This summer, Toronto and more than a dozen municipalities throughout southern Ontario hosted the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. Combined, the games featured more than 6,100 athletes from 41 nations participating in 364 events in 36 different sports. With more than 1 million tickets sold, the games made an Olympian statement about the Greater Toronto area’s major-event muscle while expanding its already deep roster of athletic and multipurpose venues.
Reflecting on the games’ success, Michael Coteau, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, stated that they “…left a far-reaching legacy and exceptional sports facilities that will continue to enrich Ontario for decades.”
While Toronto has since reportedly declined to bid for the 2024 Olympics, there’s plenty of other major competition on the horizon. For groups, meanwhile, it’s always the right time for game time in the Toronto region.
Victory Laps
With Canada finishing second in the medal haul for both sets of games, Toronto, a natural host for sporting and other large-scale events such as medical congresses and technology conventions, came out on top in terms of execution.
“An event at the scale and complexity of the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games is such an important opportunity for a destination,” says Andrew Weir, Tourism Toronto’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “It’s one thing to ensure the complicated logistics work well, as they did,” he says. “It’s another thing entirely when the global nature of Toronto elevates the games from simply a sporting event to an exuberant cultural festival and celebration of the diverse countries of the Americas.”
Toronto’s confidence, capacity and capability had their own special place on the podium.
“The games showcased Toronto’s vibrancy as well as the richness of the broader region with major games venues and top sports facilities in Mississauga and other surrounding cities,” Weir continues. “One thing that stood out for many athletes and visitors was the welcome and helpfulness of the 23,000 volunteers, who now form a base of hospitality and community support and stand ready to host the world for the next major event.”
With the Blue Jays having just missed the 2015 World Series, Toronto does not have to wait long for new moments in the spotlight. In February 2016, the city hosts the NBA All-Star Weekend, followed by the World Cup of Hockey in September. In 2021, the city is part of Ontario’s hosting of the Canada Summer Games, the country’s foremost national multisport competition.
Word of Toronto’s sporting side is clearly getting out. At this year’s World Travel Awards, considered one of the most prestigious and comprehensive in the travel and tourism industry, Toronto was recognized as North America’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination for 2015.
“Sports run deep in Toronto, from the professional teams to the growing amateur ranks and the wide range of recreational options, with facilities to serve elite athletes as well as weekend warriors,” Weir says. “Toronto’s diversity means that every game from every part of the world is played here and watched here by competitors and fans who genuinely appreciate sport.”
For groups of all sizes, that means a world-class roster of sporting venues, experiences and other agenda-boosting options.
Perfect Matches
With more than 3.2 million square feet of multipurpose space region-wide, Toronto offers endless configurations for a wide variety of sporting competitions and events.
Signature venues include the Air Canada Centre, home to the NHL’s Maple Leafs, NBA’s Raptors and the Toronto Rock, the city’s professional lacrosse team. Hosting the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, this versatile multipurpose arena, seating up to 19,800 people, offers tours and private function space.
Also in the heart of downtown, the Rogers Centre, seating 50,000, is home to MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays and the Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, and also offers tours and versatile group space.
Few venues anywhere possess the prestige and lore of the former Maple Leaf Gardens. Opened in 1931, Canada’s “Cathedral of Hockey” hosted the first-ever NBA game, in 1946, and the first NHL All-Star Game in 1947. Elvis and The Beatles played here, along with the resident Toronto Maple Leafs, 10-time Stanley Cup winners.
Transformed into Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre in 2013, this historic venue is now a 220,000-square-foot sports and entertainment facility, accommodating up to 4,000 guests for receptions, banquets and other special events.
Adjacent to the Enercare Centre on the grounds of the Exhibition Place complex, the 8,200-seat Ricoh Coliseum (1922) is another heirloom with its own illustrious history of staging sporting, musical and entertainment events. Extensively renovated in 2003, the arena, renamed Toronto Coliseum during the Pan Am Games, offers flexible rental space for intimate to large-scale functions.
Also at Exhibition Place is 20,000-seat BMO Field, Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium. Referred to as the National Soccer Stadium when hosting international competition, the venue, renamed Exhibition Stadium during the Pan Am Games, is home of Canada’s national soccer team and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.
Other major venues combining sporting events with private space include the 5,500-seat multipurpose Hershey Centre, 5,000-seat Powerade Centre and MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence. Significant venues just outside of Toronto include the Mississauga Sports Centre and the Oshawa Sports Centre, both utilized in the Pan Am Games.
Located on the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre was the largest new venue built for the games and represents the biggest single investment in amateur sports in Canadian history. The 312,000-square-foot facility includes a 6,000-seat aquatics arena with two Olympic-size swimming pools and a 2,000-seat field house, with various rental options for sporting and corporate groups. Other legacy venues include a new $56 million velodrome in suburban Milton, and extensive new waterfront multiuse trails.
Groups seeking more diverse and eclectic pursuits have options such as private events at Pursuit OCR, Canada’s largest fully indoor obstacle course, training and movement center. Truly “cutting edge” experiences are offered by the Backyard Axe Throwing League, where groups can book private space for parties, teambuilding and tournament play involving the ancient art of axe throwing.
At Toronto Knife Throwing, professional instructors teach groups this skill-testing sporting activity, while in suburban Brampton, Treetop Trekking is a three-hour zipline and aerial course set in an outdoor natural setting.
“In the past week we’ve seen athletes from across the Americas demonstrate incredible courage, strength and athleticism, thrilling and inspiring fans,” said Saad Rafi, CEO of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee, at the closing ceremony. “Tonight is about celebrating and thanking these athletes as well as the people of the region who supported these games, which will leave a legacy of not only sport, but diversity and inclusion, which will be felt for generations to come.”
For groups seeking the winning edge, Toronto is the place to get your game on.
