Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, Ontario)

Scotiabank Arena, formerly the Air Canada Centre, is a multi-purpose arena located on Bay Street in the South Core district of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). In addition, the minor league Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League play occasional games at the arena. The area was previously home to the Toronto Phantoms of the Arena Football League (AFL) during their brief existence.

General information

Official website: https://www.scotiabankarena.com/

Arena capacity: 19,800 spectators

Address: 40 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5J 2X2, Canada

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 43°38′36″N 79°22′45″W

Year of construction: February 19, 1999

Construction cost: $372 million

Field: 61,780.5 m2 (665,000 sq ft)

Seating plan of Scotiabank Arena

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Scotia Club seats give fans access to an upscale dining room, featuring premium food and beverage options, luxurious furniture, and a private bar.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Sections 306 and 307:

• Right next to several concessions on the upper level, makes trips to the concourse easier;
• Near a team store to purchase Raptors merchandise at the game;
• More affordable ticket prices.

Sections 314 and 316:

• Smallest seating sections of any, providing a quieter feel;
• Straight away views help prevent uncomfortable head turning to follow the game;
• Recommended Seats for Partying and Socializing.

Sections 312 and 313:

• Bars and concessions close by;
• Ticket prices in the lower tier.

Recommended Seats for Great Views of the Court

Rows 15-20 in Sections 107, 108 and 109:

• Excellent sight lines from near mid court on the lower level
• Good seating height for following all the action and head on views of the team benches
• Close to the entry tunnels for quick and easy seat access

Rows 1-8 in Sections 309 and 321:

• Great view from the front of the upper level
• The elevation makes the whole court very easy to see
• Easy to get to the concourse, makes for quick trips and missing less of the game

Where to buy tickets?

For all events and games at Scotiabank Arena, please purchase your tickets at the Ticket Office located in the west end of the Galleria near Gate 1.

Fans may also purchase tickets for an event coming to Scotiabank Arena by calling Ticketmaster or online at the Ticketmaster Canada website.

Ticket Office Hours

• Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm;
• Sunday: CLOSED (Unless there is an event).

Will Call

Fans picking up tickets at Will Call must present Valid Photo ID as well as the credit card used for the ticket purchase.

Toronto Raptors

Since the Raptors have joined the big time, the experience has become more and more expensive.  Tickets prices fluctuate based on day of the week and opponent.  Ticket prices run from a low of $53 up to $400 for court side seats.  It wasn’t that long ago where upper bowl tickets for the Raptors could be had for $12.  All lower bowl tickets for all games are over $100.  Combine that with parking, which can be found for around $20 and concession prices that are not cheap and a trip to see the Raptors is not for those who make decisions on a whim.  Although the experience is a great one, it is coming to the point where the investment is out-pacing the experience.

How to get there?

Scotiabank Arena is located at the northwest corner of Lakeshore Blvd. West and Bay St. in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

40 Bay St.
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2L2

Driving Directions

From East & North (Don Valley Parkway)

1. Take Don Valley Pkwy S to Lake Shore Blvd E in Old Toronto. Take the exit toward Jarvis Street from Gardiner Expy W.
2. Continue on Lake Shore Blvd E. Drive to Bay St.
3. Scotiabank Arena will be on the corner of Lakeshore and Bay St.

From West

1. Follow Gardiner Expy E. Take the Spadina exit from Gardiner Expy E.
2. Continue straight on Lakeshore Blvd.
3. Take a left onto Bay St.
4. Scotiabank Arena will be on the corner of Lakeshore and Bay St.

Parking

Scotiabank Arena is a short walk to thousands of public parking spaces.

Scotiabank Arena has two (2) levels of parking beneath the building which are used for private suite holders and office tenants.

Accessible Parking

There are four (4) on-site accessible parking spaces available for fans with disabilities. To reserve one of these spots for an upcoming event, please make your reservation in advance by calling Fan Services between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The parking garage has a height restriction of 2M (6’6″).

Underground Public Parking 15 York Street

Avoid the rain, snow, and cold temperatures by parking underground at Maple Leaf Square. This easily accessible lot provides indoor access to the retail stores of Maple Leaf Square, Real Sport Bar & Grill, Real Sports Apparel, and Scotiabank Arena.

