{{Short description|Football stadium in London, Ontario, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{infobox venue | name = Western Alumni Stadium | fullname = | logo_image = Western mustangs wmark.png | logo_size = 100 | image = Alumni Stadium Western University.jpg | image_size = 250 | caption = Aerial view of the stadium in 2023 | type = Stadium | current_use = Football<br>Soccer | address = | city = London, Ontario | country = Canada | location = | coordinates = | broke_ground = September 28, 1999<ref name="Intini"/> | opened = September 16, 2000<ref name="JP Metras Sports Museum">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/metrasmuseum/exhibits/show/football/western---s-football-facilitie/the-end-of-j-w--little-memoria/|title=JP Metras Sports Museum|website=www.lib.uwo.ca|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> | renovated =2007 | owner = University of Western Ontario | operator = University of Western Ontario Athletics | surface = FieldTurf | construction_cost = $10.5 million<ref name="Intini"/> | architect =Stantec Consulting Ltd.<ref name="Valeriote">{{Citation|last=Valeriote|first=Jeremy|title=TD Waterhouse Stadium|date=2010-05-01|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/norlonbuilders/4568258432/|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> | main_contractors =Norlon Builders London Ltd.<ref name="Intini">{{Cite news|last=Intini|first=John|url=http://www.usc.uwo.ca/gazette/1999/September/24/News3.htm|title=Stadium receives backing|date=September 24, 1999|work=Western Gazette}}</ref> | tenants = Western Mustangs (U Sports): 2000–present <br />FC London (USL PDL): 2009–2013<br />London Beefeaters (CJFL) 2000–2019<br />London Silverbacks (NAFL): 2004–2008 | seating_capacity = 8,000 seats Standing room 11,000 <ref name=":0" /> | scoreboard = Yes |cost=$10.65 million<ref name="Intini"/> |former_names=TD Stadium <br /> TD Waterhouse Stadium<ref name="University">{{Cite web|url=https://mediarelations.uwo.ca/2013/08/27/western-university-and-td-announce-new-name-for-stadium/|title=Western University and TD announce new name for stadium |department=Media Relations |date=2013-08-27|website=Western University |language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> | website = {{url|https://westernmustangs.ca/sports/2010/6/9/Facilities_0609105641.aspx| westernmustangs.ca/alumni-stadium}} }}
'''Western Alumni Stadium''' (formerly TD Stadium) is an 8,000-seat Canadian football stadium located on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. It is home to the Western Mustangs football and soccer teams and is one of the largest stadiums in the OUA provincial conference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://westerngazette.ca/sports/how-does-td-stadium-stack-up/article_f7b059ce-7a9a-11e6-8b20-871531fd7a5b.html|title=How does TD Stadium stack up?|last=Clarke|first=Charlie O'Connor|website=The Gazette • Western University's Student Newspaper|date=14 September 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> It was built in 2000<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://westernmustangs.ca/sports/2014/7/15/Facilities_0715145121.aspx|title=TD Stadium|website=Western Mustangs Sports|language=en|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> at a cost of approximately $10.65 million by Norlon Builders London Ltd and designed by Stantec Consulting Ltd.<ref name="Intini">{{Cite news|last=Intini|first=John|url=http://www.usc.uwo.ca/gazette/1999/September/24/News3.htm|title=Stadium receives backing|date=September 24, 1999|work=Western Gazette}}</ref><ref name="Valeriote">{{Citation|last=Valeriote|first=Jeremy|title=TD Waterhouse Stadium|date=2010-05-01|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/norlonbuilders/4568258432/|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
The stadium was built as a replacement for the former JW Little Stadium, which held its last game in 1999 before demolition. JW Little Stadium had been on Western's campus since 1929.<ref name="JP Metras Sports Museum">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/metrasmuseum/exhibits/show/football/western---s-football-facilitie/the-end-of-j-w--little-memoria/|title=JP Metras Sports Museum|website=www.lib.uwo.ca|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> The stadium was opened on September 16, 2000, when the first Western Mustangs home game was played.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://oua.ca/sports/fball/2006-07/releases/215.html|title=WESTERN INDUCTS THIRD CLASS OF FOOTBALL GREATS - Ontario University Athletics (OUA)|website=oua.ca|date=5 May 2006 |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
During the request for sponsorship funding, the Canadian-owned bank TD Canada Trust gave $1.5 million<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/macculloch-nash-look-back-at-where-careers-got-started/article18417272/|title=MacCulloch, Nash look back at where careers got started|date=2001-08-09|website=The Globe and Mail|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> towards the stadium construction. Originally named the TD Waterhouse Stadium,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lfpress.com/2013/08/27/western-universitys-td-waterhouse-stadium-renamed/wcm/bf1320b5-a6b5-fa43-cd89-52a0e00dc256 |title=Western University's TD Waterhouse Stadium renamed |website=The London Free Press |date=2013-08-27|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726135313/https://www.lfpress.com/2013/08/27/western-universitys-td-waterhouse-stadium-renamed/wcm/bf1320b5-a6b5-fa43-cd89-52a0e00dc256 |archive-date=26 July 2018}}</ref> the name was changed in 2013 to reflect new branding for TD<ref name="University"/> and then changed to its current name in 2021 after a donation of $1.4 million was given by the Alumni Association.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-02|title=Western News - Western renames iconic stadium to Western Alumni Stadium|url=https://news.westernu.ca/2021/10/western-alumni-stadium-renaming/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Western News|language=en-CA}}</ref>
In addition to the Western Mustangs, the stadium is also home to the London Beefeaters, who are part of the Canadian Junior Football League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londonbeefeaters.org/|title=LONDON BEEFEATERS 2019 SCHEDULE}}</ref>
In spring 2009, the newly formed FC London of the USL Premier Development League began playing their home games at this venue.
