City to lease Exhibition Place parking lot to WNBA's Toronto Tempo for privately-funded $100M training centre and public park
Executive Committee unanimously backed a long-term lease and community access agreement letting the Toronto Tempo privately finance, build, operate and maintain a ~$100M performance centre on a city-owned parking lot at 701 Fleet Street, in exchange for a new public park delivered roughly a decade early, outdoor courts, public washrooms, and 2,260 guaranteed community programming hours a year. Staff confirmed twice on the record that the city is not subsidizing the Tempo, the value of the physical contributions and community access exceeds the appraised market value of the land. The item now goes to City Council for final approval.
Who did what
- Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10) moved and amendedMoved motions protecting the land for Exhibition Place/CNE events and exploring a soccer mini-pitch; pressed staff on whether the city was subsidizing the Tempo
- Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 17) questioned staffQuestioned how the community access compares to other cities and to OVO, and about sponsored inspirational events for youth
From the floor
“So I just want to be very clear. Does that mean that the city is not subsidizing the tempo at all?”Councillor Ausma Malik (Ward 10)
“That's correct.”City staff
“The physical contributions by the tempo, the construction of the park as well as the community facilities and the community access hours exceed the market value of the land.”City staff
“What was there before? A really ugly parking lot. And the city have said we need to turn it into a park. Yeah, we don't have the $100 million.”Mayor Olivia Chow
“This upcoming CNE is not interrupted at all. It will go on as planned.”City staff
Also in this item
• Staff confirmed the deal is a market-rate transaction paid in physical contributions rather than cash, with contributions exceeding the appraised land value, no city subsidy.
• The 2,260 guaranteed community hours, run year-round by the city, are said to surpass precedents like the OVO Centre and Ontario Tennis Association agreements.
• Displacing the parking lot affects Exhibition Place/CNE use; staff are still negotiating mitigation including possible replacement land, with work continuing 'in the coming months.'
The journey
You can still act
On the Toronto City Council agenda for 2026-07-29
Not final, goes to City Council for a final vote. Residents can contact their councillor before that vote or watch for the Council agenda item.
Decision
Executive Committee unanimously adopted the staff recommendations plus Councillor/Deputy Mayor Malik's motions (protecting the land's role for CNE/Royal Agricultural Fair events and exploring a soccer mini-pitch), recommending the long-term lease and community access agreement to City Council.
Watch it happen
Jump to this item in the meeting video
Why is this story here?
Stories are ordered by how much weight a decision carries and how directly it reaches daily life. They rise as a decision date approaches and fall as they age.