Scotiabank Arena - Toronto Raptors
- Dave Cottenie
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Scotiabank Arena 40 Bay St Toronto, ON M5J 2X2
Year Opened: 1999
Capacity: 19,800
Jurassic Resurgence
After the miracle run that saw the Toronto Raptors win the 2019 NBA Championship, the Raptors have seen plenty of change. Not all of it has been positive, and the Raptors have fallen in the standings in the Eastern Conference. The 2025-26 NBA season has seen a resurgence, and the Raptors have moved back up and into the playoff picture.
One of the major changes for the Raptors has been in the front office. At the time of writing, Rogers Communications was in the process of buying out the shares of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment held by Bell Media. This will give Rogers majority control over the Raptors and all of the other sports properties in MLSE. The Raptors were established in 1995 and were brought into the MLSE fold in 1998.
Scotiabank Arena was built to be the permanent home of the Raptors after beginning their existence in what is now known as Rogers Centre. The Maple Leafs purchased the Raptors in 1998, as well as the site for what is now Scotiabank Arena, and folded them into the newly minted Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. A quick redesign was completed, and the arena, built on the former site of the Toronto Postal Delivery Building, would also be the replacement for the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens. The arena opened in 1999 and has been home to the Raptors ever since, quickly becoming one of the top fan experiences in the NBA.
Food & Beverage 5
Scotiabank Arena offers a culinary experience that is as good as any franchise in sports. MLSE is very conscious of the concessions that it offers, and the Scotiabank Arena website provides a comprehensive accounting of all of the options. All of the expected staples are available, usually found in the Food Junction stands. Also new to Scotiabank Arena are a few grab-and-go areas.
There are many specialty stands throughout the area that take the culinary experience to the next level. Some of these include Cherry Street BBQ, Chingchein Rice Dog, Kibo Sushi, Hogtown Gourmet Hot Dogs, Hot Stove Carve, Molson Canadian Brewhouse, Pizza Pizza, The Poutinerie, St. Patties, Tim Hortons, and Wicked Carib. There are also a number of premium dining experiences, as well as six different bars. Overall, it seems that there is little a fan could want that is not on the menu.
Atmosphere 5
What is the actual front of Scotiabank Arena is not recognized by most. Although the Bay Street address brings fans to the concrete and glass exterior, keeping the traditional Toronto Postal Building facade, it is the opposite side that draws fans in. Maple Leaf Square, on the west side of the building, is the perfect pregame meeting place and is the location of the trend-setting Jurassic Park, which is full of fans watching on the massive exterior videoboard on the facade.
The iconic “Search Light, Star Light, Spot Light” sculpture, which was part of the old Air Canada Centre logo, is a focal point in Maple Leaf Square and gives the arena a unique, artistic look. Legends Row, a series of bronze statues of Toronto Maple Leaf legends, is among the top spots at Scotiabank Arena for photos.
The Scotiabank Arena has benefited from a recent renovation. The lower-level concourse was a focus for this round. LED ribbon boards and a refresh of the concourse improve the cleanliness of the arena. At Gate 5, a new production area for the pregame show, Gate 5 Live has been completed, and the Union Station gate now has an innovative LED ceiling for fans to marvel at as they enter.
The concourse does have a modern, fresh look; however, the tunnel entries to the seating bowl, which used to feature a variety of pictures of important Scotiabank Arena moments, have been replaced with a benign, uniform mosaic consistent with the Scotiabank Arena brand. The most recent renovation also included a revamping of the 500 and 600-level suites. Up next is the 300-level concourse, amongst other changes.
The full renovation rundown can be found on the Scotiabank Arena website. Highlights for Raptors fans in the main concourse are the Vince Carter collage, along with the Raptor Windmill Dunk bronze statue in a glass case commemorating the iconic Slam Dunk Contest Dunk from the 2000 event.
The seating bowl is two-tiered, and although fans are bombarded with Maple Leafs nostalgia, there are a couple of Toronto Raptors nods. The court is east-west oriented, and the spot to get that perfect centre court logo picture is from the south. A huge, yet not overwhelming, state-of-the-art video board hangs above centre court. Raptors banners hang in the centre of the arena with Atlantic Division Champions, 2019 Conference Champions, and 2019 World Champions banners to the west and the retired number 15 of Vince Carter to the east.
The gameday production at a Raptors game is what one would expect for a current NBA game. It is a constant sensory overload. There is pretty much no downtime during stoppages in play. Toronto’s mascot, The Raptor, takes part in the pregame introductions, signalling the opening tip with the beating of a large Raptors drum, waving flags, and taking part in promotions.
