Toronto's Scotiabank Arena named one of the worst venues in the entire NHL
But because ticket prices in Toronto are as outrageous as they get in the NHL and, on many nights, it can be a very corporate crowd and fans sit on their hands. Toronto was voted last in both atmosphere and affordability, and it was not particularly close with second-last Vancouver..
Honestly, whenever I've gone to a Leafs game, it always felt like I was attending church service. Even when watching Leafs on tele, atmosphere feels like zero. Only cheering when Leafs score and then back to silence shortly after.
But some people say they experienced the opposite, so maybe they are lucky and
I am unlucky. I don't know.
38 comments
You dont need an article when the Raptors prove this for 41 games during the same time period or when the Jays prove it over the summer.
Need an entire overhaul of the lower bowl, move all the corporate hacks to a 200 level “exclusive zone”
Add in standing room bars like the blue jays and make a “fan section” in the lower bowl
The suits are the problem. I attended a game at Maple Leaf Gardens the year it closed, that place was a million times better as real fans were in the seats.
I think it’s just an easy thing to say and has become cliche. The crowd is often to the level of the on ice effort. I remember during the playoffs LAST YEAR the place was rocking and the media was suggesting it was too much pressure. I have been to other rinks that felt mostly the same. My complaint is the product and off ice ops etc is too slick. Gotten away from what seeing a game should be. Watching a friggen game. The pre game projections are now the most exciting part of the night.
Probably the most expensive ticket too!
Dark times in Leafs land lately.
Do they still do the fan experience stuff outside the doors in union? For example, the puck shooting game?
It is…I’ve had the opportunity to travel and watch some games around the NHL and Scotiabank is terrible. It’s a corporate atmosphere all around mixed with a focus on kids. From the music between the whistles to the pre-game hype up, it’s terrible. Even the fucking goal horn is bland. Mix that with the boring on ice product….Yeah it’s bad.
To top it all off, It’s too expensive when taking all these things into account.
I hate the Montreal Canadiens but what I wouldn’t give for half of their arena passion.
Yep. Team sucks. Atmosphere sucks. It’s overpriced. This team man… I’m ride or die but fuuuuuuck they make it hard sometimes.
It was shit last time I went, the whole
Upper bowl concourse section was under construction and dirty.
Haven’t been back since
It’s expensive and the crowd sucks
I went to a game in St Louis a few years ago. They played the jets. It was affordable and the crowd was fucking electric. One of the best sport events I have ever attended
In addition to the big chunks of corporate seats, the game presentation also is very sanitized which doesn’t help.
The music is all top 40 and the little activations they do during TV timeouts aren’t super interesting or fun. They just feel generic.
I know they need to be accessible to create new fans and I’m not saying you need to exclusively play heavy metal or have Carlton impersonating Gritty and acting psychotic, but find a middle ground or at least some contextual awareness.
I can remember those old Battle of Ontario rivalries, even watching on TV, a close game late in the third and they’d have Machinehead by Bush playing and the “noise meter” up on the tron getting everybody amped up. Build drama and anticipation at dramatic moments – that’s all I’m asking for.
Even the rink is taking jabs!
It truly is sad when you get a bigger pop in Ottawa and Buffalo than in your own barn.
When it rains, it pours. It’s been a tough stretch here for the leafs
We have this same conversation over and over since the place opened, and all the usual complaints were things going to be fixed according to Burke and subsequently Liewickie.
They can’t even get the lower bowl crowd food and back to seats after 1st period, due to venue logistics and poorly spec’d operations. It needs full redo.
I’ve been to dozens of leaf games in both arenas and it’s always ruckus and loud. Also, I’ve sat in row seven a few times and it’s pretty much crickets down there
The worst chant in the world might be go leafs go, especially when the pump it over the arena speakers and the persons voice is squeaky
Bro it just doesn’t stop man.
Can I get a shred of good news
The food and drink prices are ridiculously high too, and they ask for a tip on top by default.
Not to mention the blackouts, the leafs are in Shambles top to bottom.
Yeah it fucking sucks
Tough times in Leaf land.
Keith Pelley, take a bow
Saw the Canucks play the Flames in March 2023, if i recall the Canucks had no chance of making it into the playoffs, but the fans showed up and were buzzing. It was such a great vibe in the building. They had a guy run around with a big drum and start banging on it to get the crowd pumped up.
The only time I’ve been to a leaf game that matched that energy was Game 6 of playoffs against Boston last year. It was a night and day difference.
Everything about the Leafs is focus-grouped to the max to extract the most money and offend the least amount of people.
– Lower bowl is almost entirely corporate. It doesn’t generate atmosphere, but it does spend a shitload of money.
– In-game atmosphere is basically: giveaways and general freebies. Honestly, this is what gets people hyped the most which is sad.
– “Hype people” go around to each entrance with a little drum and do a “Go Leafs Go” in one (maybe two?) sections at a time. It generates some noise locally, but it doesn’t travel — it’s isolated to that section. Rinse and repeat.
– The team itself are wet blankets. Media-trained to the point of boredom, no visible passion or fire. Constant “it’s just another game” energy. No it’s not — show some passion and actually win a game.
Overall, they cater to the wealthiest people in Toronto who want to show up and be “entertained” like it’s a show, movie, or theatre. They don’t try to court fans who actually want to generate atmosphere and do some of the work themselves.
I came from England and my football team there is trialling safe standing sections run by fan groups with their own rules. It was a response to accusations that the stadium was quiet, and it’s gotten SO much better. There’s just no will from the Leafs to try anything different.
First mistake was not making it as big as Chicago’s stadium for fan capacity. This would allow real fans to afford games. Especially if these extra seats are in the upper ends as the fich facks wouldn’t want to sit there.
Honestly, fire everyone not name Pridham. Let’s actually use brains instead of brawn this time.
Needs bigger seats. Hard to cheer and move around when seating is not designed for people over 5 foot 8. I’m 6″2 and can’t even move lol.
Not an issue with the jays renovations at the skydome, or when I saw leafs in pitrsburg and vegas
Plus it just depends on if the team is doing good. Like if they had a jays 2025 run sba would be rocking
This team could be swirling the bowl for another 15 years and those tickets will still see a yearly increase. They will still be mostly full, too. If you were selling a rusty 04 Cavalier and somebody was still willing to pay top dollar for it, why wouldn’t you? Only way things remotely change is if the upper bowls stop going.
My hockey money is going to the PWHL for the Time being. The rockets great and the barn is loud.
The contrast with Montreal is brutal
It was more electric at the Hitmen game the other night and there was maybe 2000 fans there.
Funny since that is exactly how most of us view the city too
The writers voted it 13th fans voted it 30th. Could just be fans of other teams shitting on the leafs. It is overpriced but it is still a nice rink for NHL standards
Not so bad when the Raptors are playing…
Went to scotiabank arena to see a show in October. I hated the layout and the lack of beverage choices (not a beer drinker). They also need more bathrooms. Great show, shitty venue.
I’ve been to a few other arenas (Canadian Tire Centre, Keybank Center, Bell Centre, Rogers Arena) and Scotiabank was by far the worst.
those are just angry reviews from the hoi polloi and the poors who cant even afford to get in. Disregard MLSE, continue on as you were. Its been going so well.