Open 24/7, this public parking garage offers Sports and Entertainment event parking, plus Valet Hotel parking. Entrance off York Street and Bremner Blvd.

Go Green

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and leader in our community.

Team Up Green has been working to reduce our ecological footprint and encourages you to do the same. Why not make your next trip to Scotiabank Arena a green one?

Walk

PATH is downtown Toronto’s underground walkway linking 28 kilometers of shopping, services, and entertainment. Follow PATH and you will easily reach Scotiabank Arena in weatherproof comfort.​

Bike

Coming on two wheels? There are bike racks available on Parking levels 1 and 2 at Scotiabank Arena to lock up your bike while you are immersed in our events.

Union Station offers a bike station complete with a change room, vending machine, emergency bike necessities, and plenty of racks to lock up your bike, making it easier than ever to ride your bicycle in Toronto.

The direct link to Union Station from Scotiabank Arena is a fantastic option for fans.  Union Station houses the TTC subway, Via Rail and GO Transit.  Many patrons take the subway or GO Train when coming to Scotiabank Arena.  If you are considering the public transit option, check out the GO Transit or TTC websites for maps, schedules and other planning tools to aid you in getting to Scotiabank Arena on time.

There are a number of surface and garage parking options right around Scotiabank Arena.  Parking will not be cheap. A $15 tab is a pretty good find. Garages on Bremner Blvd by Jurassic Park offer a seriously close option, however you are looking at $35 or higher to park your car here. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find parking. There are some prepaid parking options available, but nearly as many as you will find at a comparable arena in the United States.  Check out ParkMe or Parking Panda if this interests you.

The ticket windows for Scotiabank Arena are found within the Galleria at the west end. Lineups are not normally an issue at the ticket windows, but the most popular entry point is through the Galleria. Increased security has definitely slowed down this process. Getting to the game early is the best plan, or entering at one of the exterior gates may be a better idea.

With the current climate of security in the major sports it is imperative that fans are fully aware of the security scenario at each major sports arena that they visit. Check the Raptors and Scotiabank Arena websites for up to date security information on banned items and baggage requirements.

Getting around Scotiabank Arena is not too bad. The washroom facilities are pretty good and lineups are only a reality during those peak times when you would expect a lineup for the washroom. The increased attendance has brought increased foot traffic in the concourses of course, however they are fairly spacious and getting around is not awful.

Suites

Rent a suite for an upcoming Maple Leaf or Raptors game.

Suite rentals are located on 200, 500 and 600 levels of Scotiabank Arena and are great for group outings, corporate hospitality, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties and more.

Mastercard World Elite

Located on the South West corner of the building, party suite (ES228) is the only suite that can hold up to 40 guests in one location. The Party suite is also 30 rows from the ice.

Overview

New just this past season is our 200 Level MasterCard World Elite Suite. This suite is the prime location for a larger group of guests. We have combined 2 of our 200 level suites into one large 40 person Party Suite. Just 30 rows from the ice, this is the place to host 24 or more guests for a sporting event at Scotiabank Arena. Located on the South West corner of the building it is a premium view of the ice or court. Designed separately from our 200 level executive suites, the Party Suite will feel like you’re in a completely different part of the building while still only being 30 rows away from the action.

Features

• 24 ticket base (option to purchase up to 16 additional tickets);
• En-suite hostess for the entire event;
• Available for all Toronto Maple Leaf and Toronto Raptor events;
• 2-hour early access for Toronto Maple Leaf and Toronto Raptor events;
• VIP Entrance at Gate 2;
• Pre-order catering options*;
• Merchandise discount program for all rental clients;
• Reservation priority at Real Sports Bar and Grill (based upon availability);
• 2 en-suite HD widescreen TV’s.

* Food and Beverage is an additional charge

200 Level Executive Suites

Our 200 level executive suites are built on a floor of their own.

