Situated close to the CN Tower, the theatre district, restaurants, and two main transportation arteries, the Air Canada Centre is located in the heart of Toronto. Since opening in 1999, the facility has re-energized the area known as the Railway Lands East, and provides an ideal link between downtown and Harbourfront (one of the cities most popular tourist attractions).
Year Opened: 1999
Capacity: 19,800 (basketball), 18,800 (hockey)
Architect: Brisbin Brook, Benyon
Web Site: theairacanadacentre.com
Phone: 416/815-5500
Anchor Tenants: Toronto Raptors (NBA) / Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) / Toronto Rock (NLL)
Parking: Plenty of parking surrounds the arena.
Address/Directions: 40 Bay St., Toronto, ON M5J 2X2. From the East: Take Hwy 401 West to Don Valley Parkway South/Downtown (Exit 375). Take the Don Valley Parkway to the end. Don Valley Parkway becomes the Gardiner Expressway West (merge right). Exit the Gardiner Expressway West at Yonge Street / Hwy 11 (Exit towards Hwy 11A / Bay St / York St / Toronto Island / Harbourfront. Keep left at fork in ramp. Stay straight to go onto Lakeshore Blvd East. Turn right onto Bay St. From the West (London): Hwy 401 East to Renforth Dr / Hwy 427 / Airport Exit. Take Hwy 427 South, exit towards the QEW. Take the Gardiner Expressway East (exit on the left). Exit the Gardiner East at Hwy 11A / York St / Bay St exit towards Hwy 11 / Yonge St. Go North on York St. The arena is at the 3rd set of lights to your right. From the West (Hamilton): Take the QEW East towards Toronto. The QEW becomes the Gardiner Expressway East. Exit the Gardiner East at Hwy 11A / York St / Bay St exit towards Hwy 11 / Yonge St. Go North on York St. The arena is at the 3rd set of lights to your right.
History
Situated close to the CN Tower, the theatre district, restaurants, and two main transportation arteries, the Air Canada Centre is located in the heart of Toronto. Since opening in 1999, the facility has re-energized the area known as the Railway Lands East, and provides an ideal link between downtown and Harbourfront (one of the cities most popular tourist attractions).
Serving as home to the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), and the Toronto Rock (NLL), the arena was entirely privately funded. The Air Canada Centre is built on the site of the Canada Post Delivery Building and utilizes its original east and south walls.
NHL Players chose the facility as “Favorite Arena.”
