Maple Leaf Gardens

This article is about the arena. For the company formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd., see Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

Maple Leaf Gardens
"The Carlton Street Cashbox"
"The Church of Hockey"
MLG
"The Shrine"
Maple Leaf Gardens is located in Toronto
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Location in Toronto
Maple Leaf Gardens is located in Ontario
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Location in Ontario
Maple Leaf Gardens is located in Canada
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Location in Canada
Address60 Carlton Street
LocationToronto, Ontario
Coordinates43°39′44″N 79°22′49″W / 43.66222°N 79.38028°W / 43.66222; -79.38028
Public transit College Station
 506  506 Carlton
OwnerToronto Metropolitan University
Loblaw Companies Ltd. (2004–present)
Former owner
Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. (1931–2004)
OperatorToronto Metropolitan University
Loblaw Companies Ltd. (2004–Present)
Former Operator
Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. (1931–2004)
Executive suites3 suites, 1 alumni lounge[1]
(Mattamy Athletic Centre)
CapacityIce hockey:
12,473 (1931–1940),[2]
12,586 (1940–1960)1,[2]
13,718 (1960–1966)2,[2]
15,461 (1966–1968)3,[2]
16,316 (1968–1981)4,[2]
16,182 (1981–1991)5,[2]
15,642 (1991–1992),[2]
15,720 (1992–1993),[2]
15,728 (1993–1994),[2]
15,646 (1994–1996)6,[2]
15,726 (1996–2012),[2]
2,539 (2012–present)7[3]

114,550 with standing room
214,650 with standing room
316,161 with standing room
416,485 with standing room
516,382 with standing room
615,746 with standing room
72,796 with additional amenities[1]
Construction
Broke groundMay 30, 1931[4]
OpenedNovember 12, 1931
Construction costC$1.5 million
($28.7 million in 2023 dollars[5])
ArchitectRoss and Macdonald
General contractorThomson Brothers Construction[6]
Tenants
Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) (1931–1999)
Toronto Marlboros (OHL) (1931–1989)
Toronto Tecumsehs (ILL) (1932)
Toronto Maple Leafs (ILL) (1932)
Toronto Huskies (BAA) (1946–1947)
Toronto Maple Leafs (NLA) (1968)
Buffalo Braves (NBA) (1971–1975)
Toronto Toros (WHA) (1974–1976)
Toronto Tomahawks (NLL) (1974)
Toronto Blizzard (NASL) (1980–1982 indoor)
Toronto Shooting Stars (NPSL) (1996–1997)
Toronto Raptors (NBA) (1997–1999)
Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL) (1997–2000)
Toronto Rock (NLL) (1999–2000)
Mattamy Athletic Centre
TMU Bold (U Sports) (2012–present)
Toronto Shooting Stars (CLax) (2013)
Toronto Predators (GMHL) (2013–2017)
Toronto Ultra (CDL) (2020–present)
Toronto Sceptres (PWHL) (2023—2024)
Retail
Loblaws (2004–present)
Website
Mattamy Athletic Centre
Designated2007
Designated1991

Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hockey games.

Considered one of the "cathedrals" of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1931 to 1999. The Leafs won the Stanley Cup 11 times from 1932 to 1967 while playing at the Gardens. The first NHL All-Star Game, albeit an unofficial one, was held at the Gardens in 1934 as a benefit for Leafs forward Ace Bailey, who had suffered a career-ending head injury. The first official annual National Hockey League All-Star Game was also held at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1947.

It was home to the Toronto Huskies (1946–1947) in their single season in the Basketball Association of America (a forerunner of the National Basketball Association), the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League, the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association (1974–1976), the Toronto Blizzard of the North American Soccer League (1980–1982 indoor seasons), the Toronto Shooting Stars of the National Professional Soccer League (1996–1997), and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League (1999–2000). The NBA's Buffalo Braves played a total of 16 regular season games at Maple Leaf Gardens from 1971 to 1975.[7] The NBA's Toronto Raptors played six games at the Gardens from 1997 to 1999,[8][9] mostly when SkyDome was unavailable.

The arena was also one of the few venues outside the United States where Elvis Presley performed in concert (April 2, 1957). In 1972, Maple Leaf Gardens hosted Game 2 of the famous Summit Series between Team Canada and the USSR—Team Canada won the game 4–1.

After the Leafs and Raptors moved to Air Canada Centre in 1999, Maple Leaf Gardens sat largely vacant for nearly a decade as the owners refused to sell it, fearing that it would compete with the Air Canada Centre. In 2009, it was sold and underwent a major internal reconstruction, turning it into a multi-purpose facility, with a Loblaws supermarket occupying retail space on the lower floors and an arena for Toronto Metropolitan University, known as Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens, occupying the top level.[10][11]

  1. ^ a b "About Mattamy Athletic Centre". Mattamy Athletic Centre – Official Facebook page (in French). Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hornby, Lance (October 1, 1998). The Story of Maple Leaf Gardens. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-58261-015-3. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Zanin, Tasha (February 6, 2013). "Dream come true". The Ryersonian. Toronto. p. 11.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference startwork was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference contractor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Buffery, Steve (November 3, 2004). "The road was paved". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ Jia, James (April 18, 2013). "Raptors wrap up season with best attendance in 4 years". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "Bucks Blast Raptors Home Opener". CBS News. December 13, 1999. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  10. ^ Flavelle, Dana (November 25, 2011). "Maple Leaf Gardens: From Shrine to Supermarket". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  11. ^ "Mattamy Athletic Centre :: Venue Info". MattamyAthletic Centre. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2014.