Overview

The 200 level is a dedicated suite hallway with 64 separate suites allowing a view of the ice from any angle. All suites on this level have been recently renovated to a newer, refreshed sleek design. Our catering team is keen on serving you the highest quality food and beverage. Pinnacle Caterers (Harbour 60, Marina Grill) are here to make your experience in our suites one of the best you’ve ever had. Guests can feel spoiled in their suite while watching one of Canada’s most premium events.

Features

• 12 ticket base (option to purchase up to eight additional tickets);
• Private in-suite service for the entire event;
• Available for all Toronto Maple Leaf, Toronto Raptors, and Concerts;
• 2-hour early access for Toronto Maple Leaf and Toronto Raptor events;
• 1-hour early access for Concerts;
• VIP Entrance at Gate 2;
• Pre-order catering options*;
• Merchandise discount program for all rental clients;
• Reservation priority at Real Sports Bar and Grill (based upon availability);
• en-suite HD widescreen TV.

* Food and Beverage is an additional charge

Locations

There are 64, 200 level executive suites all located on the 2nd floor. All suites are 30 rows from the ice and provide the best option for a group of 20. Suites range from ES200 – ES265.

400 Level Loge Suites

Our 400 level Loge suites are located on the West end of the building.

Overview

They have recently undergone a major face-lift and almost doubled in size. These suites can hold a capacity of 20 guests and have a lounge area that is perfect for entertaining. The suite holds eight theatre-style seats with stools directly behind to provide all guests with a great view of the ice or court. These suites are unfortunately NOT available for concerts.

Features

• Eight ticket base (option to purchase up to six additional tickets);
• En-suite hostess for the entire event;
• Available for all Toronto Maple Leaf, Toronto Raptors, and Concerts;
• 2-hour early access for Toronto Maple Leaf and Toronto Raptor events;
• VIP Entrance at Gate 2 AND VIP Entrance at Suiteholder Access Only Gate 5;
• Pre-order catering options*;
• Merchandise discount program for all rental clients;
• Reservation priority at Real Sports Bar and Grill (based upon availability);
• en-suite HD widescreen TV.

* Food and Beverage is an additional charge

Locations

The 400 Level Loge suites are located on the West End of the building directly behind the opponents net. Suites range from LS401 – LS408.

500 & 600 Level Theatre Suites

Located on the 500 and 600 level on the East end of the building, they are perfect for a smaller more intimate party.

Overview

These suites can accommodate up to a maximum of 14 guests and offers a great aerial view of the ice, court or stage. The 500 and 600 level suites are stacked one-on-top of the other, so the suite feels like you are front row for all your events.

Features

• Eight ticket base (option to purchase up to six additional tickets);
• En-suite hostess for the entire event;
• Available for all Toronto Maple Leaf, Toronto Raptors, and Concerts;
• 2-hour early access for Toronto Maple Leaf and Toronto Raptor events;
• VIP Entrance at Gate 2;
• Pre-order catering options*;
• Merchandise discount program for all rental clients;
• Reservation priority at Real Sports Bar and Grill (based upon availability);
• en-suite HD widescreen TV.

* Food and Beverage is an additional charge

Locations

Our 500 and 600 Level Theatre Suites are located on the East End of the building directly behind the Toronto Maple Leaf Home Net. Suites range from TS501 – 511 and TS601 – 613.

200 Level – Mastercard World Elite Boardroom

Located in our 200 level executive suite hallway, our 200 level Mastercard World Elite Boardroom fits a group of 20 – 30 for a high-end meeting.

Overview

Whether you require a meeting space before your event at Scotiabank Arena or need a space for a full day meeting away from the office, this is the perfect space for you.

Features

• Capacity for 20–30 guests;
• Catering options available.

Cost

Full day Boardroom rental pricing:

• $1,000 minimum food order;
• $1,000 room rental fee.

Pre-Event meeting (maximum 4 hours):

• $500 minimum food order;
• $750 room rental fee.

Locations

Located on the Northwest corner of the 200 level Suites hallway, and steps from any 200 level Mastercard Executive Suite, it is the perfect location for a boardroom-to-suite experience.

Where to eat?

