Toronto FC’s Caribbean Heritage Night is happening on July 8th at BMO Field. Here are three things to look forward to.
Summer is finally here which means lots of music, outdoor activities and good vibes. With Carnival season in Toronto just around the corner, Toronto FC and Toronto Caribbean Carnival (TCC) have launched a new partnership to empower the community and celebrate the Caribbean culture that touches the game and fans so closely.
On July 8th, soccer fans will be treated to Caribbean Heritage Night as Toronto FC takes on St. Louis City SC at BMO Field for a tasty and colourful Caribbean Carnival in-stadium takeover.
The partnership, which comes with a four-year financial commitment, extends beyond the pitch supporting youth programming and TCC community initiatives, including Young Learners development program with the participation of select Toronto District School Board (TDSB) elementary schools.
If you’re thinking about getting in on all the festivities, here are three things you can expect at Toronto FC’s Caribbean Heritage Night.
Caribbean fusion cuisine
You can’t have a Caribbean Heritage Night without great food. Aside from the usual stadium fare, food stands will be serving up the best in Caribbean fusion cuisine, including Wicked Carib Jerk Chicken Sandwich, Jamaican Beef Patty Fries and a Jerk Chicken Sandwich.
Get your taste buds ready for in-stadium Caribbean fusion cuisine.
Live performances
You also can’t have a Caribbean celebration without music and dancing. The night will feature Carnival dancers, a steel pan band participating in pre-game ceremonies and a half-time show featuring Soca artists.
Official performers include New Dimension Steel Orchestra, Phoenix Steel, and Afropan Steel Band. Special thank you to Tribal Rhythm Nation, one of TFC’s supporter groups, for helping bring this together.
Make sure to bring your flag and come ready to jump and wave as you enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean!
New kit
The island vibes will then take to the field as Toronto FC launches a new Toronto Caribbean Carnival-inspired third jersey, christened the Energy Kit.
The kit pays tribute to Caribbean culture by featuring a bold colour palette with nods to the colours, costumes and sounds of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival; one of Toronto’s marquee festivals.
Toronto FC were one of only four teams selected by Major League Soccer and adidas to wear a third jersey, designed to lean into the culture of each club’s city and capture authentic stories that are important to the local community.
The new jersey is meant to showcase the team’s core principles of diversity and inclusion, said former Toronto FC player Dwayne De Rosario, an active member of the Toronto Caribbean community who was involved in the campaign for the kit’s creation.
“It’s a blessing, really. When you look at this jersey, it’s colourful, it’s vibrant, it really details and highlights our culture,” he said.
“We know how important the Caribbean community has been to the city and its contributions to TFC and the growth of soccer not only in Toronto but in this country,” said De Rosario, who was born in Scarborough but his parents immigrated to Canada from Guyana. “This is just a way to show gratitude and strengthen those community connections going forward.”
To join in the festivities, you can purchase your tickets at ticketmaster.ca. To purchase the Energy Kit visit shop.RealSports.ca, MLSstore.com or retail stands at BMO Field during TFC home games.
