Scotiabank Arena stands at 40 Bay Street in the heart of downtown Toronto, serving as the home of two of Canada’s most storied professional sports franchises: the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. Originally opened on February 19, 1999, as the Air Canada Centre, the 665,000-square-foot facility was renamed Scotiabank Arena in July 2018 following a long-term naming rights agreement with the Bank of Nova Scotia. With seating for up to 19,800 fans for basketball and 18,819 for hockey, it consistently ranks among the busiest arenas in North America.
The arena carries an unexpected piece of history beneath its modern exterior—its Art Deco Queenston limestone facade was preserved from the original 1941 postal delivery building that once occupied the site. Since opening, Scotiabank Arena has hosted more than 2,600 events attended by over 39 million fans and earned more than 40 industry awards. Landmark moments include the 2016 NBA All-Star Game—the first ever held outside the United States—and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2017 Invictus Games.
Stats at a Glance
- Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) & Toronto Raptors (NBA)
- Location: 40 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Opened: February 19, 1999
- Former Name: Air Canada Centre (1999–2018)
- Hockey Capacity: 18,819 (20,270 with standing room)
- Basketball Capacity: 19,800 (20,511 with standing room)
- Size: 665,000 sq ft
- Construction Cost: CA$265 million
From Postal Hub to Sports Cathedral
The story of Scotiabank Arena begins not with a puck drop but with a postmark. The venue was constructed on the site of Toronto’s historic Canada Post Delivery Building, and rather than demolish the 1941 Art Deco structure entirely, developers incorporated its distinctive Queenston limestone facade into the new arena’s exterior—a striking example of facadism that gives the building a character unique among modern sports venues.
Designed by Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects with HOK Sport as consulting architect, the arena opened in February 1999 at a cost of approximately CA$265 million. Inside, the concourse features ‘Legends Row,’ a collection of 14 life-sized bronze statues honoring iconic Toronto Maple Leafs players, offering fans a tangible connection to the franchise’s deep history before they even reach their seats.
Record-Breaking Events and Iconic Performances
Scotiabank Arena has been the stage for some of North America’s most significant sporting occasions. In 2016 it hosted both the NHL World Cup of Hockey and the NBA All-Star Game—the first All-Star Weekend ever held outside the United States—cementing Toronto’s status as a world-class sports city. The 2017 Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry to celebrate the achievements of wounded service members, chose the arena for its opening and closing ceremonies.
Beyond sports, the venue has built a legendary concert reputation through its ICONS program, which has inducted artists including U2, Madonna, Bon Jovi, and The Tragically Hip in recognition of their history-making performances at the arena. In June 2021, the building briefly pivoted to a different kind of record, hosting a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic that set a North American single-site daily record with approximately 26,771 doses administered.
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Scotiabank Arena FAQs
What teams play at Scotiabank Arena?
Scotiabank Arena is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and the Toronto Raptors (NBA). The Toronto Marlies (AHL) and Raptors 905 (NBA G League) also play occasional games at the venue.
What was Scotiabank Arena called before it was renamed?
The arena opened in 1999 as the Air Canada Centre and operated under that name until July 1, 2018, when it was renamed Scotiabank Arena following a naming rights deal with the Bank of Nova Scotia.
What is the seating capacity of Scotiabank Arena?
Capacity varies by event. For NHL hockey it seats 18,819 (up to 20,270 with standing room), and for NBA basketball it seats 19,800 (up to 20,511 with standing room). Concert configurations can also reach around 19,800.
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Photo: Adam Bishop / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.