Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Toronto's Scotiabank undergoing 'reimagination'

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Thursday, 01 August 2019 17:20

TORONTO -- While Toronto's Maple Leafs and Raptors gear up for next season, Scotiabank Arena is getting a multimillion-dollar face-lift.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Michael Friisdahl calls it a "reimagination" of the venue that opened in February 1999.

"We've got to keep getting better, we've got to keep improving the experience," Friisdahl said. "We won a championship -- we've won four championships in the last three years. That, if anything, motivates us to do even more."

Friisdahl, who took up his position at MLSE in December 2015, declined to put a price tag on the improvements other than to say it's "multi, multimillion dollars."

"Eventually when it's all said and done, you will notice that everything will have be touched in one way or another to improve the overall [fan] experience," he added.

MLSE is coming off a major high thanks to the Raptors' NBA championship in June. That followed titles by Toronto FC (MLS) and Raptors 905 (G League) in 2017 and the Marlies (American Hockey League) in 2018.

The Argos also won the Grey Cup in 2017, with MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum a part-owner. But MLSE didn't take over full ownership until just after the team won the CFL title.

Friisdahl said MLSE's investment is to ensure the arena is both a "gathering place" for fans but also a destination in the city, going hand-in-hand with the money that has gone into renovating nearby Union Station.

A pedestrian bridge is being built over Bay Street from CIBC Square, currently under construction. It will connect with a new second floor to the galleria on the north side of the arena, as well as the city's underground Path network.

The bridge should help ease the postgame flow of fans, some of whom dodge traffic to get to the other side on their way to a transit hub located to the east. Via the galleria, it also will allow daily access to the arena's Hot Stove Lounge and other special dining areas now just open during events.

The galleria improvements should be completed in the next 12 months, part of a larger plan that will take four to five years. The goal is to make the changes with the least amount of interruption to the facility.

On the west side of the arena, a new video board is going up at Jurassic Park. The new screen is 40% bigger.

Friisdahl notes proudly that the Raptors' playoff run sparked close to 60 Jurassic Parks across the country. "So it's really taken on a real life of its own with our fans," he said.

Hence the new, improved video screen. There also will be smaller video screens near the west entrance of the galleria, to help on nights with multiple games. Plus, the arena is getting new digital Scotiabank signage that can light up in different colors, replacing the temporary arena signs.

Across the street, Real Sports Bar & Grill is being gutted. Since its opening in 2010, the cavernous restaurant and bar has been a man cave on steroids. It's getting a makeover.

"We're going to step that up another notch ... There isn't a stitch that isn't being retouched in here," Friisdahl said.

Inside the arena, the Chairman's Suite -- a restaurant and premium bar/lounge area on the south side -- is being renovated. Outside, extra entrances for premium guests are being added to ease getting in.

While the arena footprint cannot be changed, Friisdahl said MLSE will spend the money needed to keep the building "best in class."

That includes using technology to further connect with fans. You can already order food and merchandise from your seat via the team apps, but Friisdahl said more in that vein is coming.

"We want to be able to communicate with our fans one-on-one as opposed to one-to-many," he said.

That will include being able to consult your app to determine concession areas and washrooms with the smallest lineups -- and to preorder food and drink to pick up en route to your seat.

"That also requires tuning up our infrastructure within the arena because that requires a different level of support. And that's part of the reimagination," said the MLSE boss.

Scotiabank Arena is one of the "top-10 busiest buildings in the world," according to Friisdahl. It staged a record number of events in 2018, with more than 110 live shows over and above NHL and NBA games.

Read 500 times

Soccer

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNapoli fans and club officials paid tribute to Diego Maradona on th...

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo netted a pair of goals in Al Nassr's Asian Champi...

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDavid Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forwar...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant was in the lineup Monday night for the...

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Monday...

Baseball

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- Robinson Chirinos replaced Fredi González on Monday as...

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involvi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated