TFC to play in front of 15K fans, largest Toronto crowd since March 2020
Posted July 21, 2021 6:33 am.
Last Updated July 21, 2021 9:40 am.
It will be the biggest crowd to take in a sporting event in Toronto since early 2020.
Some 15,000 fans will file into BMO Field on Wednesday night to cheer on Toronto FC with the province now in Step 3 of its reopening plan.
The reds take on the visiting New York Red Bulls ay 7:30 p.m.
The team hosted 7,000 fans for their first match back home on Saturday. It was the team’s first match at BMO since they took on Montreal in September 2020 – and their first in front of fans since Mar. 7, 2020.
Though Major League Soccer and its Canadian clubs announced last week they had been given the green light to play home matches in Canada, the Immigration Minister said no exemption from quarantine has been provided to the MLS at this time.
In a statement, Marco Mendicino said they are currently reviewing MLS COVID-19 protocols with provincial and municipal public health officials, but a National Interest Exemption has not been granted.
Mendicino noted that fully vaccinated travellers that have valid work permits, including foreign professional athletes, are not required to quarantine for 14 days.
TFC finished out last season in East Hartford, Conn., and started this year in Orlando.
The Toronto Blue Jays announced Friday that it will begin playing home games at Rogers Centre again starting July 30 after receiving a so-called National Interest Exemption.
