Leafs Nation Flying Business Class at the Hangar

Official Review by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

The Toronto Maple Leafs have led a charmed existence. With a history dating back to the inception of the National Hockey League in 1917, they are arguably the banner franchise of the entire hockey industry. They are the most valuable hockey franchise in the NHL according to Forbes Magazine. They have won 13 Stanley Cups. They are consistently in the top 5 in attendance. They have the most loyal fan base this side of the Chicago Cubs.

The Maple Leafs are considered one of the NHL's "Original Six" franchises, and were the last franchise to move out of their "Original Six Arena." In 1999, the Leafs closed the doors of legendary Maple Leaf Gardens, and moved to the newly minted Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs and Air Canada Centre are currently owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE); a group jointly owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Board, and Larry Tanenbaum. The company also owns the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Marlies, Toronto FC, and could be yours if you happen to have approximately $1.5 billion kicking around.

The ACC has been good for the Maple Leafs ... perhaps too good. One of the nicknames of the old Maple Leaf Gardens was the "Cashbox on Carlton," due to its consistent sell-outs, and it may just be an appropriate moniker for the Hangar as well. Although the ACC is not on Carlton Street, it is most definitely a cash box. Unfortunately, as a fan, it is that feeling that resonates throughout the event.

Food & Beverage    5

The food options in the Hangar are plentiful. All of the staples are here, usually brought to you by a major restaurant chain. Pizza Pizza, Tim Horton's and Mr. Sub are all present at the ACC. Molson Canadian is on tap and actually brewed on site. If you are looking for a bar atmosphere, there are a couple to choose from. There is a sports bar on the main level called Lord Stanley's Mug which is great for a pre-game beer. If you are into a more trendy location, then you might want to check out the Ice Box on the 300 level.

A must-stop place in the ACC is Burkie's Dog House. Named after Maple Leaf GM Brian Burke, Burkie's offers more variations on the hot dog then you can possibly imagine. This time I went with the Greek Dog, and it was excellent. Who could have thought of putting cucumber, red onion, black olives and feta cheese on a hot dog? Fantastic!

The concession prices are on the high side, so make sure you bring your cash or credit card!

Atmosphere    3

I feel that the atmosphere has deteriorated in the ACC over time. Remember, the Maple Leafs have almost 100 years of history to draw from and they have been extremely successful over a good chunk of that time.

The seating bowl offers great sidelines, and the best vantage point for Maple Leafs history. On display are the 13 banners commemorating the Stanley Cup victories which ended in 1967. Also displayed prominently are the banners of Syl Apps, Ted Kennedy, Turk Broda, Johnny Bower, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Charlie Conacher, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Hap Day, Red Kelly, Borje Salming, Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour. The Maple Leafs have honoured the above 14 players with banners above the ice, but have only retired two numbers. Those numbers belong to Ace Bailey and Bill Barilko, who are also memorialized with banners.

The video system is multi-layered, huge, and very clear.

Over time, the history of the Maple Leafs throughout the concourse has eroded. Formerly there were numerous pictures that were prevalent from various events, specifically Maple Leaf greats. Some of these pictures remain on the walls of the Air Canada Centre, however no attention is drawn to them due to the massive amount of advertising throughout the concourses. Parts of the ACC, which you would expect to be in Maple Leaf blue, are painted a stark red, due to sponsorship by Rogers Communications. A tour around the concourse feels like one giant commercial rather than a fun event atmosphere.

Outside of the Union Station gate, the Maple Leafs have a number of games and activities that fans can take part in before the game.

The in-game production is very bland. Even the entrance video was not overly exciting, and failed to touch on the vibrant Maple Leaf history.

Neighborhood    4

There are a ton of things to catch your attention in the immediate neighbourhood around the Air Canada Centre. If you happen to make it to the ACC on a classic Saturday Night game, you must visit the Hockey Hall of Fame in the afternoon. With interactive exhibits, and the amazing trophy rooms, the HHoF remains my favorite of all the halls. There is also great shopping at the nearby Eaton Centre if you need to drop off a non-sports-fan person accompanying you.

