TORONTO — Just in time for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ home opener for the 2023-’24 season, and ahead of the Scotiabank Arena’s 25th anniversary celebration in February, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) has unveiled its Scotiabank Arena Venue Re-imagination project, an investment of more than $350 million to further enhance the best-in-class sports-and-entertainment destination for the future. The comprehensive multi-phase renovations will feature capital improvements to almost all areas within the venue including concourses, suites, premium clubs, retail spaces, food-and-beverage offerings, state-of-the-art technological innovations and more.
Scotiabank Arena underwent extensive renovations this summer to re-model the venue’s 200 Level Mastercard Executive Suites, along with state-of-the-art technology upgrades in the concourses for a pilot program designed to revolutionize fans’ food-and-beverage experience. This summer’s renovations, and plans for a re-modelling of the 100 Level concourse in 2024, were both unveiled yesterday at a media conference, where media was treated to a Re-imagination tour.
“For 25 years, Scotiabank Arena has been the heartbeat of this city and has established itself as one of the top venues in the world, hosting many of the biggest events in sports and entertainment and creating countless memories,” said Cynthia Devine, interim president & CEO, MLSE. “This investment by MLSE’s owners is another important example of their commitment to further building on Scotiabank Arena’s global reputation as well as a commitment to our teams, employees, and most importantly, to our fans.”
The Scotiabank Arena Venue Re-imagination project is being completed in collaboration with Brisbin, Brook, Beynon Architects, DesignAgency, owner’s representative firm CAA ICON and PCL Construction. Brisbin, Brook, Beynon Architects and PCL Construction originally led the design and construction of the venue which opened in February 1999.
Summer 2023 Activities
This summer, the Venue Re-imagination project fully upgraded Scotiabank Arena’s premium spaces on the 200 Level Mastercard Executive Suites and added state-of-the-art technology in select locations in the concourses to revolutionize fans’ concession experience. Additional features include:
• An all-new Mastercard Lounge – a first-of-its-kind shared members space overlooking the bowl from the south-west corner of the 200 Level with a premium viewing and dining experience. The space features a modern ambiance as well as all-inclusive dining and an interactive Chef’s Table, inspired by a daily menu of Canada’s most premium ingredients created by Michelin Star-trained chefs.
• A complete floor to ceiling re-model of all Mastercard Executive Suites with new high-end finishes, stone accents, enhanced in-suite technology, convertible accessible seating and vaulted ceilings to expand the viewing area of the bowl.
• The addition of two concession marketplaces with Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. Scotiabank Arena is one of the first Canadian venues with this technology — and the first in Canada to offer two concessions with the technology — which was developed using artificial intelligence including generative AI, as well as computer vision and deep-learning techniques. Grains and Greens (100 Level) and Molson Market (300 Level) have eliminated checkout lines for an effortless experience. Fans enter the marketplaces using their credit card at the entry gate, and the technology detects what fans take from or return to the shelves and creates a virtual shopping session. When fans complete their shopping experience, they leave the store without waiting in line. Their payment of choice is automatically charged.
A preliminary phase for the Scotiabank Arena Venue Re-imagination project began in 2019 with the addition of a new 2,200 sq. ft. LED videoboard from LG Electronics on the west side of the building to enhance the fan viewing experience in Maple Leaf Square; two additional largescale screens in the Galleria; unique LED colour changing arena signage; and a full renovation of Real Sports, one of the city’s favourite sports and entertainment dining venues.
Summer 2024 Plans
Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 Maple Leafs’ and Raptors’ seasons, the building will undergo an all-encompassing design makeover of the 100 Level concourse, along with the construction of new innovative spaces within the walls of the arena. Features include:
• Full renovation of the 100 Level concourse with a new contemporary and fan-friendly design. The concourse design will be dynamic with screens, beacons and hubs that transform to fit the look, feel and energy of the event within it.
• Modernized concession stands, transforming eight kiosks into grab-and-go style markets. The frictionless experience will be complemented with traditional counter service enabling fans to transact faster, spend less time waiting in lines and more time enjoying the event. These markets will feature fresh local food offerings representing the rich diversity of the city alongside arena staples and favourites.
•The expansion of Real Sports apparel with an additional retail store on the 100 Level concourse for an extended sports merchandise and fan shopping experience.
•Refreshed Hot Stove restaurant on the 200 Level including a new dedicated entrance from the second floor of the Galleria directly into the steakhouse’s front lounge. Hot Stove offers a contemporary steakhouse design that seamlessly blends with its historic charm and is open to all ticket holders for pre-event and event dining.
• An all-new Tunnel Club on Event Level where members become part of the action as they get an exclusive up-close view of players entering the bowl from the locker room while they dine in Scotiabank Arena’s newest premium restaurant. This club will feature high-end design and finishes steps away from their seats.
•Re-designed Gate 6 broadcast studio to enhance the viewing experience for fans at home.
Future Vision
Looking ahead at the multi-phase Scotiabank Arena Venue Re-imagination, future years will include enhancements to additional fan-facing spaces as well as back-of-house artist and athlete areas to continue to position Scotiabank Arena as a top-ranked live events venue. Some of the upcoming venue updates include a complete design re-invigoration of the 300 Level concourse in line with 100 Level design and the addition of dedicated artist and talent spaces for a premium backstage experience, with more improvements to be announced at a later date.
“From concourse innovations, to premium space design, to the storied art on our walls, it was crucial to us to ensure this Scotiabank Arena Venue Re-imagination featured improvements that all fans can benefit from,” said Nick Eaves, Chief Venues & Operations Officer, MLSE. “Beginning with the momentum from the renovations made this past summer, we look forward to unveiling to fans the best-in-class design, technology and overall atmosphere enhancements over the course of this multi-phased project that take our fans’ sports and entertainment experience to even greater heights.”
To view a video of Scotiabank Arena’s new technology, click here.
