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Basketball
Arena Vitals
Opened: February 20, 1999
Capacity: 19,300 seats
Mascot: The Raptor
Dance Team:
Dance Pak
Team Chant: Let's Go RAP-Tors!
Lg
Draft Beer: $12.39
Hot Dog: $4.65 |
Air Canada Centre
Arena Address
40 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5J2X2
416-870-8000
Get Directions
Arena Parking: $21.00 |
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NBA Basketball Arena Review
- Air Canada Centre
 The NBA expanded into Canada in 1995 with the addition of the
Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies to the league. Although the
Grizzlies had a six year run in Vancouver that ended when they moved
to Memphis in 2001, the Toronto Raptors are still going
strong. Toronto, Ontario is a thriving, multi-cultural metropolis
that’s full of sports fans and although the Toronto Maple Leafs are
wildly popular in this ice hockey Mecca, the Toronto Raptors have
carved out a place of their own in the hearts of Torontonians.
My visit to Toronto to watch the Toronto Raptors take on the
Washington Wizards at the Air Canada Centre began early Friday
morning. Coming west into the city from the eastern suburb of Whitby,
Ontario, I knew I’d have the dreaded Torontonian traffic to deal
with. If you find yourself having to travel into the city from any
of the outlying suburbs be sure to allow for extra time as the
highways heading into the city are like parking lots for much of the
day.
 I began with lunch at The Jersey Giant, an excellent little pub
located along Front Street just northwest of the Air Canada Centre.
The Jersey Giant is your typical local bar and restaurant. A
friendly wait staff and a truly exceptional menu await those
interested in some familiar comfort food that’s served in a casual
atmosphere. With everything from your typical pub grub like
shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and great burgers to pasta dishes,
steak or chicken , their menu is well rounded to include a variety
of other options as well. I went with their fresh cut Halibut fish
and chips and a side
of poutine. Poutine is a Canadian staple that originated in
Quebec in the late 1950's. It's a side dish made up of french
fries topped with fresh cheese curds and covered in a brown gravy.
You haven't truly experienced our neighbor to the north until you
downed a plate of poutine. NBA fans will also find that the Jersey Giant is great place to grab a pint of
draft beer and mix it up with some of Toronto’s locals before
heading into the Air Canada Center for a game.
 After the Jersey Giant, I wandered into a few other local pubs to
prepare myself for the evening’s festivities. Visitors to the
Toronto area will want to be sure to check out Flatiron & Firkin for
brew. Situated in the basement of the Flatiron Building which is
located on the narrow wedge between Front Street and Wellington
Street, Flatiron & Firkin is a heavily trafficked pregame haunt for
many of Toronto’s most avid sports fans. Simply take the stairway
down to the lower level to find this quaint, but comfortable local
gem. The pub itself is long and narrow with a few booths located
across from the bar, but the patrons are friendly and there’s always
a fine selection of local drafts. Toward the back of the bar, the
angular construction opens up to allow for more seating space with
additional booths and tables bathed in a traditional décor that adds to
the familiar feel of the place. Seating can be tough at times, so I
highly suggest going early if you’re trying to squeeze in a visit.
In addition to Flatiron & Firkin, I also like to stop in at Scotland Yard, Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, and Hoops Sports Bar and Grill.
 Prior to gametime at the Air Canada Center, the place to be is
comfortably situated in view of the two-story flat screen television
at Real Sports Bar and Grill, located just across the street. Real
Sports was recently declared, “North America’s Best Sports Bar” by
ESPN and its reputation is well deserved. A modern, open area
layout, accented with minimalist sports décor gives Real Sports the
look and feel of an exclusive night club, but the multiple bars
areas, elevated booths, and flatscreen TV’s scream luxury sports
bar. In addition, a winding staircase to the second floor leads
patrons to the balcony level where private parties can be staged for
VIP’s. I was in town during the first weekend of the NCAA March
Madness Basketball tournament so the place was packed, but I was
assured that even during the week, if you’re looking for table at
Real Sports, it’s best to arrive in the early afternoon. The
atmosphere at Real Sports is incredible. A darkened room with
multiple flat screens that flank the largest indoor HDTV in North
America, nicely
compliment an impressive dinner menu that offers a variety of snack
foods and draft beer as well. The energy within the place is
unquestionable as sports fans monitor the latest goings on in the
world of sports attended to by a wait staff of Perfect 10’s. Whether
you’re looking for a pre or post game meal or just a place to grab a
beer among some of the greatest sports fans in southern Ontario,
Real Sports provides a fantastic venue for mingling and immersion
into televised professional sports.
