That Time I Posted About the Temporary World Cup Stands at BMO
A photo circulated this week of the temporary seating going up at BMO Field ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and without giving it a second thought, I tweeted the slight fear injected temporarily into my veins before going about the rest of my day, thinking nothing more of it.
Just saw a photo of BMO's temporary seating.
Respectfully, you couldn't pay me to climb, stand or sit on that. pic.twitter.com/ljxb9Fcp2B
— Casey Telford // (@CaseyToGo) March 5, 2026
To be clear about what that tweet was and wasn’t, it was a personal preference. I have a thing about certain heights; not planes, not all rollercoasters (but some), but exposed scaffolding structures on windy waterfronts in March? That’s where I will happily tap out.
My mentions had some thoughts.
The Solidarity Replies
A fair number of people came through with some variation of “same,” which I appreciated, compared to the not-so-nice messages I got.
A World Cup 2018 comparison arrived with a photo that made the point better than I could have.
World cup 2018 vibes! pic.twitter.com/EYfNq6FwpF
— LTFC WorldWide (@footballenvrac) March 5, 2026
Plus a Maude Flanders reference that had come to my mind as well.
NGL, this was my first thought. pic.twitter.com/k6T9QhpEM9
— Victor Conway (@ConwayWStern) March 5, 2026
The ones that resonated most were from people who had actually sat in temporary structures like this before. The Taylor Field expansion for the 1995 Grey Cup in Regina. The Rogers Stadium concert series, where you could apparently feel the whole thing sway when the crowd jumped.
I sat on stands like that when they expanded Taylor Field in Regina for 1995 Grey Cup. I wouldn’t ever do it again. Cold, windy and just an uneasy feeling.
— Lee Finishen 🇨🇦 (@5150Inprogress) March 5, 2026
This reminds me of the temporary Rodgers Stadium that was built for concerts over the summer. Saw Coldplay there and honestly was worried the whole time – especially when people would start jumping and you could feel the whole thing sway.
— Chris F (@falzarac) March 5, 2026
The Structural Engineering Experts Who Found Me
There were also replies that very much wanted me to understand that the stands are safe, engineered to standard, and have precedent going back decades, OKAY.
Luckily, we are still in a quasi-first world country. Those stands are likely stronger than the permanent ones. Engineers would have made conservative calculations for load and wind and even seismic forces. Plus MLSE doesn't want to get sued.
— Ron Shaw (@ETRdotTVRon) March 5, 2026
Can you say the word "engineering"?
— Michael Houston (@houston460) March 5, 2026
Absolutely nothing wrong with the construction of these stands.
You don’t have a degree in structural engineering so maybe sit this out. We have strict temporary structure standards in Canada. This isn’t India
— Aaron Adams (@AaronAdams3412) March 5, 2026
That last one I’ll just let sit there. The comparison at the end of it is its own thing entirely, not to mention unnecessary.
That's nothing.
The so-called "temporary" stand at Gillingham FC's Priestfield Stadium has been in use for nearly 25 years… 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/7niwy5BX0e— BlazeMeister1978 (@BlazeMeister78) March 5, 2026
The Gillingham one is genuinely interesting to me, for what it’s worth. The Priestfield temporary stand has been in use for nearly 25 years, which I did not know and am choosing to file away as a fun fact for a future pub quiz. However, IT’S NOT A COMPETITION, SIR.
And then there was this one, which wasn’t about engineering at all, but obviously really wanted the attention. Moving on.
Thankfully nobody is paying you to go watch the games because tbh ur not that important 🙂
— Rick Rude (@trife76) March 5, 2026
The Voyageurs situation
This was the reply that genuinely made me pause and go “STAAAAAAHP” for a moment.
Guess where @thevoyageurs ticket allocation is? 😅
— Ben (@rienquivaille) March 5, 2026
The Voyageurs allocation is in the temporary stands. These are the people who have been showing up for Canadian soccer through everything; the lean years, the qualifying campaigns, the whole road to a home World Cup. And their section is scaffolding taller than The Friendly Giant. I hope they think it’s a good view, and that someone’s designated to fetch their drinks and snacks from concession. Those stairs are gonna be brutal, especially in the heat (and steep height!).
Media Mentions
Not only did my tweet make headlines in minds, but actual outlets, even if some only referred to it or me as “a fan posted on x.” Names and or embeds, people!
BlogTO | France24 | Emporia Gazette | Sportstar
What’s actually Happening at BMO
Since we’re here: the temporary seating is part of a $157.9 million renovation to BMO Field ahead of the tournament. Note, PART OF. Too much of the internet placed too high a price tag on the temporary stands alone.
The stadium is being expanded from around 28,000 seats to 45,000. MLSE COO Nick Eaves has since said publicly that “the stands will be perfectly safe,” and that FIFA conducted multiple oversight visits approving every seat and sightline. The structures are going to be dressed before the tournament, so they won’t look quite as industrial by the time the first match kicks off.
There is also a full dress rehearsal of sorts happening for the stands on May 9, when Lionel Messi and Inter Miami come to town for an MLS match against Toronto FC. Every piece of new infrastructure will have fans on them or inside them, testing logistics and other things before FIFA officially takes over the venue on May 13.
As for the World Cup itself, Toronto is hosting six matches total, including all three of Canada’s group stage games. The venue is being temporarily renamed Toronto Stadium because FIFA doesn’t allow brand names in stadium titles during the tournament.
I will be watching from somewhere at ground level, possibly indoors, with a clear sightline and no scaffolding in my immediate vicinity. I’m very excited about it.
Feature Image Credit: Kotsy