Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre - Scarborough Shooting Stars
- Dave Cottenie
- 18 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
875 Morningside Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M1C 0C7
Year Opened: 2014
Capacity: 2000
One Time for the Endsss
“The Ends” is a slang term used to refer to one’s home. In Southern Ontario it is often used to refer to Scarborough, the easternmost borough of Toronto. Scarborough has produced a number of famous people including The Weeknd, Mike Myers and the Barenaked Ladies. When it comes to sports, Scarborough is usually forgotten as just being east of everything that is interesting. In 2021 Niko Carino and Sam Ibrahim set out to change that with an expansion team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Drake’s partner in founding OVO and a Scarborough businessman respectively brought the Shooting Stars to the east end with a specifically Scarborough identity rather than the typical Toronto identity. There was now a basketball team for the Endsss, the triple-s referring to the Scarborough Shooting Stars.
The home for the Scarborough Shooting Stars is the fieldhouse in the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The TPASC opened in 2014 and hosted fencing, diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and modern pentathlon for the 2015 Pan American Games. The facility is a partnership between the City of Toronto and University of Toronto Scarborough, whose campus is adjacent to the facility. The fieldhouse has a seated capacity of 2,000 for basketball.
Food & Beverage 3
The concession options at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre are fairly simple. There are two main concession stands; one on the upper level and one on the court level. Hot dogs, pizza and Jamaican beef patties are the main items available with smaller snack items also available. Coca-Cola products are available in bottles along with water and juice. Beer, wine and seltzers are there for those wishing an alcoholic beverage, with a very limited selection. There is a Tim Hortons and Pizza Pizza in the lobby with some crossover operating hours. However, the lobby is outside the ticketing area and “outside food” is not permitted. Vending machines are also in the lobby and hall.
Atmosphere 3
The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre has an attractive exterior with grey panelling and yellow highlights. The main entrance for basketball is on the east side of the building across from Pan Am Drive. The other entrances will actually be unavailable during Stars games. Above the canopy of the main entrance is a model of Pachi the Porcupine, the mascot from the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games.
Upon entry, fans are brought into a huge atrium. There are a variety of facilities at the TPASC including multiple swimming and diving facilities. Above the information desk, the mantra of the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is spelled out and in the hallway a display of Olympians and Paralymians from the TPASC can be found. There is also a display for the University of Toronto Scarborough’s athletic teams as well as the school also uses this facility. A line will form at the point of entry for the fieldhouse, where the Shooting Stars play.
Inside the fieldhouse, the court is south-north oriented with the best view of the centre court logo from the east. Fans enter from the upper level, which is also the running track. There are plenty of partitions around which shrink the size of the facility and create private boxes. Seating is on the east and west side of the court and consists of retractable bleachers with plastic benches with backs. A pair of courtside rows are placed around the court as well and are far more comfortable seats. The facility is more akin to a USports basketball venue rather than an OHL venue like the other Ontario teams play in. On the north side, the 2023 CEBL Championship banner hangs as well as a huge banner with the slogan “One Time For The Endsss.” Above the boxes on the south side is a small video board, which pairs with traditional score clocks on the east and west side. Translucent windows at the top of the west side allow in some natural light.
The gameday production at a Stars game is decent, however there are restrictions compared to the other Ontario CEBL teams. There are no fireworks or pyro. It is assumed that it is not appropriate due to the facility. The in-game host keeps the production moving and facilitates on court promotions. The Shooting Stars’ mascot, Endssso, interacts with fans and participates in the promotions. Music is a big part of the production, but is overwhelming. All seats have a close proximity to the court and the sounds of the game are inaudible due to the constant stream of music played throughout the game. More balance is needed as, at times, it seems that the product on the court is secondary to everything else.
Neighbourhood 4
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is located in the Highland Creek neighbourhood of Scarborough on the east side of Toronto. Scarborough is east of Downtown Toronto and there are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink. Some options include Zak’s Bar and Grill, Local Grill House, 1265 Bistro as well as a number of fast food options and large chains.
Toronto has a huge number of sporting options. In Scarborough, the Toronto Beaches of the OJLL are also found. Heading west to Downtown will bring fans to all of the traditional teams including the Blue Jays, Raptors, Maple Leafs , Argonauts, Toronto FC, Tempo, Sceptres and Marlies. The CBL Maple Leafs have a similar seasonal schedule to the Stars. The main University of Toronto campus is where football, basketball and hockey is played and is not far from Toronto Metropolitan University basketball and hockey.
There are plenty of other tourist options. The Toronto Zoo is in Scarborough. Other spots close by include the Scarborough Museum, Scarborough Bluffs and Rosetta McClain Gardens. 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 TPASC, 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 4
The Scarborough Shooting Stars have enjoyed a decent following relative to the size of their venue. With the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre as the smallest venue in the CEBL, the Shooting Stars have averaged a near capacity crowd for the season, at the time of writing. The Shooting Stars averaged 1,886 fans per game in the 2026 season, an increase of 28% from the 2025 average of 1,474. In the 2026 season the Shooting Stars ranked 7th in the ten team CEBL in attendance, up from 9th the previous season. The game that was reviewed had over 2,300 fans in attendance. The fans in attendance are supportive and knowledgeable and make a sufficient amount of noise at the appropriate times.
Access 3
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is located in the Highland Creek neighbourhood of Scarborough on the east side of Toronto. It is on the southeast corner of Morningside Ave and Pan Am Dr. It is just ½ km from Highway 401 so driving through Scarborough will not be too arduous. However, Highway 401 is one of the most travelled highways in the world and the Toronto corridor can get extremely congested. Fans driving to the game should ensure they have plenty of time to get to the facility.
There are a number of parking facilities surrounding the TPASC. They are marked as pay facilities, however, on the day of this review, paying for parking was not necessary. THe TPASC is also a very busy facility with plenty of other activities so parking can fill up. For fans wishing to take public transit there are buses that run along Morningside Ave and Military Trail Fans should consult the TTC website for fares, maps and schedules.
Getting around TPASC is not too difficult, however there are a couple of issues. There is a single entrance to the ticketing area. With over 2,000 fans in attendance, the line to get in before the game is quite significant. Once the gates open, it does move fairly quickly. The fieldhouse is also not the most comfortable with the retractable bleachers, not on par with the other Ontario CEBL teams. More expensive seating offers more comfort. Washroom facilities are good for the venue.
Security protocols are not an issue for Scarborough Shooting Stars games. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is generally a cash-free venue.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for the Scarborough Shooting Stars are very reasonable. Regular tickets are $25. Standing room can be had for less and courtside for more. Concessions, although limited, are decently priced and parking will be free or have a nominal cost. The product on the court is strong and the “Elam Ending” featured by the CEBL makes the end of the game more exciting than a traditional basketball game. The music is a little over the top and does take away a bit from the full experience.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the use of a legacy venue from the 2015 Pan Am games.
An extra mark for the CEBL “Elam Ending” which produces a target score with 4 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.
Final Thoughts
The Scarborough Shooting Stars have brought basketball to The Ends and have enjoyed success on the court and at the turnstile. It is good to see a continued, competitive use for a legacy venue from the 2015 Pan Am Games and a team the east end of Toronto can call their own.