 Gametime came quickly and soon I was headed to the Air Canada Centre
for the Raptors matchup against the Washington Wizards. Stepping
into the main concourse, I immediately noticed how busy and alive
the concourse appeared. Neon-lit signs, walls of glowing
advertisement flatscreens and a variety of concession options tend
to channel
the typical sports fan’s attention in a variety of directions.
Public bars areas like the Molson Canadian Brewhouse were filled
with fans and the diversity of southern Ontario was reflected in the
plethora of food options available. Walking through the concourse
was like perusing a lively restaurant district. Sure the standard
stadium fodder was on hand, but it was accented by gourmet
sandwiches and wraps, massive burritos, fresh sushi, multi-topping
hotdogs, and some exceptional deserts (deep fried smores, funnel
cake fries with ice cream, giant cookies) The Air Canada Centre has
some of the best concessions I’ve seen at an arena anywhere.
 As soon as the game began, a new energy dominated the arena, the
energy of a supportive base of fans looking to inspire a Raptors
victory. With superstar Chris Bosh no longer making his home in the
Toronto area, it’s up to an emerging group of young NBA stars to
carry the torch for Toronto. Led by DeMar DeRozan, Andrea Bargnani,
and Jose Calderon, the Raptors dominated an even younger Washington
Wizards team led by former number one overall pick John Wall.
Wearing green uniforms in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the new look
Raptors outlasted the Wizards by a score of 116-107.
The postgame celebration led me to Gabby’s, a Toronto area chain
that’s more neighborhood bar than cookie cutter franchise. Gabby’s
is a great place to unwind after a game downtown and meet up with
some friends while the Toronto area traffic thins out. They have a
great selection of draft beer and a solid menu of pub foods.
Visiting Toronto is always a good time and hanging with my Canadian
brethren as one of their own is a welcome change, especially as part
of my Roundball RoadTrip.
Go Raptors!
For more information on the city of Toronto, Ontario check out my other
reviews by clicking on the links below:
NBA:
Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre - General Information
NHL: March 19, 2011 - Boston Bruins vs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs, Air Canada Centre -
General Information
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City of Toronto Local Information |
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Top Tourist Attractions:
CN Tower,
Toronto Eaton Centre, Nathan
Phillips Square
Hockey Hall of Fame,
Casa Loma,
Harbourfront
Local Foods:
Poutine (French fries covered in cheese curds & gravy)
Toronto Sausage Vendors "Street Meat" (accented w/ variety of toppings)
Popular
Bar Districts:
Near ACC (Real
Sports Bar & Grille, Hoops Sports Bar & Grille,
The Loose Moose)
Old Town (Flatiron & Firkin, The Jersey Giant, Scotland Yard Pub, Fionn
MacCool’s Irish Pub)
Richmond Street (Club
Cayo Coco,
Lot 332, Circa,
This is London,
Runway
224, Frequency)
Adelaide Street (Courthouse,
Bar 244,
Crocodile Rock)
Yorkville (Club
V,
Babaluu,
Lobby Night Club)
Alleycatz Live Jazz Bar - located on
Youngs Street
Best Restaurants:
360 Restaurant - located at the top of
the CN Tower (Fine dining)
Harbour Sixty Steakhouse
Harbour Sports Grille (waterfront sports bar)
Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant (sports bar)
Gabby's (Pub Grub) |
Fan
Resources:
Pocket Map of Toronto
Metro Rail Map (Subway/RT)
Local Sports Media:
Toronto Star
FAN 590
Where To
Stay:
The
Air Canada Centre is located in the heart of downtown Toronto. If
you're going to a Toronto Raptor's game, you'll want to take full
advantage of what the international metropolis of downtown Toronto has
to offer. With its theatre districts and world class dining, plan
to stay downtown. I recommend The Fairmont Royal York or the
Intercontinental Toronto Centre.
Getting to the Arena:
The Air Canada Centre is located in downtown Toronto with plenty of
parking available in the area. However, Toronto is notorious for its horrible
traffic. Be sure to leave early if you're driving downtown for a
game. You're best bet is probably to take the subway. Take the Yellow Line (Yonge-University-Spedina) to Union
Station which lets you off at a tunnel leading directly into the Air
Canada Centre. |
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Planning Your Next Trip to see the
Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre?
NBABasketballArenas.com can help.
Below you'll find links for cheap Toronto Raptors tickets, arena seating
charts, local weather, hotel, and flight information.
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COMMENTS?
Tell me about your
experience at the Air Canada Centre watching the Toronto Raptors. Please feel free to
post
any suggestions or comments you might have for my journey to
the Air Canada Centre, including the following:
- Local Hotspots (Bar
Districts, Restaurants, Clubs)
- Local Foods (Traditional Cuisine, Micro Brews)
- Your Experiences or Helpful Hints
- If you saw me let me know!
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