\u2014 CF Montr\u00e9al (@cfmontreal) June 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Garber said he had been shown plans that would transform the Olympic Stadium into a modern venue capable of hosting major sporting events, concerts and other international attractions.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this vision can be fully realized, Montreal will have one of the great stadiums in the entire world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The issue has become increasingly important for CF Montr\u00e9al \u2014 founded and owned by the Saputo family for more than three decades \u2014 following the league\u2019s decision to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar. The decision leaves northern clubs facing more winter fixtures.<\/p>\n As a result, Montreal started to explore playing some matches at the Olympic Stadium while continuing to use Stade Saputo, its open-air, roughly 20,000-seat home, during warmer months. Last year, club president Gabriel Gervais described a \u201chybrid solution\u201d in which the team would divide games between the two venues.<\/p>\n But Garber said the Olympic Stadium offered the club an opportunity to generate revenues unavailable at Stade Saputo,\u00a0dismissing suggestions that MLS should instead focus on expanding the club\u2019s existing home.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was an MLS 1.0 stadium,\u201d he said of Stade Saputo. \u201cIt needs to be an MLS 3.0 stadium. We don\u2019t believe that can happen here.\u201d<\/p>\n Garber, who said he has overseen the construction of 26 stadiums in North America during his tenure, said he was struck by the scale of the proposed redevelopment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying this because I want it to happen. I was blown away by the vision,\u201d he said, describing plans for an iconic tower visible across the city. \u201cComing in from the airport, as far as your eye can see, you can see the Olympic Stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Olympic Park officials said the new roof will allow the stadium to operate year-round and could generate an estimated $750 million in direct and indirect economic activity.<\/p>\n Asked whether he was concerned about CF Montr\u00e9al\u2019s future if the project failed to proceed, Garber said the club\u2019s ownership remained committed but needed a facility capable of generating greater commercial revenues.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat they want is to have a best-in-class facility to be able to drive revenue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Do you have a story tip? Write to me at hnorth@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\tEditor\u2019s Picks\t<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1123-spt-col-cowan-3341.jpg\")
The Olympic Stadium during a Montreal\/Toronto MLS playoff match in November 2016. The stadium can hold about 60,000 people for a soccer match, versus 19,619 for Stade Saputo next door. Dave Sidaway \/ Montreal Gazette files<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780620127_105_bd211689c712b58cda5a717ca21eddc0c1d2ff556031357b6fe97b9b327e4b7e.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n