The concession situation at Scotiabank Arena is as good as any in the NBA.  There is a continuous examination at the arena of the concessions with seemingly subtle changes each year.  One of the most popular spots is the Hogtown Gourmet Hot Dogs stand, which features a huge variety of original hot dog concoctions.  Lord of the Fries offers a variety of plain and topped fries and poutine, MacCheesey features gourmet mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches while Porchetta & Co. has a variety of sandwiches.  Shawarma, BBQ, burgers and carved sandwiches as well as old favorites like Pizza Pizza, Mr. Sub, Smoke’s Poutinerie and Tim Hortons are also easily found.  Just about anything a fan is looking for can be found, even sushi!

Coca-Cola products are the soft drink option that is found throughout the arena.  Over time, Scotiabank Arena has consistently improved the areas where alcohol is available and featured.  The traditional beer guy or mobile stand can be found, but there are no less than eight bar areas in Scotiabank Arena, many featuring a full bar service.  At the Molson Canadian Brewhouse in the 100 level concourse fans can inspect the huge copper kettles where beer for Scotiabank Arena is brewed on site.  The variety of craft beer is expansive and fans will not be disappointed.

Atmosphere

The exterior of Scotiabank Arena is attractive, covered in a greyish/silver siding with an adequate amount of glass on the west side of the building.

The “front” of the building is on Bay Street, but it is actually the rear of the building, in Maple Leaf Square, which is far more interesting. The signature exterior sculpture, which has been in the front of Scotiabank Arena since the beginning, is called “Search Light, Star Light, Spot Light.” The main entrance is the entrance from the Galleria, on the north side, which links Scotiabank Arena with Union Station.

Upon entry to Scotiabank Arena, fans are thrust into the main concourse. Fans who are interested and patient are able to do a little bit of treasure hunting. Although they may not be all easily visible, the concourse walls are littered with classic pictures of Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs and Rock moments along with other big Scotiabank Arena moments. Sports pictures do date back to Maple Leaf Gardens as well. Even regular visitors can continue to find new items.

The seating bowl of Scotiabank Arena features a regular 100 level seating bowl with a steep upper bowl, separated by a level of luxury boxes. The court runs from east to west, and the east and west ends of the arena have more luxury boxes as well as bars and the newest addition, the 600 Level Fan Deck. The massive, four sided, curved video board commands attention. Between the Maple Leaf banners on the north and south sides of the arena are the Raptors banners.  Nearly lost in the shuffle, the Raptors boast a few division championship banners as well as an inaugural season banner. The Raptors continue to search for their first championship and have yet to honour their first player. For fans wishing to get the photo of the centre logo, the south side of the arena is the place to be.

The game day production at Scotiabank Arena is about what you would expect for an NBA team. The music is nearly constant and is a fairly general mix of hip-hop and traditional organ music. The association the Raptors have forged with Drake, which has been a very successful one, leads to a higher than normal playing of Drake songs. Raptor games also feature an in house DJ who spins tunes from the west seats. The Toronto mascot, The Raptor, is one of the best in the league performing stunts and interacting with the crowd.  The North Side Crew, one of the few co-ed entertainment squads in the NBA, performs during down time. Overall, there is a ton of stuff happening at a Raptors game past the game itself.

Neighbourhood

There are a boatload of places that a fan can go within walking distance of Scotiabank Arena to get something to eat before or after the game. Front Street is a great place to start looking. There fans will find Jack Astor’s, Texas Lone Star Grill, Canyon Creek, Casey’s and Boston Pizza. All are recognizable and common chains. Fans who are looking for something a little more original should try Joe Badali’s, The Loose Moose, The Fox or Hoop’s. Right in Maple Leaf Square itself, fans will find the very popular Real Sports Bar and Grill.

Real Sports is pretty huge and has almost limitless TV screens. A more refined culinary experience would be making reservations for a really nice dinner at 360, the revolving restaurant at the top of the CN Tower.

