Scarborough Arena Gardens - Toronto Beaches
- Dave Cottenie
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Scarborough Arena Gardens
75 Birchmount Road
Toronto, Ontario M1N 3J7
Year Opened: 1951
Capacity: 358
Displaced Sandbox
In 2025, Toronto lacrosse was dealt a significant body blow. The board of the Ted Reeve Community Arena, in a controversial act, voted to keep the ice in the facility all year round. This displaced the programming for the Toronto Beaches Lacrosse Club and left the Toronto Beaches team of the OJLL homeless. Although the move was said to be a “hybrid model,” moving lacrosse to the bubble next door, which would allow lacrosse to continue, it was met with skepticism and anger by lacrosse patrons.
Ted Reeve had been the home for the Toronto Beaches for over thirty years. In fact, the Beaches had just survived a short stretch where the team was displaced due to renovations at Ted Reeve. The history of the Toronto Beaches Lacrosse Club dates all the way back to 1915. The Beaches played at a Junior B level from 1979 to 1983 and then at Junior A from 1991 to 1997 and then from 1998 to the present. They have made two appearances in the Iroquois Trophy final, in 2002 and 2022.
The solution for the homeless Beaches is Scarborough Arena Gardens. Built in 1951, Scarborough Gardens just completed a massive two-year renovation which saw the old building torn down completely due to structural and asbestos concerns. It is owned by the City of Toronto, but is further east than the Beaches community where Ted Reeve was found. The 2026 season is the first for the not-for-profit Toronto Beaches at the Gardens, their new Sandbox.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a very limited selection of concessions available for a Beaches game. Concessions are sold at a temporary table along with merchandise and tickets at the back end of the lobby. Water, Gatorade, chips, cookies, chocolate bars, beer, and coolers make up the entirety of the menu. Prices are good, and there is enough for a light snack, but that’s about it.
Atmosphere 3
Scarborough Arena Gardens is essentially a brand-new facility. The exterior is attractive with grey brick around the lobby and a canopy over the entrance with wood support beams and brown highlights. An updated exterior plaque provides a bit of history of the building, including the use of the old Gardens for exterior shots in the movie Youngblood.
In the lobby, there is plenty of glass and the natural light floods in. A large trophy case provides more history of the building as well as some local hockey trophies. Large murals provide colourful highlights near the ceiling. Entry in the lobby is from the west and the east side of the lobby is a wall of glass that looks right into the arena. Just in front of the arena is a temporary table selling tickets, merchandise and snacks. On both the exterior and in the lobby, there is no advertising or markings for the Beaches. This could change in subsequent seasons with more prep time available.
Inside the arena, the floor runs from east to west with the view of the centre logo, really the only Beaches marking in the building, from the north. Entry is from the west, and a simple hockey scoreboard hangs on the east side. Seating is on the north side with four rows of contoured, plastic benches. Protective mesh surrounds the entire arena floor.
Unfortunately, the shot clocks are hung on the glass in the northeast and northwest corners and are difficult for fans to see. Behind the seating, on the north side, there are huge windows that allow plenty of natural light into the arena, creating a unique effect early in the game. Some of the windows need to be covered and are done so with temporary tarps. Permanent blinds definitely need to be installed to preserve the clean aesthetic of the arena. One of the real highlights in the arena is the wooden beam truss supports that hold up the corrugated aluminum roof.
The gameday production at a Beaches game is extremely simple. The sound system consists of temporary speakers on stands behind the benches on the south side. Music is played for the warmups; however, none is played during intermission or for goals. The worst part of the sound system is that announcements are nearly impossible to understand.
Neighbourhood 4
Scarborough Arena Gardens is found in the Birchcliffe-Cliffside neighbourhood of the Toronto borough of Scarborough. It is east of what most would think of as the tourist area of the city, where the Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena are found. There are a few spots for pre- and post-game food and drink that are not too far away; however, the immediate neighbourhood is fairly residential. Some options include Buster’s By The Bluffs, Henry Jollof, Blue Elephant Cuisine and The Quarry Cafe.
The closest sporting option to Scarborough Arena Gardens is the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the CEBL, which plays during the same season as the OJLL. Other sporting options during the same general time include the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs of the CBL. There are, of course, many more options when stretching into the fall and winter, including the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Argonauts, Marlies, Tempo, Sceptres and Toronto FC. The University of Toronto also fields several Varsity Blues teams, including football, basketball and hockey.
Toronto is one of the top tourist destinations in North America. Other tourist options include the Scarborough Museum, Scarborough Bluffs, and Rosetta McClain Gardens, all found in Scarborough. A wider net cast brings tourists to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, Ripley’s Aquarium, and the iconic CN Tower.
For fans who wish to stay near Scarborough Arena Gardens, the Super 8 Toronto is available as well as several BnBs and independent motels. A wider selection of international chain motels will require fans to journey closer to downtown Toronto.
Fans 3
Assessing fans in the OJLL is challenging as the attendance figures are not published. At the game that was reviewed, there were around 150 fans in attendance. Due to the small capacity, this provided a decent fan experience with plenty of space for those in attendance without the arena feeling empty. The fans in attendance were supportive and fairly loud.
Access 3
Scarborough Arena Gardens is located in the Birchcliffe-Cliffside neighbourhood of the Toronto borough of Scarborough. It is found in the larger Birchmount Park. The Gardens are at the northeast corner of Birchmount Road and Kingston Road. It is approximately 8 km east of the Don Valley Parkway and 9 km south of Highway 401.
Fans driving to the game will definitely have to traverse a good chunk of city driving, and Toronto traffic is no joke. The Beaches seem to have addressed this issue with 8 pm start times for most home games. There is parking available at the facility, which could fill up depending on what other events are scheduled for Birchmount Park. For fans wishing to take public transit, there are TTC bus stops on Birchmount and Danforth. Fans should consult the Toronto Transit Commission website for fare schedules and maps.
Getting around Scarborough Arena Gardens is not difficult, especially due to its complete rebuild. The washroom facilities are more than adequate for the venue. They are ultra-modern with cubicles with floor-to-ceiling doors.
Security protocols are not really an issue for a Toronto Beaches game. Tickets are purchased at the door, and cash is preferred, with e-transfer as an option for purchases.
Return on Investment 4
Toronto Beaches tickets are very affordable. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for kids under 5 and Beaches Minor Lacrosse players and Toronto Beaches alumni. Parking is free, and concession prices are good. Addressing some of the gameday production issues will make the experience even better and raise the ROI score.
Extras 3
An extra mark for Scarborough Arena Gardens essentially being a brand-new, squeaky-clean facility.
An extra mark for the original Scarborough Arena Gardens making an appearance in the 1986 movie, Youngblood. Exterior shots of the Hamilton Mustangs home were of Scarborough Arena Gardens.
An extra mark for the parking lot, which has a huge solar panel structure to park under. Not only does the facility generate clean energy, but it provides shade to park under.
Final Thoughts
After being displaced from Ted Reeve Arena, the Toronto Beaches have found a new Sandbox at Scarborough Arena Gardens. In their first season in their new home, the Beaches are finding their way. There is room for improvement, but the base lacrosse experience is solid.
