If you’ve walked into Scotiabank Arena through Gate 1 lately, you’ve probably caught yourself looking up. The arena’s main entrance, the one many of us use coming in from Union Station, is now wrapped in glowing LED screens, and it feels less like a doorway and more like the opening scene of the night.
The upgrade is part of Scotiabank Arena’s Reimagination project, a multi-phase renovation worth more than $350 million that Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced in October 2023. MLSE has described it as an investment by the company’s owners, so it’s privately funded rather than paid for by the public purse.
The star of the space is the ceiling. According to ANC, the company that oversaw the digital signage work, the overhead display covers 1,265 square feet, and it’s joined by 8 tall entrance screens set in a staggered “sawtooth” pattern along both sides of the walkway. MLSE’s own technical specs list the ceiling’s 3 LED slopes at a combined resolution of 3,840 by 12,528, which works out to about 48 million pixels. That’s a lot of picture hanging over your head while you dig out your ticket.
The Gate 1 entrance was expanded as part of the work too, which means a little more breathing room on busy game nights. There’s also a new wayfinding map near the entrance to help you figure out where your section is before the crowd carries you along.
It isn’t all finished yet. You’ll still spot some construction lingering around the building, and that makes sense. The renovation has been rolling out in phases while the arena stays open for Leafs games, Raptors games and concerts, with work continuing into the current season.
For those of us who’ve been filing through these doors since the place opened in 1999, it’s a fun change. The arena has always been the heartbeat of the South Core on event nights, and now its front door finally looks the part. Next time you’re heading in, take a second before you scan your ticket and look up. It’s worth it.
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