With all of the entertainment options in Toronto, it would be a good idea to spend an entire week. The CN Tower offers an unprecedented view of the city as well as other attractions including the Edge Walk. At the base of the CN Tower is the new Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto. The Toronto Theatre District may only be rivalled by Broadway in Manhattan. There is plenty of shopping downtown especially at the iconic Eaton Centre. Hockey fans will demand to make a pilgrimage to the Hockey Hall of Fame. All of this doesn’t even include the various festivals and special events that take place in the city at various times. There is also no shortage of sporting options within the city as well. Scotiabank Arena is also the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Rock. Up the street at the Rogers Centre fans will find the Toronto Blue Jays.  Just to the north is the University of Toronto, where the Varsity Blues field a whole host of athletic teams including football, basketball and hockey. To the west at Exhibition Place you will find BMO Field, home of Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, and the Coca-Cola Coliseum, home of the Toronto Marlies.

There are a wide variety of places to stay downtown, however, one must be prepared to pay. Downtown is not a cheap place to stay. A decent option is the Strathcona. Another popular spot is the Westin Harbour Castle. If you are looking for something unique and an experience unto itself, try getting a room at the Royal York, one of the oldest, most prestigious hotels in the country.

Fans

Over time, Toronto Raptors fans have shown that they are among the best the NBA has to offer. Attendance has been very strong in Toronto over the past few seasons with the Raptors drawing basically capacity crowds each game.  Toronto has ranked either third or fourth in average attendance at over 19,800 each season since 2016. Fans are loud and proud, but are as Toronto fans are, notoriously late arriving. Toronto fans have stepped up their game with playoff appearances with their playoff participation in Jurassic Park, in Maple Leaf Square. Jurassic Park is packed with some 5,000 fans who will watch the game from outside Scotiabank Arena on the video board in Maple Leaf Square. The NBA has yet to see another example of playoff fandom quite like Toronto.

History

Before opening

Construction of the arena was started by the Toronto Raptors, under their initial ownership group headed by Canadian businessman John Bitove. It was decided that the NBA would expand into Canada. The Toronto Raptors were created and would need an indoor arena to play in. The Canada Post building was chosen to be the new home of the Raptors due to its downtown location and lot size.

The Canada Post building was purchased for $60 million. Groundbreaking took place in March 1997. The building retained the Art Deco facade of the Toronto Postal Delivery Building along the east (along Bay Street) and south (Lake Shore Boulevard) walls of that structure, but the rest of the building (facing Union Station) was removed to make room for the arena, through the process of facadism. The original building is protected under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Since opening

In December 1998, the building’s construction was completed. Opening events took place early the next year. The first basketball Game on February 21, 1999 (Toronto Raptors vs. Vancouver Grizzlies). Features of the new building consist of a 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2) arena and a 165,000-square-foot office tower.

There is also east-west covered, climate controlled galleria and walkway onsite that contains restaurants, the ticket office, and other commercial units. The Galleria also connects the Scotiabank Arena to popular locations in the downtown core such as Union Station, Bay Street and York Street. Scotiabank Arena is connected to the underground PATH network. The Galleria doubles as a historical museum by displaying numerous artifacts from the old Canada Post building.

MLSE completed a $5 million upgrade of the arena, including a new LED signage system. A $10 million upgrade of the arena was also carried out, which included the installation of a new scoreboard four times larger than the previous one.

The Air Canada Centre was renamed Scotiabank Arena. The landmark 20-year sponsorship agreement between Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Scotiabank is worth about C$800 million. This is believed to be the highest-priced annual building and team sponsorship in North American sports history. The arena is the third in Canada to bear naming rights to Scotiabank.

Maple Leaf Square

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced that they would be renovating the western side of the Air Canada Centre during the off-season to connect it with the Maple Leaf Square development. Maple Leaf Square is jointly owned by MLSE, Cadillac Fairview and Lantera Developments.

The $500 million development includes two restaurants, Hotel Le Germain at Maple Leaf Square boutique hotel, extensive retail shopping, including a 840-square-metre (9,000 sq ft) Leafs, Marlies, Raptors, and Toronto FC store, two 54-storey condominiums, a Longo’s supermarket, and a public square. The two-year, $48 million renovation of the ACC added a new atrium that includes a High-Definition broadcast studio for Leafs Nation Network (formerly Leafs TV), NBA TV Canada and GolTV Canada.

The outside wall of the atrium features a 9.1-by-15.2-metre (30 by 50 ft) video screen overlooking the plaza, which often broadcasts games taking place inside the arena.