Toronto Tempo announce plans for performance centre at Exhibition Place

The Toronto Tempo are taking a major step in building their long-term infrastructure, announcing plans Friday to develop a dedicated performance centre at Exhibition Place in partnership with the City of Toronto.

Toronto Tempo’s Commitment to Community and Excellence

Scheduled to open in 2028, the facility will serve as both the team’s high-performance training home and a year-round community hub, located steps from Coca-Cola Coliseum, where the franchise will play its inaugural WNBA season.

The project reflects a broader strategy to establish a permanent foundation for the Tempo as Canada’s first WNBA team, combining elite training resources with public access to sport.

“This performance centre is about building the foundation for sustained excellence,” general manager Monica Wright Rogers said. “Our players deserve a world-class environment, and our community deserves access to spaces that inspire the next generation.”

Designed by global architecture firm HOK, the facility is built around five core principles: athlete-focused design, accessibility, civic engagement, sustainability and adaptability. The concept integrates professional-level infrastructure with community programming, allowing the space to function beyond team operations.

The centre will include two WNBA regulation courts and a full range of performance and recovery amenities. Plans also call for specialized locker rooms with individual spaces, sports medicine and rehabilitation areas, strength and conditioning facilities, and advanced recovery zones including hydrotherapy pools and wellness rooms.

Additional features include player lounges, dining areas and dedicated spaces for film study and team meetings, as well as integrated office space that brings basketball operations and business functions under one roof.

For HOK, the design reflects a shift in how performance environments are approached, particularly in women’s sport.

“This project is an opportunity to create an environment for elite development while also representing equity and community identity,” said design principal Paul Harrison.

The facility also incorporates elements tailored to the needs of female athletes, including private recovery and wellness spaces, part of a broader effort to address gaps in traditional sports infrastructure.

Beyond its role as a training centre, the project is positioned as a community asset. The Tempo, in collaboration with the City of Toronto and grassroots partners, plan to deliver programming aimed at expanding access to basketball and creating development pathways for players at different levels.

Mayor Olivia Chow described the initiative as both a sports investment and a public development project.

“We’re turning an underused site into a world-class facility that serves both professional athletes and the public,” Chow said. “It will provide year-round access to recreation and strengthen Toronto’s leadership in women’s sport.”

Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik added that the integration of public space and elite sport infrastructure will have a direct impact on local communities, particularly along the waterfront.

The performance centre represents a long-term commitment from the Tempo organization as it prepares for its first season. While the team is currently focused on building its roster and identity on the court, the announcement signals a parallel investment in infrastructure that will shape its future.

The timeline places the opening two years after the team’s debut, giving the franchise a permanent base designed specifically for its needs.

Further details on construction phases and community programming are expected in the coming months, but the scope of the project already outlines the Tempo’s intent to establish both competitive and structural stability in the WNBA.

As the league continues to expand, facilities like this are becoming central to how teams position themselves. For Toronto, the performance centre represents not only a training ground, but a cornerstone of its long-term vision.