kansas City Royals
| align=center| 3:39
| align=center| 34,029<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1985/B10090TOR1985.htm|title=1985 ALCS Game 2 - Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
|-
| align=center| [[1985 American League Championship Series#Game 6|6]]
| October 15, 1985
| Kansas City Royals
| align=center| 5-3
| Toronto Blue Jays
| align=center| 3:12
| align=center| 37,557<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1985/B10150TOR1985.htm|title=1985 ALCS Game 6 - Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
|-
| align=center| [[1985 American League Championship Series#Game 7|7]]
| October 16, 1985
| Kansas City Royals
| align=center| 6-2
| Toronto Blue Jays
| align=center| 2:49
| align=center| 32,084<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1985/B10160TOR1985.htm|title=1985 ALCS Game 7 - Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
|-
! colspan=7| Kansas City won the series, 4–3
|}

==See also==
*[[Rogers Centre]]
*[[Exhibition Place]]
*[[Toronto FC]]
*[[Toronto Blizzard (1971–84)]]
*[[BMO Field]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Exhibition Stadium}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100817030444/http://www.cnearchives.com/v04.htm Virtual Walking tour of Exhibition Place]
*[http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/past_future/pictures/past_stadiums/toronto_exhibition.shtml Overhead photo of Exhibition Stadium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316105549/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/past_future/pictures/past_stadiums/toronto_exhibition.shtml |date=March 16, 2006}}
*[http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/ExhibitionStadium.htm BallparksOfBaseball.com]
*[http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/exhibi.htm Ballparks.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101212050643/http://ballparktour.com/Former_Toronto.html Several photos including CNE racetrack configuration]
*[http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/ExhibitionStadium.html Baseball field diagram]
*[http://football.ballparks.com/CFL/Toronto/oldindex.htm Football configuration]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wd0oS9FWQY Video about Exhibition Stadium (YouTube)]
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aNSRksw0L7E The Governor General's Foot Guards Band with the band of the Royal Regiment of Canada at the Toronto Exhibition Stadium in 1984]
*[http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Canadian_Exposition_Stadium Exhibition Stadium NASCAR's race results] at Racing-Reference
* [https://sabr.org/bioproj/park/exhibition-stadium-toronto/ Exhibition Stadium] at [[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] Bio Project

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Toronto Blue Jays]]
 | years = 1977–1989
 | before = first ballpark
 | after = [[SkyDome]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Toronto Argonauts]]
 | years = 1959–1988
 | before = [[Varsity Stadium]]
 | after = [[SkyDome]]
}}
{{end}}
{{Navboxes |list=
{{Exhibition Place}}
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{{Defunct MLB Ballparks}}
{{NASCAR Cup Series racetracks}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

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