The Durham Live entertainment complex in Pickering has stepped forward to compete for the chance to host a future National Training Centre focused on high-performance soccer.
This centre is seen as a “cornerstone legacy project” stemming from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen our national sporting infrastructure, create a permanent home for Canadian soccer, and leave a lasting legacy for communities across the country,” according to Canada Soccer in their news release.
Currently, the initiative is at the information-gathering phase as Canada Soccer seeks to connect with stakeholders such as municipalities, provinces, soccer clubs, post-secondary institutions, and other organizations that share the “vision, infrastructure, and alignment to collaborate in building a world-class environment for player development, coaching education, and community engagement.”
Steve Apostolopoulos, Managing Partner of Durham Live, attended a special Pickering Council meeting on Monday to gauge support from the city. He brought along Canadian soccer icon Dwayne De Rosario (a three-time MLS champion) to help persuade councillors.
Dwayne De Rosario
Pickering Councillor Maurice Brenner mentioned that they were easily convinced and that the city would provide its full backing.
“We’re certainly hoping Canada Soccer picks them. It would be great for Pickering.”
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The proposal from Durham Live will face competition from various other communities. This includes Woodbine Entertainment in west Toronto which has offered land for a soccer-specific facility featuring a 38,000-square-foot training area and natural grass pitch. There’s also Vaughan’s North Maple Regional Park and Vancouver, which already hosts an official training centre at the University of British Columbia grounds specifically for the World Cup.
Other locations might also submit bids since the deadline for submitting official Requests For Information is closing this Thursday.
The proposed site at Durham Live spans approximately 60 acres with nearly half of it already zoned appropriately for such development.
The rest of the land is designated Natural Heritage and Open Space-mostly wetlands-which means Apostolopoulos will need to seek permission from the Municipal Affairs ministry for any zoning changes.
This location benefits from strong public transit links with GO Train access available at both Pickering and Ajax GO Stations. It’s less than an hour away from Toronto Pearson International Airport. As Brenner highlighted, it’s also close to hotels and entertainment facilities which may appeal to those making selection decisions.
Durham Live Managing Partner Steve Apostolopoulos
Apostolopoulos expressed in a letter to council that establishing this national centre would mean significant economic growth potential alongside tourism and community-building opportunities. He noted that Durham Live’s lands offer a “rare combination” of scale, regional accessibility, infrastructure capacity, and mixed-use possibilities needed for such an important project.
“We believe that locating the National Training Centre at Durham Live would establish Pickering as a nationally and internationally recognized sport and training destination while generating considerable employment during construction phases as well as long-term jobs. It could boost tourism demand across hospitality sectors year-round while providing meaningful community access pathways for youth development tied directly to a lasting FIFA World Cup legacy.”
Canada Soccer plans on identifying preferred sites by mid-2026 before moving forward with more formal Requests For Proposals alongside funding alignment processes.
The financing of this National Training Centre will come from various sources including FIFA World Cup 2026 legacy funds; federal and provincial investments; private partnerships; corporate sponsorships (including naming rights); along with municipal support through land contributions plus infrastructure assistance or tax incentives amongst other services provided without charge.
The proposed site at Durham Live
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The proposal from Durham Live will face competition from various other communities. This includes Woodbine Entertainment in west Toronto which has offered land for a soccer-specific facility featuring a 38,000-square-foot training area and natural grass pitch. There’s also Vaughan’s North Maple Regional Park and Vancouver, which already hosts an official training centre at the University of British Columbia grounds specifically for the World Cup.
Other locations might also submit bids since the deadline for submitting official Requests For Information is closing this Thursday.
The proposed site at Durham Live spans approximately 60 acres with nearly half of it already zoned appropriately for such development.
The rest of the land is designated Natural Heritage and Open Space-mostly wetlands-which means Apostolopoulos will need to seek permission from the Municipal Affairs ministry for any zoning changes.
This location benefits from strong public transit links with GO Train access available at both Pickering and Ajax GO Stations. It’s less than an hour away from Toronto Pearson International Airport. As Brenner highlighted, it’s also close to hotels and entertainment facilities which may appeal to those making selection decisions.
Durham Live Managing Partner Steve Apostolopoulos
Apostolopoulos expressed in a letter to council that establishing this national centre would mean significant economic growth potential alongside tourism and community-building opportunities. He noted that Durham Live’s lands offer a “rare combination” of scale, regional accessibility, infrastructure capacity, and mixed-use possibilities needed for such an important project.
“We believe that locating the National Training Centre at Durham Live would establish Pickering as a nationally and internationally recognized sport and training destination while generating considerable employment during construction phases as well as long-term jobs. It could boost tourism demand across hospitality sectors year-round while providing meaningful community access pathways for youth development tied directly to a lasting FIFA World Cup legacy.”
Canada Soccer plans on identifying preferred sites by mid-2026 before moving forward with more formal Requests For Proposals alongside funding alignment processes.
The financing of this National Training Centre will come from various sources including FIFA World Cup 2026 legacy funds; federal and provincial investments; private partnerships; corporate sponsorships (including naming rights); along with municipal support through land contributions plus infrastructure assistance or tax incentives amongst other services provided without charge.
The proposed site at Durham Live
INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies
Last 30 Days: 35,716 Votes
All Time: 1,269,547 Votes
1125 VOTES
