Coca-Cola Coliseum - Toronto Sceptres
- Dave Cottenie
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Coca-Cola Coliseum
19 Nunavut Road
Toronto, ON M6K 3C3
Year Opened: 1921
Capacity: 8,140
Crowning Achievements
In 2023, the Professional Women’s Hockey League was founded. While not the first hockey league for women in Canada or the United States, it is unquestionable that it has been the most successful. At the centre of this success has been the Toronto Sceptres.
Although the team has been chastised for the loose links that the team has intentionally or unintentionally created to the Taylor Swift empire (the Sceptres logo is very similar to the logo on the cheerleader outfit in the “Shake It Off“ video), the popularity of the team is strong. As a founding member of the league, the Sceptres played their inaugural season at Mattamy Athletic Centre, the former Maple Leaf Gardens. It became clear very quickly that this facility was not going to be sufficient for Toronto, and a move to the Coca-Cola Coliseum was facilitated. This increased the capacity at the home arena for the Sceptres by nearly 5,000.
Coca-Cola Coliseum first opened in 1921 on the grounds of Exhibition Place. It was built mainly for livestock and horse shows for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. A massive renovation of the building took place in 2002 with the goal of attracting a pro hockey team to Toronto. The former Ricoh Coliseum reopened in 2003 with the Toronto Roadrunners of the AHL. The team lasted only one season in Toronto, but the Maple Leafs eventually moved their affiliate to Toronto, and the Toronto Marlies became the main tenant in 2005. The expansion Toronto Tempo of the WNBA is expected to also play in Coca-Cola Coliseum beginning with the 2026 season.
Food & Beverage 5
Coca-Cola Coliseum is operated by MLSE, so many of the concession options that are found at Scotiabank Arena are also here. Several recognizable brands are found throughout the Coliseum, including Pizza Pizza, Smoke’s Poutinerie, Tim Horton’s, and St. Patties. Traditional arena fare is found at the Food Junction stand, some of the most unique items are also found here, including Buffalo Chicken tenders, Korean Fried Chicken sandwiches, Beef Taco Loco Fries, Bacon Mac & Cheese eggroll,s and Jerk Chicken Patty Sandwiches. Molson Canadian, Coors, Heineken, and Steam Whistle are available beers. The Crown Royal bar has many spirits available as well as wine.
Atmosphere 4
With the renovation of the early 2000s, the exterior facade of Coca-Cola Coliseum remained. Light coloured brick with unique arched architecture over the entrances keeps the classic exterior look. Large windows above the southwest entrance allow natural light into the building. The other main entrance to the Coliseum is at the south, through the exhibit hall, which maintains the light brick and arches over the entrance but adds concrete columns for an even more stunning look. A large, bronze Coke bottle sculpture before the entrance reminds fans who the title sponsor of the building is, and agricultural art embedded in the brick wall across from the main entrance links back to its origins.
Entry in the Coliseum at the southwest corner brings fans past the ticket windows and past huge wooden doors, which were used to keep livestock in their pens. Along with the doors are posters and captions giving the history of the building. A few steps further, and past security brings fans into the main concourse. It will have already become obvious that this is the home of the Toronto Marlies, as there are markings all over for the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate. Pop-up merchandise stands sell Sceptres merchandise.
The seating bowl is one level that is split. The ice is south-north oriented, and the east side is where one would get a picture of the centre ice logo; however, that logo is for the Marlies. There are some temporary banners for the Sceptres hung over railings, but there really are no permanent markings on the walls or ice for the PWHL team. An upper concourse is found behind the seating bowl, at the top, and offers some additional concession stands and washroom access. Above centre ice hangs a four-sided video board with an LED ring above and four slim rectangular boards below. Suites are found above the seating bowl on the east and west sides.
