Coca-Cola Coliseum - Toronto Tempo
- Dave Cottenie
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Coca-Cola Coliseum
Exhibition Place
19 Nunavut Road
Toronto, Ontario M6K 3C3
Year Opened: 1921
Capacity: 8,500
Turn Up the Tempo
The explosion of the WNBA has brought expansion to the cities of Portland and Toronto for 2026. Toronto’s entry to the league, the Toronto Tempo, has been met in the city with excitement and optimism. Even better than that has been the reaction on the ticket sites, where Tempo tickets are increasingly difficult to come by. The team was founded by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment minority owner Larry Tanenbaum and a number of other investors including Serena Williams, former Raptors executive Masai Ujiri and Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. Tanenbaum reportedly attempted to get the Tempo to be part of the MLSE portfolio, but was blocked by some members of the board. In their inaugural season, the Tempo made a calculated free agent signing, bringing in Canadian Olympian and TSN analyst Kia Nurse to be part of the roster.
The inaugural home for the Tempo is Coca-Cola Coliseum. Located on the grounds of Exhibition Place, it is most well-known for being the home of the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. The building was originally built for livestock shows as part of the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in 1921. A massive renovation took place in the early 2000’s to convert the building into a hockey arena in an attempt to attract a professional hockey team. At a capacity of 8,500 for basketball, Coca-Cola Coliseum is the fourth smallest venue in the WNBA behind Atlanta, Washington and Dallas, and the Wings are moving to a larger venue in 2027. The Tempo are hedging their bets on the popularity of the new team with a few games at Scotiabank Arena as well as games in the big venues in Montréal and Vancouver.
Food & Beverage 5
A number of 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, however 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 eggrolls and Jerk Chicken Patty Sandwiches. Molson Canadian, Coors, Heineken and Steam Whistle are available beers. There are also a number of concession stands on the upper level. With the crowd size at the maximum, all concession stands were open. The Crown Royal bar has a number of spirits available as well as wine.
Atmosphere 4
In the massive renovation that became Coca-Cola Coliseum, the exterior of the building was maintained. Although it is tightly wedged between the Enercare Centre and Horse Palace, there are still some exterior spots visible with very attractive yellow brick and curved architecture. It is one of the most unique looking arenas out there.
Most fans will enter at the southwest corner of the building, however, entry for the CIBC Club is found at the north side near the public transit. Upon entering the concourses fans will find that the Tempo have made a strong effort to make the Coliseum look like their home. Many of the markings for the Toronto Marlies are covered with temporary banners for the Tempo. Framed historic photos remain uncovered including some throwback prints to some agricultural shows. The massive wooden doors at the south entrance are also a throwback to the agricultural days.
The seating bowl is a single, split-level design with the court oriented from south to north. The best spot for a centre court logo photo is from the east. A four-sided video board with upper ring and lower rectangle screens hangs above centre court. Unfortunately, there are no videoboards dedicated to individual statistics, leaving the statistical side of the experience below some Canadian universities. Suites hang above the east and west sides. There are a number of permanent markings for the Marlies visible from the seating bowl including the Leaf crests for players who have played for the Marlies and moved up to the Leafs. The end result in the seating bowl is a feeling that the Tempo are still tenants in Coca-Cola Coliseum as opposed to residents.
The gameday production at a Tempo game is not too complicated. A DJ booth is in the upper northwest corner, right beside the TSN crew who bring the pregame and halftime shows for television. The Rhythm Section, the Tempo dance team, performs during some pauses in the action. The Tempo also employ a pair of in-game hosts who help with the promotions. The more simplistic approach is a bit of a refreshing change compared to the NBA, which can be sensory overload.
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 Toronto Sceptres. 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 is northeast 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 4
It is difficult to assess fans of the Tempo at this point. At the time of writing, the Tempo played only their second home game. As expected, the first home game brought in over 8,200 fans. As compared to the previous WNBA season, the Tempo would have had the 11th best attendance in the league. The venue is a bit restrictive, but offers the opportunity for the team to possibly grow into a larger venue. Ticket sales have been very strong thus far so a favorable mark is given for fans with some room to grow with longevity. Fans in attendance are louder than the typical Ontario fans, who tend to be more reserved.
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. At the time of writing, parking was limited due to the upcoming World Cup which has lots blocked off for fan fests and construction. For fans wishing to take public transit to the Tempo 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 Tempo 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
Tickets for the Toronto Tempo start at $30 for limited games. Most games start at $56 for standing room. Seats for most games start at $137. Dynamic pricing makes face value difficult to determine, but the initial popularity of the Tempo have driven ticket prices up. Parking at the Ex can go for $18. Concession prices are about what one would expect. The gameday experience in Toronto is good, but the outlay seems to be high for an expansion experience.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Toronto Tempo ownership investing in the team right off the bat. Before their first game, the ownership group announced that the building of a multi-million-dollar practice facility was in the works at Exhibition Place, reportedly the cream of the crop in the WNBA.
An extra mark for Brittney Sykes scoring the first points in Toronto Tempo history.
An extra mark for the Tempo Impact outreach program with focus on not only developing players but coaches as well.
Final Thoughts
Right out of the gates the Toronto Tempo have acquired a solid following making tickets difficult to come by. The gameday atmosphere at Coca-Cola Coliseum is solid for the first season. It will be interesting to see if the Tempo can maintain their following and force themselves into a larger venue.
