Air Canada Centre, Toronto

2 more images

ACC, as it is popularly known, can easily be reached by getting off at the Union Station. It is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors. The arena hosted the 2000 NHL All-Star Game and the World Cup of Hockey in 2004.

Air Canada Centre is not only for sports fan. There are also concerts of the most famous stars of all time like Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi to name a few. There are also theatre concerts, Broadway and family shows and other events that are regularly performed in this venue.

ACC has a first class amenities that made it a sought after destination. Pay ACC a visit. I can assure you, it will be one of your amazing experiences.

Have fun!

1 more image

The Air Canada Centre, s a multi-purpose arena located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association, and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League. It was also home to the Toronto Phantoms of the Arena Football League during their brief existence.

An early nickname for the venue was "The Hangar" due to the corporate sponsor of the arena, Air Canada. However this name was never quite adopted by the general public. The Air Canada Centre is most commonly referred to as simply "The ACC" and has been referenced as such on the official Air Canada Centre website. It is located just south of Union Station

Toronto's newest sports and entertainment complex is home to the Maple Leafs (hockey) and the Raptors (basketball). Longtime fans were crushed when the Leafs moved here in 1999 from Maple Leaf Gardens -- the arena that had housed the team since 1931 -- but the Air Canada Centre has quickly become a fan favorite. Seating 18,700 for hockey, 19,500 for basketball, and 20,000 for concerts, the center was designed with comfort in mind. Seating is on a steeper-than-usual grade so that even the "nosebleed" sections have decent sightlines, and the seats are wider . . . and upholstered. If you want to take the one-hour tour of the complex, it's imperative to call ahead -- not because it's hard to get a ticket, but because tours are canceled because of events.

Tours on the hour daily 11am-3pm. Call ahead; no tours during events. Tours C$12 (US$9.60) adults, C$10 (US$8) seniors and students with ID, C$8 (US$6.40) children 12 and under

The Air Canada Centre is a new exhibition building in Toronto. It has many events including sport and shows. One suggestion, is to visit their calendar:

Air Canada Centre Calendar

to see what is showing.

One night a few of us went to see The Raptors vs. Boston Celtics. We got very cheap seats up in the lofts and it was a really entertaining match. Brush with Authority #2 ! - When you go to you seats these guys grab your bag and tip the contents into a bin so no yum Figs for me - nasty :(

Back to the 'Game' .. it was close, but the best fun was at the intervals when various things happened. Like Baby Races. Like Getting 3 Tiles in Row. Only on this night could such a simple game go badly wrong. Somehow both guys screwed up and it was a draw(?!) heheee...

1 more image

I havn't actually been in the Air Canada Centre but I've seen it from the CN Tower and I thought I should add it as a tip because if your not familiar with Toronto or Canada but want to attend a sporting event it will probably be here.

This building is home to the famous Toronto Maple Leafs [http://www.mapleleafs.com] and the NBA Toronto Rapters [http://www.nba.com/raptors] as well as the Toronto Rock [http://www.torontorock.com] the Lacrosse team. I want to attend an NBA game at some point so it will probably be in Toronto. You will often hear debate about Canada's National Sport. Hockey versus Lacrosse? Turns out their both right!

On May 12, 1994, the following Bill C-212 received Royal Assent and became law: "To recognize Hockey as Canada's National Winter Sport and Lacrosse as Canada's National Summer Sport."

This decree is known as Canada's "National Sport Act".The recognition of Lacrosse as Canada's National (Summer) Sport in 1994 is a re-affirmation of the importance of the contributions of the Native North Americans to the development of our society and culture, recognition by the Canadian government of the importance of the sport to this country and confirms our pride in the game that we gave to the world

Ok, let me set this straight... I love artwork just as much as the next person and especially the expressive style that allows one to interpret as their eyes see it. But I have to wonder what symbolism the artwork in front of the Air Canada Centre is supposed to represent. Perhaps I'm thinking of it from a marketing perspective or maybe as "naming rights" go, it was there before (don't get me started on naming rights.... @^&*#%~!). I'm sure some Torontotonian (what DO you call someone from Toronto?) like CdnJane can explain...

Anyhoo, my point is this... the twisted steel artwork in front of the center reminds me of the remnants of an airplane crash and I wonder how this benefits Canada Air? Let it be known that I have a weird eye and even more weird sense of humor, but this was my very thought as soon as I saw it! I couldn't believe it! Gasp! What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Yankee go Home?

Known as ACC or the Hanger
Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey) and the Toronto Raptors (basketball) and Toronto Rock, the local Lacrosse team. Catch a game by these teams depending on time of year. Buy team souvenirs in the Sports Centre. Have your picture taken with the moose outside, dressed as members of the teams!
It's also the venue for major concert and other events.
Tours are on the hour from 11-3pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays from September to June and daily July to September with extended hours. Admission is $12 for Adults, children 12 and under $8. Students with valid ID can get in for $10.
If you fancy a brew while visiting there's an inhouse brewery, Rickards Brewery where you can enjoy a pint of Rickard's Red, Gold or Pale which is brewed on site.

Well, I know Canada is a Hockey country and that the Raptors are one of the, how should I put it, more modest NBA teams, but still you must see a Raptors game.

I used to play basketball when I was younger and I followed the NBA for some time, so when I knew I was going to Toronto, I immediately went online and bought a couple of tickets for the Raptors-Celtics game and was not dissapointed. The fact it was the game in which the Raptors set a new maximum for 3-pointers (17 out of 24!) also helped.
My girlfriend who is absolutely not interested in sports was extremely amused. The place was almost packed, with 18552 spectators (I still have the picture).

We liked it so much we went back a few days later and saw the Raptors take on the Atlanta Hawks.

It is easier to find tickets for basket than for Hockey, although you should always make sure you get them in time.

If you're a sports fan, The Air Canada Centre would be an interesting place for you to visit because all the Toronto Maple Leaf and Raptor games are held there. They used to be held at Maple Leaf Gardens, but they moved a few years ago. This is a brand new building, and it was opened up on February 20, 1999 when the Toronto Maple Leafs hoested the Montreal Canadians. This arena can seat up to 18,800 people for hockey games, and 9,800 for basketball games.
The Air Canada centre is only a short walk from the CN Tower and the Sky Dome.

If you get the chance, you should go down to the notorious Air Canada Centre where the Toronto Maple Leafs play NHL hockey. I'm a huge hockey myself, so I can appreciate the "aura" of the old building. :)