Bigger, brighter walkways: MLSE shows off Scotiabank Arena upgrades

Fans at Scotiabank Arena for concerts or Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors games will notice bigger, brighter walkways and more technology these days.

Fans at Scotiabank Arena for concerts or Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors games will notice bigger, brighter walkways and more technology these days.

But the venue remains a work in progress.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is halfway through the second phase of its $350-million four-phase renovation to the arena that opened in February 1999.

“At that time it was a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, major-market arena,” said Nick Eaves, MLSE’s COO. “Over time obviously so much has happened to change the whole sport-entertainment experience.”

Renovations to the north half of the 100 concourse are complete, with wider corridors and an expanded Gate 1, one of the major entry points to the arena. LED screens across the ceiling and displays on the walls will trumpet what’s on, as well as “partner content.”

“The experience starts as you’re approaching the front door,” said Eaves.

The north section of the concourse — about half of the arena on the ground level — has already been completed, with crews working around some 50 concerts at the building since the end of the Raptors’ and Leafs’ last season

Concourses have been slightly widened, by stealing space from washrooms (although the number of washroom fixtures remains the same). Directional signage is also clearer.