The City of Barrie is preparing for what it calls a “transformational sports and infrastructure announcement.” In an official City of Barrie Facebook event titled “The World’s Game Comes To Barrie,” it states the announcement will come from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the City of Barrie, Toronto FC and Barrie Stadium Group. In attendance will be Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, President and CEO of Barrie Soccer Club Peter Raco, and Executive Advisor for Simcoe County Rovers Jamie Massie, along with members of the federal and provincial governments. Officials say the landmark announcement will be made on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., taking place downtown at Meridian Place. Nuttall tells CTV News he thinks residents will be excited about what the City is about to offer. “There is a lot happening in Barrie at the moment and with the amount of investment that is going to be coming into the city of Barrie from the sports community as a whole,” says Nuttall. “It’s going to be great for downtown, great for the surrounding area, an awesome opportunity to have a new community hub.” The public is invited to “be part of Barrie history” and the first 150 people to arrive will get free limited-edition merchandise, according to the City. In advance of the announcement, the City of Barrie’s logo on social media has since changed from a blue and white “B” to a red and white “B.” In 2024, a report directed City staff to launch the initial stages of building a soccer stadium in Barrie’s downtown.
