Scotiabank Arena

Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Scotiabank Arena Seating Chart.

Hockey, Hoops or a Show: The Short Version

The right Scotiabank Arena seat depends on the sport. For Maple Leafs hockey, sit along the side of the 100 level, at least 10 rows up, so you see over the glass and watch plays build. For Raptors basketball, go low and central: lower-level sideline seats near center court. On a budget for either sport, the first few rows upstairs on the long sides see the whole playing surface for much less.

Seated capacity is 18,819 with a rink and 19,800 with a court; standing room lifts those to 20,270 and 20,511. Concerts hold about 19,800, and a scaled-down theater setup seats roughly 5,200.

Lower Bowl, Suite Rings and the 300s

Seating is arranged in two public bowls with suites between and above them.

• 100 level, sections 101–122: the lower bowl around the ice or court. Basketball puts courtside chairs at floor level ahead of it, and concerts add lettered floor sections.
• Suite levels: rings of private boxes and lounges stacked over the lower bowl.
• 300 level, sections 301 to about 324: the steep upper ring, with the lowest-priced seats in the building. Gondola boxes are sold on their own.

On both bowls, the middle sections on the long sides sell first, followed by the corners and then the ends. These section ranges come from a seat-view database rather than a published arena map, and concert layouts close or reshape some sections, so check the map for your event.

Picks and Pitfalls for Each Event

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Pick: 100-level sideline, row 10 and up, for a full view with the sound of the game.
• Pick on a budget: the first rows upstairs along the sides. Hockey plays well from height, and you see every line change.
• Pitfall: rows 1 through about 5 against the glass, which feel close but warp the far side of the rink.
• Pitfall: the highest corner rows upstairs, the farthest seats in the arena.

Lower end-zone seats suit fans who want to watch their team attack up close for two periods, though the far end of the ice looks small.

Toronto Raptors

• Pick: the 100-level sides close to midcourt.
• Pick upstairs: the middle of the 300-level sides, which beat the corners by a wide margin.
• Pitfall: 100-level end sections behind the baskets, where the stanchion and backboard flatten your depth.

Concerts

With an end stage, the 100-level side sections nearest the stage combine the best sightline and sound. The floor is closest but flat, so tall fans ahead of you set your view. Sections behind the stage are typically blocked off or marked partial view.

Which Games Sell Hardest

Few NHL tickets are in higher demand than the Leafs. Saturday nights, any Original Six opponent (the Montreal Canadiens above all) and playoff dates push it highest. For the Raptors, weekends and visits from star-driven opponents draw the most interest. Early-season weeknight games give you the most seats to choose from. Between the two teams, the building is booked most nights from October through April.

Occasional dates for the Marlies (AHL), Raptors 905 (G League) and Sceptres (PWHL) round out the calendar, as do concerts, UFC events and family entertainment. Those dates are often a lower-pressure way to see the building. Reserved Seat orders include guaranteed entry, which helps when you are buying for a sold-out rivalry night.

Arriving Indoors and Clearing Security

Transit is the way to go. An indoor walkway on the PATH system runs from Union Station, the city's busiest rail hub, straight to the arena, which you will appreciate on a January night. At Union you can connect from TTC subway lines, streetcars and GO Transit regional trains serving the wider region.

Driving is harder. According to the arena's current guide, the underground garage on site is mainly for suite holders and tenants, charges a flat card-only fee, limits vehicles to 2 meters tall and opens 60 minutes ahead of each event. Public drivers usually head for the garage under Maple Leaf Square at 15 York Street. Most drivers reserve a space through an app ahead of time. See the getting here page for details.

Bags: the rule is tighter than at many North American arenas. The arena currently admits only a clutch, small purse or belt bag that measures less than 16.5 x 11.5 cm, roughly 6.5 x 4.5 inches. Anything larger, backpacks included, must be checked for a fee in the galleria facing Gate 1. Medical and other exceptions are X-rayed at Gates 1, 3 and 5. Review the bag policy ahead of time, because it changes. The building is cashless, so bring a card or phone for food, drinks and parking.

The Postal Building, the Square and Big Nights

Opening night was February 19, 1999. The building wore Air Canada branding for its first two decades and switched to the Scotiabank name on July 1, 2018, though the old ACC nickname lingers. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment owns and runs it, along with both main teams. Part of the structure sits within a 1938–1941 postal building, the old Toronto Postal Delivery Building, keeping that building's Art Deco limestone front and its bas-relief panels by Louis Temporale Sr., which depict the history of Canadian transportation. Brisbin Brook Beynon were the architects, and HOK Sport served as a consultant.

Next door, Maple Leaf Square has been open since 2010; in the postseason its outdoor plaza becomes a giant watch party. Outside the arena, Legends Row honors 14 Leafs greats in bronze. The 2019 Raptors championship ran through here, with three Finals games (1, 2 and 5) played on Bay Street. The arena also staged the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, the league's first outside the United States, NHL All-Star Games in 2000 and 2024, the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and 2016, and ceremonies for the 2017 Invictus Games. A multi-phase renovation announced in October 2023 brings wider concourses and upgraded technology, so expect parts of the building to look different year to year. For more on events around Toronto, see the city guide.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Scotiabank Arena
• Scotiabank Arena – Bag Policy
• Scotiabank Arena – Getting Here
• A View From My Seat – Scotiabank Arena sections