== Facility == The stadium has a regulation CFL Canadian football sized field (110 yards by 65 yards) made out of FieldTurf. Surrounding the field is an 8-lane, 400-metre Mondo rubber track. The seating has two separate grandstands with a total capacity for 8,000. During large games, the stadium can accommodate 11,000 additional standing spectators.<ref name=":0" />
In addition to the track, the facility also as multiple long jump sand pits, javelin and a discus circle.
The main building is known as the JW Little building and houses the players changing rooms, the Michael Kirkley Training Centre, coaching offices, as well as a lounge and terrace.<ref name=":0" />
=== Renovations === In summer 2007, the AstroTurf was replaced by FieldTurf at a cost of approximately $1 million.<ref>[http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/OtherSports/2007/06/19/4272720-sun.html]{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>
The stadium field and track underwent renovations in summer 2021 to replace the track surface and the artificial FieldTurf. Along with those playing surfaces, the stadium lights were upgraded to facilitate better visibility during night games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Western upgrades football field, hockey arena in long-overdue makeover|url=https://lfpress.com/sports/football/western-upgrades-football-field-track-and-hockey-arena-in-long-overdue-makeover|access-date=2021-09-11|website=lfpress|language=en-CA}}</ref> The budgeted cost for this project was $4.6 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Western University: 2021-22 Operating and Capital Budgets|url=http://www.ipb.uwo.ca/documents/2021_budget.pdf}}</ref>
== Notable events == The stadium hosts a number of events outside of the university. Every year, local London public schools through the Thames Valley School Board use the facilities often to host track and field events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvraa.com/index.php/track-field/|title=Track & Field – Thames Valley Regional Athletics|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> The stadium also hosts local London high school football games known as ''Red Feather'' games, in which local senior high school football teams play their first game of the season.
The stadium was used as the main venue for the 2001 Canada Summer Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadagames.ca/past-games/2001-canada-summer-games|title=Canada Games Council - Past Games|website=www.canadagames.ca|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
In 2002, the stadium was used for an exhibition CFL game between the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cfl.ca/CFLNews0204/15_cfl2.html|title=The Official Site of the Canadian Football League as powered by SLAM! Sports|date=2002-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021020045915/http://cfl.ca/CFLNews0204/15_cfl2.html|access-date=2020-03-02|archive-date=2002-10-20}}</ref> which was a sellout at 9,178 fans.
The stadium was the host of the 2004 Men's Pan American Cup for the men's international field hockey championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.panamhockey.org/eng/compet/2004/2004mpacup.htm#stats|title=PAHF - 2nd Pan American Cup - Men|website=www.panamhockey.org|access-date=2020-03-02|archive-date=2017-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228195105/http://www.panamhockey.org/eng/compet/2004/2004mpacup.htm#stats|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2006, the stadium hosted the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship and the game attendance was 7,735.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://activityworkshop.net/lacrosse/worldcup06/reports22.html|title=Activity Workshop - Lacrosse World Cup 2006 - Reports 22 July 2006|website=activityworkshop.net|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
London hosted the 2010 Canadian Special Olympics and the stadium became one of a number of venues across the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cp24.com/canadian-special-olympics-to-be-hosted-by-london-ont-in-july-2010-1.388203|title=Canadian Special Olympics to be hosted by London, Ont. in July 2010|date=2009-04-10|website=CP24|language=en|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
In the summer of 2018, the stadium was the main venue for the 2018 Ontario Summer Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://athleticsontario.ca/2018-ontario-summer-games/|title=2018 Ontario Summer Games|date=2017-10-06|website=Athletics Ontario|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> The stadium is again the main venue for the 2021 Ontario Summer Games,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ontario Summer Games postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 {{!}} London 2021 Ontario Summer Games|url=http://www.london2021.ca/en/news/all-articles/ontario-summer-games-postponed-to-2021-due-to-covid-19|access-date=2021-02-16|website=www.london2021.ca}}</ref> being held in London for the second time in a row.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}
{{University of Western Ontario}}{{London, Ontario|state=collapsed}}
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Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Ontario Category:Canadian football venues in Ontario Category:University of Western Ontario buildings and structures Category:Soccer venues in Ontario Category:Sports venues in London, Ontario Category:University sports venues in Canada Category:2000 establishments in Ontario Category:Sports venues completed in 2000 Category:Lacrosse venues in Canada Category:Field hockey venues in Canada Category:College football venues in Canada