Mayor Olivia Chow backs $1-a-year WNBA practice facility deal
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed enthusiasm Tuesday as the city’s executive committee gave its strong support to a plan that would lease a downtown parking lot to the Toronto Tempo for just $1 a year over 40 years.
Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo celebrates after a win against the Los Angeles Sparks, tying the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points earlier this year.
Committee endorsement and timeline
The committee voted to endorse a proposal that would see the Tempo, owned by billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, receive a parking lot near Exhibition Place on a $1-a-year lease for four decades, enabling the construction of a practice facility for the expanding women’s basketball team.
Chow called for a formal, counted vote — a gesture that drew cheers from her allies — and then applauded herself, an act that the council later noted violated its rules of decorum.
The City of Toronto’s proposed land deal with the Toronto Tempo calls for the WNBA team to pay $1 annually for 40 years.
Financial implications for the city
The city would forfeit roughly $500,000 in annual parking revenue and incur about $800,000 in additional operating expenses, while the municipality would receive a $2 million contribution in the fifth year of the lease. City officials note that the $100 million investment in the basketball facility is projected to exceed the market value of the property, which independent appraisals place between $10 million and $15 million.
Environmental and site considerations
A key unknown is whether the city will fund the conversion of the site into parkland. The parcel, long used as a parking area, sits on reclaimed land that may have poorer soil quality than nearby historic sites, and past industrial activity — including a former Molson brewery — could require further environmental review. Only a first‑phase assessment has been completed, and a second phase may be needed to determine any contamination risk.
Political and community support
Councilwoman Amber Morley, who once dreamed of playing in the WNBA, praised the pace of the team, while Councilman Paul Ainslie offered congratulations after attending a recent game. City Manager Paul Johnson noted that the facility’s presence could have an ‘absolute impact’ on the area surrounding the Coca‑Coliseum, which hosts 22 home games each season.
What’s next
The deal still requires final approval by the full City Council at the end of the month, after which the city will weigh the financial and environmental implications against the anticipated benefits of a state‑of‑the‑art practice facility for the Toronto Tempo.