The number of restaurants and bars around the ACC is almost limitless. Maple Leaf Square is the buzz of the community, and features the Real Sports Bar and Grill. This is a great spot to eat and drink. The Loose Moose, Jack Astor's, East Side Mario's, Casey's and the Armadillo are also pretty good spots to stop.

Just outside the ACC, in Maple Leaf Square is a giant screen TV, where you may choose to watch the game. It's a neat touch, but I'm not sure how well it will translate to hockey in February.

Fans    3

Toronto Maple Leaf fans are bit of a conundrum.

The attendance for Maple Leaf games is annually among the strongest in the league. People definitely show up to see the Leafs ... eventually. There is a healthy mix of blue and white in the upper deck crowd. You are sure to find jerseys of numerous former players being flaunted. Having suffered through decades of poor performances on the ice, Leaf fans are among the most loyal in sports. They should have abandoned their team long ago, but the Maple Leafs remain among the toughest tickets in Toronto and the NHL.

The lower bowl is full of people in suits which adds to one of the quietest environments in all of sports. Toronto fans are typically quiet, but the ACC lacks any real energy. The upper deck is a bit more hardy but do not muster anything more creative than the traditional Go Leafs Go chant. The lower bowl fans are also notoriously late before the game and after the intermissions. On television, the opening minutes of the period after an intermission often look like a crowd (or lack there of) at an Atlanta Thrashers game. If you are looking for a rabid hockey atmosphere provided by fans ... try any of the other Original Six teams!

Access    3

Downtown Toronto is challenging to get to on the best of days, but when the Maple Leafs are playing its even more of a challenge. The trip downtown from the west was marred with the usual traffic slowdowns. Once downtown parking is not that hard to find but the price is heavy. You will be looking at between $20-$30 depending on how far you are willing to walk.

If you are not interested in fighting traffic, you may consider public transit. The Air Canada Centre is attached to Union Station, which is the hub for TTC subways and Via and Amtrack trains. Getting in the ACC from Union is a breeze, but there are numerous people who take public transit, and your subway ride will take a little longer and will be a whole lot more crowded than you may expect.

Before I can even mention the inside of the ACC I must mention the atrocity of getting inside. The ACC requires all of the usual security precautions, which is not a big deal, but I have no understanding why the doors are closed until only an hour before gametime. This is something I've only experienced in a few select locations.

Once inside, the concourses are of a decent width and the washrooms are large and plentiful.

Return on Investment    2

Everything about a trip to the Maple Leafs screams money.

Prices for seats go from $55 to a whopping $416. You aren't getting a sniff of the lower bowl for under $165. The majority of the seats in the upper bowl are over $100. My seat, which was 2nd from the top row, in the corner, was a steep $65. The combination of the regularly increasing ticket prices, as well as the internet and secondary ticket market, have made ticket availability a little softer. This is actually a bit of a concern for MLSE when combined with the increasingly multi-cultural nature of the city of Toronto. There is some fear that the Maple Leafs may not be the huge draw they currently are, in the not too distant future.

Prices for parking and concessions are also high, so taking in a Maple Leafs game is an event. The Leafs are the tops in the league when it comes to price. What really hurts is the return does not come close to the investment. The product on the ice has been up and down at best. Worse than that, however, is the bland and stale atmosphere, combined with a bombardment of advertising, which leaves the average sports fan unsatisfied.

Extras    3

An extra point for the vast history and tradition of the Maple Leafs organization.

An extra point for the Human Bowling intermission activity, which was fun.

An extra point for the giant Canadian flag passed around during the national anthem.

Final Thoughts

Many traveling sports fans will regard the Air Canada Centre and the Toronto Maple Leafs a must stop on their hockey pilgrimage. I will agree that the Maple Leafs are one of the pillars of the National Hockey League. If they are your team, then by all means, make sure you get to the Hangar. However, if you are looking for an experience that might be akin to Montreal, Chicago, or New York ... don't get your hopes up. It's clear that MLSE is most interested in maximizing the dollars coming in, and so long as the attendance remains as strong as it is, no changes can be expected. Until then, Leaf fans will be forced to fly (and pay for) business class.