Facts

Air Canada Centre is Canada's premiere sports and entertainment venue.
Location: 40 Bay Street, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2X2

Owner: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE)

Size: 665,000 square foot sports and entertainment complex

The Neighbourhood: Located in the heart of the city, Air Canada Centre is close to the CN Tower, the theatre district, restaurants, 15 major hotels, shopping, and two main transportation arteries: the Gardiner Expressway and Union Station that services the Toronto Transit Commission and GO Transit system. The facility has revitalized the area known as the Railway Lands East.

Air Canada Centre provides an excellent link between the downtown core and Harbourfront, one of Toronto's major tourist attractions.

Home Teams:

Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) Toronto Raptors Basketball Club of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Toronto Rock Lacrosse of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Groundbreaking: February 1997 Opening Hockey Game: February 20, 1999 (Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens) Opening Basketball Game: February 21, 1999 (Toronto Raptors vs. Vancouver Grizzlies) Seating Capacity: Basketball 19,800 seats Hockey 18,800 seats Full house concerts 19,800 seats Theatre 5,200 seats Featuring: 1020 Club Seats 40 Platinum Lounges (unique to a North American venue) 65 Executive Suites 32 Theatre Suites 16 Loge Suites (2nd and 3rd level loges) Three Group Sales Areas, including a 200-seat gondola Seats throughout the facility are 19" and 20" and fully upholstered. Seat Distance: (direct line of sight in basketball mode) Sideline to last seat upper deck: 165ft (50.29m) Baseline to last seat 3rd balcony: 167ft (50.90m) Accessibility: The arena is user-friendly, providing one per cent of fixed seating for the disabled and their companions. Accessible seating areas are strategically located throughout the building, providing maximum flexibility and pricing selection. Among other features, all public washrooms are wheelchair accessible with accommodating counter heights and lower urinals with grab bars. Food and beverage service counters are lowered to accessible service heights. Arena Usage: Basketball, hockey, arena football, lacrosse, concerts, family shows, skating events, corporate trade shows, circuses, and various sporting and community events and private functions. Restaurants: Themed concession stands, unique restaurants and kiosks offer a diverse food and beverage program, capturing the multicultural flavour of Toronto. The venue boasts three restaurants: the Air Canada Club, with a view of the arena, the Platinum Club, for fine dining, and the Hot Stove Club, a tradition transferred from Maple Leaf Gardens, as well as two bars, Ice Box and Lord Stanley's Mug, and a Molson brewery within the facility. In-House Brewery: Air Canada Centre is one of only two sports arenas in Canada to house a Rickards Brewhouse. Rickard's Red, Gold and Pale are brewed on site and served right here in Air Canada Centre. Parking and Transportation: There are ample parking spaces within immediate walking distance of the arena. In addition, the arena is just a two-minute walk from Union Station with the GO Transit system of commuter trains as well as Toronto's world-renowned TTC subway system. Technology: The state-of-the-art BOSE sound system, worth more than $1-million, provides fans with exceptional sound quality. Scoreboard: In 2008 an $8-million, 17-screen high-definition video scoreboard, measuring 10 feet high by 17 feet wide and made by Mitsubishi Electric was installed in the arena. Rogers Media Centre: The Rogers Media Centre, located on the event level of Air Canada Centre, is a top-of-the-line facility providing up-to-the-minute sports and news information. These feature access to sports, news, and events from around the world; up-to-the-minute Sports Ticker; computer and high-speed Internet access with on-line statistical information. Ice Rink Conversion Time: Four to six hours, from basketball mode to full hockey set-up. Ice Surface Quality: Ice rink meets all professional safety standards suitable for professional hockey, figure skating, ice shows and mass-audience events (with ice deck).  In recent years Air Canada Centre has installed a state-of-the-art dehumidification system which enables Air Canada Centre to maintain NHL mandated building conditions for NHL hockey.  Additionally, we utilize a Reverse Osmosis water filtration system and fine mist spray ice-making technology to provide the best possible ice surface. Ice rink measures: 85' by 200' Ice Making Technology: Refrigeration Plant: CIMCO Lewis System Purification: Jet Ice Dasher Board System: Ice Pro System Ice Surface Management: Two Zambonis, stored-in-house Hockey Surface Sub-Contractor: CIMCO Lewis Ice System Signage Considerations: Rotating (30-second intervals) signage synchronized with scoreboard, 200 level, and fixed dasher board signage. adidas Raptors Practice Court: One of eleven teams in the NBA to have their own practice court built in the arena (Washington, Phoenix, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, Indiana, Houston, Memphis and Minnesota). Features include an NBA-size regulation court, training facility, and a scoreboard complete with shot clocks on both basketball nets. Television Broadcast: Air Canada Centre staff worked closely with Dome Productions, CBC and other broadcasters to ensure that Air Canada Centre's broadcast capabilities would meet world-class standards for broadcast. Galleria: Running in an east-west direction, just south of the GO train tracks, the Galleria is a public thoroughfare located at the north end of Air Canada Centre. It is a covered, climate-controlled walkway that houses the ticket office, food court and CentreSports retail shop. In addition, a historical display of artifacts from the original Canada Post Delivery Building and its site is a prominent feature. Nearly 60 per cent of guests enter Air Canada Centre through Gate 1, located in the Galleria. PATH Walkway System: Air Canada Centre is connected to the well-known PATH system, providing covered access to the downtown core. PATH reaches as far north as Dundas Street. Two grade-level connections, referred to as the Bay West Teamway and the Blue Route provide convenient access from Union Station to the Galleria, a climate-controlled public square with retailing and food opportunities. Family Fan Considerations: Air Canada Centre is considerate of fans of all ages. There are baby change tables in all washrooms, as well as smaller urinals for children. The arena's accessibility from major public transportation arteries makes it fan-friendly to families. Multiple location ATM machines, phones and water fountains are located throughout the facility.