The gameday production at a Sceptres game is solid but not spectacular. A DJ booth is found in the upper northwest corner, and there is emphasis on female artists throughout the presentation. Flag-wavers are found on the lower landing on the north end, and they lead some of the cheers. A unique feature of Coca-Cola Coliseum is that the players travel through parts of the concourse and descend a small set of stairs to ice level between the benches.
Neighbourhood 5
Coca-Cola Coliseum is located on the grounds of Exhibition Place in the Niagara neighbourhood of Toronto. It is immediately south of Liberty Village, which is the closest neighbourhood for fans to get some pre- or post-game food. It is easily walkable. Some options in Liberty Village include Liberty Village Market & Cafe, Local Public Eatery, Brazen Head, Chiang Mai, NODO, and Fox And John’s.
Coca-Cola Coliseum is shared with the Toronto Marlies and is the future home of the Toronto Tempo. BMO Field is across the parking lot and is home to the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC. A few minutes east, and fans could take in the Toronto Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, or Raptors. Toronto Metropolitan University and fields Bold hockey and basketball teams in the former Maple Leaf Gardens. The University of Toronto also fields a full complement of Varsity Blues athletic teams, including football, basketball, and hockey. There are also a ton of other tourist options in Toronto. Medieval Times and RBC Amphitheatre are close. However, hockey fans must take in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Fans wishing to stay near Exhibition Place can choose Hotel X, Radisson Blu, The Neptune, or a host of other options nearby.
Fans 5
The popularity of the Toronto Sceptres has been pretty remarkable. Any time a team forces its way out of a venue due to the need for a bigger venue, it is a big deal. At the time of writing, the 2025-26 season, the Toronto Sceptres averaged over 8,200 fans per game. This is above capacity at Coca-Cola Coliseum and ranks 4th in the league. Each team above the Sceptres plays in a building with a bigger capacity. The previous season, the Sceptres averaged over 9,000 fans per game, but this figure also includes event games at Scotiabank Arena. Sceptres fans are louder than typical Toronto fans and show tremendous support for the team.
Access 4
Coca-Cola Coliseum is located on the grounds of Exhibition Place in the Niagara neighbourhood of Toronto. It is on the south side of Manitoba Drive, and immediately south of the Gardiner Expressway. Although it has a very close proximity to the expressway and is easier to get to from the west than the rest of Downtown Toronto, it can still be a challenge, as Toronto traffic can be a significant issue.
There is plenty of parking on site, which will require payment at a kiosk or on a parking app. Fans should be cognizant of what other activities are taking place at Exhibition Place, as this can drastically affect parking. For fans wishing to take public transit to the Sceptres games, they have a couple of options. A GO Transit station is at the north end of Exhibition Place. There are also buses and streetcars that can be found at Exhibition Place. Fans should consult the GO Transit and TTC websites for fares, schedules, and maps.
Getting around the Coca-Cola Coliseum is not too difficult; however, initially, the concourses can get congested during pregame. Once people start to utilize the upper concourse, it thins out a bit. The washrooms are adequate for the facility.
Stadium Journey strongly suggests fans consult the Toronto Sceptres and Coca-Cola Coliseum websites for the most up-to-date security information, including prohibited items and bag policy. Coca-Cola Coliseum is a cashless facility.
Return on Investment 3
The Toronto Sceptres are not a cheap experience by any sense of the imagination. Sceptres tickets start at $68. Tickets increase to $128 for seats in the middle sections and $184 for seats along the glass. It is assumed that this is at the high end of ticket prices for other PWHL teams. Parking on site will be at least $15, and concessions are on the expensive side. However, the product on the ice is solid, and fans will definitely enjoy their trip to see the Sceptres.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the success that the PWHL has enjoyed overall at the turnstile and in the TV ratings.
An extra mark for keeping a classic venue viable through renovation as opposed to a full teardown.
Final Thoughts
The Toronto Sceptres have found phenomenal success in the PWHL since its inception. The move to Coca-Cola Coliseum was necessitated by the fans, and it is curious if another move is in the not-too-distant future, with attendance better than ever.
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