AFC Toronto To Play From York Lions Stadium Next Year

Toronto’s Northern Super League team has confirmed it will play out of York Lions Stadium for its inaugural season.

AFC Toronto had teased the long-expected announcement this week, today confirming that the club has partnered with York University – where they’ll share the venue with local football clubs York United and Toronto FC II.

It remains to be seen where AFC Toronto will play beyond 2025: the club wants to secure a location closer to the downtown core, but it remains to be seen if the city will aid renovations to a location like Lamport Stadium.

Earlier this month saw Marko Milanovic unveiled as the team’s first-ever head coach, with Sylvia Forbes set to assist him as they make history in Ontario’s provincial capital.

For now, the red seats of York Lions Stadium will be a good match for a club with maroon and vermillion branding, though the location – just south of Steeles Avenue – has historically struggled to bring in big crowds. To that end, how AFC Toronto markets itself and builds a matchday atmosphere will be crucial to the club’s success whilst it calls YLS home.

The NSL side has teased a capacity that can handle 4,000+ fans, though CPL side York United currently averages just under 1,500 through the gate, bringing in 1,824 for their recent derby clash against Forge.

The Northern Super League is slated for kickoff in April 2025 with six teams set to participate: AFC Toronto, Calgary Wild, Halifax Tides, Ottawa Rapid, Vancouver Rise, and a still-to-be-named Montreal side.

With the coaching staff slated to start next month, it’ll be interesting to watch how the roster assembling starts and if the upcoming season ticket information – along with some potential co-promotions with Tennis Canada – will prove a draw with fans.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques