More than 7,000 seats will be added to the current stadium: 3,500 seats in a new West grandstand, 1,250 additional seats in the Southeast and Southwest grandstands (corners), as well as 1,000 additional seats in the East grandstand.
Among the most notable changes, a roof will hang over the upper rows of each grandstand, for a total of 6,948 covered seats. The roof will therefore cover a third of all seats, making the new Saputo Stadium a covered, open-air stadium.
“Today, we are presenting you a major league stadium for a major league city,” declared Joey Saputo president of the Montreal Impact and the Saputo Stadium. “This is a major step forward for soccer in Montreal and Quebec. This stadium will remain the main rallying point for soccer in the province. In 2012, all our season ticket holders will be able to find their place at Saputo Stadium in 2012. I would like to thank my family and the Quebec government for their involvement and continued support in this project.”
The Impact also revealed a basic pricing structure for season tickets in 2012. A season membership will range from $250 to $1250, compared to the actual prices from $160 to $1400. More detailed pricing will be available in the coming months.
“The Saputo Stadium was already beautiful, but now it will be magnificent,” declared Richard Legendre, executive vice president of the Montreal Impact and Saputo Stadium. “The new roof will add to the ambiance, while the stadium’s newfound symmetry will make it even more charming. In the new stadium, every single fan will still have an excellent view of the action on the field.”
There will also be a total of three entrances to the stadium. The two existing access points will be reworked and a third access point will be created along Viau Boulevard. The stadium will also see an increase in concession points of sale, increasing from 27 to 100 locations. The two existing boutiques will remain in place, while the West plaza will be reorganized.
In order to accommodate the business community, the revamped stadium will also include more corporate boxes, jumping from 16 to 40.
To remain seamlessly integrated within the Olympic Park, the view between the Olympic Village and Olympic Stadium will be maintained, thus respecting an urban planning regulation established for the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976.
The expansion project, developed by the architects at Provencher, Roy and Associates, as well as the engineers from Cima +, will begin in mid-May 2011, but the bulk of the work will be done in the fall of 2011, which is when the new structure will be erected. The stadium will be completed by March 2012, in time for the club’s first season in Major League Soccer. The organization will be making a call for tenders on the construction as of April 2011.
“From an operations standpoint, the stadium will be better on many levels, which will only help to create a better experience for the fans,” added Richard Legendre. “During the construction period, we will do everything possible to limit the inconveniences it may cause our fans over the course of the 2011 season.”
Located at the heart of the Olympic Park, the Saputo Stadium is easily accessible by car or metro. The stadium was inaugurated in 2008 and was built at a cost of 17 million dollars. 7,5M $ was offered by the Saputo family as a donation, while the remaining 9,5 M $ is being financed over a 25-year period. The Quebec government has injected an additional 23 million dollars into the stadium for the upcoming expansion.
Season tickets for 2011 are currently available through the Impact’s website (impactmontreal.com) and through the club’s sales department, by calling 514-328-3668. All 2011 season ticket holders will automatically be given priority on their seats for MLS in 2012. It is possible for those with 2011 season tickets to confirm their 2012 membership by making a refundable $50 deposit. Season tickets for MLS will officially be on sale for season tickets holders as of May 2011. The tickets will then be available to the general public in mid-June 2011.
Individual tickets for the New York Red Bulls game will go on sale tomorrow at 10 am, through Admission (514-790-1245 / admission.com) or at the ticketing office of Saputo Stadium. Season ticket holders will also have priority to buy additional tickets. The ticket for this match is included in the 2011 season ticket packages.
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