The Simon Tonekham Statesman

This has recently broke out to the entire Facebook community and there is some ongoing controversy about the 2008 Vans Warped Tour being held in Toronto. Originally, the tour is supposed to be held at Downsview Park, but now the tour is being held at a place called “The Flats at Arrow Hall”, situated at the International Centre in Malton (Mississauga).

For myself and the rest of the fans who kept fighting to have the tour held in Toronto-proper are starting to fight again for their rights to have the tour held in Toronto. At least International Centre is well served by public transit. Here are some transit routes that serve the International Centre:

GO Transit: The Route 34 Brampton local GO bus route serves the International Centre. However there is one condition – you have to make sure that the 34 goes via Dixon. Board that bus and get off at Derry Rd. and Airport Rd. (near the Malton GO station). If you board the 35, it will travel along Highway 27. It is important that you should look at the bus destination sign carefully to avoid any unwanted surprises. From Ajax to Malton (Airport & Derry), it will cost me $8.75 for a single ride or $17.50 for a day-pass.

ADDENDUM (Jaunuary 4th, 2009):  The 31 GO bus from Toronto’s Union Station and heading towards as far as Guelph, also serve the International Centre. I’ve found out by my fellow friends who went to the tour on that July 19th, 2008 day and they wanted to have the most direct route as possible. At least they were able to find their way okay.

For more information please go to www.gotransit.com

TTC:The 58 Malton (from the Lawrence West subway station) serves the International Centre, however there is one catch – Additional fare is required west of the Airport as this bus enters in Mississauga. You have to pay the regular TTC fare along with the Mississauga Transit fare ($2.75 for an adult, senior, child or student fare for Mississauga Transit). If you are using a TTC Day Pass to board the 58 Malton and planning to head into Mississauga, you are out of luck. They are not valid. Period. At least that Day Pass can only be used up to Pearson Airport. Information can be founded at www.ttc.ca

Mississauga Transit: Mississauga Transit Route 7 serves the International Centre from the City Centre Transit Terminal in Mississauga (that’s where the Square One shopping mall is situated). For more information on Mississauga Transit, please go to www.mississauga.ca/transit

For those of you who are looking for some Ridesharing options, check out PickUpPal. The site does not reflect the venue change at the time of blog posting, but I highly suggest that you should book in advance! Check out PickUpPal here.

Anyways, the venue change in my humble opinion is somewhat of a “flashpoint” on having the tour back in Barrie, which I greatly oppose. Park Place is closed down and turning into a shopping centre and Burl Creek Park is way too far in terms of distance. It’s actually outside of Barrie city limits. As for transit links, it’s completely non-existant. There was one time that Greyhound buses used to be held at the former Park Place, but it wasn’t available at last year’s tour without notice, leaving many people disgraced.

I will not rest until this is all sorted out!!!!

EDIT: The announcement is official. The Warped Tour will now be held at Arrow Hall. Tickets that were previously purchased for the Downsview Park date will be honoured or refunds are available at the point of purchase. Go to www.ticketmaster.ca to find out more information. While the majority of the events will take outdoors, some events will be indoors so people can get out of the heat to enjoy food and drinks.