The in-house DJ, 4Corners, sets up in the west end and plays music throughout the game and stoppages. The Northside Crew, one of the first diverse dance groups in the NBA, performs during the pregame and throughout the game. It is probably not possible for the Toronto Raptors to pack anything else into the time from pregame to the final buzzer.
Neighbourhood 5
Scotiabank Arena has a prime location that is among the best in the NBA. Scotiabank Arena is located right in the heart of the excitement in Toronto, one of the top tourist cities in North America. Toronto is a vastly cosmopolitan city that offers just about anything that visitors could want.
The restaurant scene in Toronto is fantastic, and there are a multitude of pre and post-game spots for food and drink within mere steps of Scotiabank Arena. Real Sports is located right in Maple Leaf Square, as is e11even. The Loose Moose, The Fox, Miller Tavern, Taverna Mercatto, and Kellys Landing, to name a few, are all great options that are within walking distance. A unique dining experience fans could choose to partake in is at the top of the CN Tower, which features excellent food and the best view of the city.
Toronto is also a sports fan haven, offering a ton of other sporting options. Scotiabank Arena is shared with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and just down the road is Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays. Heading west along Lakeshore Blvd. will bring fans to Exhibition Place, which has BMO Field and Coca-Cola Coliseum on the grounds. These are the homes of the Toronto Argonauts, Toronto FC, Toronto Sceptres and Toronto Marlies.
A pilgrimage to the old Maple Leaf Gardens may be of interest. The hockey and basketball teams of Toronto Metropolitan University can be found here. Just north is the University of Toronto, where the Varsity Blues have a variety of athletic teams, including hockey, basketball, and football.
There are plenty of other tourist destinations in the immediate area. The CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium are worth checking out. The Eaton Centre is an iconic Toronto shopping destination, and there are always events going on at Harbourfront. A trip to see the hallowed Hockey Hall of Fame is also a must when in Toronto. Just a few blocks from Scotiabank Arena, it is arguably as good as Cooperstown and warrants multiple trips.
For fans wishing to stay near the Scotiabank Arena, the Westin Harbour Castle is close. However, any downtown option will be on the pricey side.
Fans 5
For the 2025-26 season, the Raptors have averaged 18,700 fans per game and rank 11th in the NBA. Toronto had similar attendance figures in the previous season. Attendance was a little better during the winning seasons, but there is not too much wiggle room here. The crowd at a Raptors game is significantly more vocal than a Maple Leafs crowd. However, the ever-increasing cost of attending a game has left some seats empty in the lower bowl.
Access 4
Getting to the Scotiabank Arena by car will force fans to traverse the Toronto traffic, which can be a real challenge. The Lakeshore is quite far from Highway 401 in the north, so using Lakeshore Blvd or the Gardiner Expressway to travel east or west along the lake will be required. There are plenty of parking options around, which can be found for $20 or more.
The real travesty is that the City of Toronto has not taken any lessons from other cities when events are put on. Upon exiting Scotiabank Arena, Toronto Police are not present to aid in the movement of traffic, leaving drivers on their own to get out of downtown. On the plus side, public transit downtown is very good. Union Station is attached to the Scotiabank Arena. TTC subways and GO Transit trains, along with Via Rail trains, can be found here. Fans should check the TTC or GO Transit websites for maps, fares, and schedules.
Getting around the Scotiabank Arena is not difficult; however, fans need to keep in mind that there is rarely less than a full house in the arena, and intermissions will be congested. Washroom facilities are more than adequate, but will have lineups during intermissions as well.
With security protocols and procedures in constant flux, Stadium Journey strongly suggests visiting the Toronto Raptors and Scotiabank Arena websites for the most up-to-date security information before heading to the arena.
Return on Investment 3
Toronto Raptors tickets begin at $68 for standing room in the upper deck. There are some seats in the upper deck for just under $100, making affordability just about as much of a concern for a Raptors game as it is for a Maple Leafs game. Parking can be found for $25, and concessions, although high quality and variety, are on the expensive side. The return is excellent at a Raptors game, but the investment is now significant.
Extras 3
An extra mark for Toronto’s claim to the very first NBA game, which was played at Maple Leaf Gardens with the Toronto Huskies and New York Knicks in 1946.
An extra mark for Toronto’s celebrity factor, where Nav Bhatia has become a local celebrity sitting courtside for every game since day one. Fans may also get a glimpse of Drake, who often sits near the Raptors bench.
An extra mark for Herbie Kuhn, the PA announcer, who has been with the Raptors since the SkyDome days and brings energy and excitement to the experience.
Final Thoughts
The Toronto Raptors find themselves back in contention in the Eastern Conference. Even when they were in the midst of their rebuild, the Raptors put together one of the elite NBA experiences at Scotiabank Arena, one that fans should not miss out on.
Comments