By the fall of 2011, every university in Ontario will have taken out their red markers and circled the date on the calendar as to when they get to play in the historic Maple Leaf Gardens.
The Ryerson hockey, basketball and volleyball players that are lucky enough to have enough eligibility left to play in the Gardens are also jumping with joy over their first season there.
But, there is still one crucial element that is missing from making Ryerson a university capable of a sports dynasty and the place where every student-athlete will want to play — a soccer stadium.
For all the celebrations, camaraderie and dreaming that has been going on in the past five months, the men’s and women’s soccer teams will still have to take the long bus ride to Lamport Stadium in the coming years.
But, this isn’t just about the soccer teams. Because along with the field comes the real possibility for lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, rugby and of course, for those of us who are still living in a dream world, football.
Midway through this decade, the answer should be clear as to whether having an arena five minutes from the university will make our hockey teams contenders for Ontario and national championships.
I have no doubt that the arena is the missing component to make it a consistent program.
So, if the university is really serious about the non-arena part of its athletics program then it can’t be satisfied with just Maple Leaf Gardens.
And, just like how it worked out the details with Loblaw and the federal government for Maple Leaf Gardens, a partnership is the best way to do things.
Right now, the only other Toronto institution that is in desperate need of a stadium is the Toronto Argonauts.
And if the Montreal Alouettes were able to find a home in McGill University then maybe the Argos can find a spot in our university.
Now it seems almost impossible to find a spot remotely near the university to build a decent-sized stadium.
But, if we can build it, they will come. The athletes, the fans — and the championships.