Toronto is a city that loves sports. Here, we support the teams, win or lose, we’re behind them. You’ll quickly notice that on game days, the crowds in the streets are decked out in team colours. If you want to join in the fun, I’m here to help! Find out everything you need to know in this guide to attend sports games in Toronto!
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You can also watch my video where I talk about my professional experience with Toronto sports teams here.
Every sports team in Toronto
Before I get into the guide to attending sports games in Toronto, I’m going to introduce you to the main teams and share some useful information with you. So that you have some context when you go to talk sports with the locals.
Basketball – Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors basketball team has been the only NBA (National Basketball Association) team in Canada since 2002. Before that, Vancouver had a team, but it was moved to Memphis in the USA. The team was founded in 1995, and the first game took place on November 3, 1995 at what is now the Rogers Centre, then called the SkyDome.
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors win their first NBA championship. All of Canada supports its only team, and the whole country goes wild. Over 2 million people took to the streets for the parade. I was working for the teams at the time, and it remains one of the happiest moments of my professional life.
Stadium: Scotiabank Arena
Hockey – Toronto Maple Leafs
Ah, if you’re in Toronto, you’re bound to hear about the Maple Leafs, Toronto’s NHL (National Hockey League) team. It’s an institution here, and people love to hate the Leafs. They love them because they love the sport, but also because for many it’s a sport they’ve watched with their families since childhood. They love to hate them because the fans have been waiting for another victory since they won their last championship in … 1967. The team was founded in 1917 under the name Toronto Arenas, then in 1919 the name changed. Until 1927 the team was called Toronto St Patricks.
From 1931 to 1999, the team played at the Maple Leaf Garden before moving to the Air Canada Centre, now known as Scotiabank Arena. You may walk past the Maple Leaf Garden without even knowing it. Today it’s home to Toronto Metropolitan University and the Loblaws on Carlton and Church St. At the entrance to the store you can see a maple leaf-shaped piece of art made from the stadium’s old chairs.
Stadium: Scotiabank Arena
Football/Soccer – Toronto FC
The Toronto soccer team, more commonly known as TFC, was founded in 2005. It plays in the MLS, Major League Soccer. They won the championship in 2017, just a few weeks before I started working for the teams. The team plays at BMO Field near Exhibition Place. The stadium will host World Cup matches in 2026.
Stadium: BMO Field
Canadian Football – Argonauts
Often referred to as the Argos, this is Toronto’s Canadian football team. They play in the CFL (Canadian Football League in English) LCF (Ligue Canadienne de Football in French) and compete against other Canadian teams. In fact, it’s the oldest team on the list today, having been created in 1873 by the rowing team of the same name. The aim was to keep team members fit during the months when they couldn’t practice in the water. If you walk around Lakeshore and Roncesvalles you can see the rowing club still in use. They’ve won 18 championships and since the buyout by MLSE (also owners of the Raptors, Leafs and TFC) the team plays at BMO Field.
I worked on their campaign when they joined MLSE, and one of my photo shoots was shared in Complex magazine, so check it out!
Stadium: BMO Field
Baseball – Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays were founded in 1977 and are the only Canadian team to play in the MLB (Major League Baseball). They began playing in Exhibition Stadium until the SkyDome was built in 1989, now known as Rogers Centre since 2005. The Blue Jays team won 2 championships in 1992 and 1993.
Baseball games have no time limit; the game ends after 9 innings (I won’t go into detail, but I invite you to consult Youtube for the rules). August 1, 2014 saw the longest game in Blue Jays history. 6 hours and 37 minutes. And guess who was at that game? I was. With my shaky English, with my roommate’s friends trying to explain baseball to me. Roasting in the sun, it’s a memory I’ll never forget.
In 2005, almost on the same site as Exhibition Stadium, the city approved the construction of BMO Field.
The Blue Jays team is the only one on this list that is not owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainemnt.
Stadium: Rogers Centre
Toronto Sports Team Guide: Who to Follow Throughout the Seasons
If there’s one thing you take away from this guide to attends sports games in Toronto, it’s this. If you’re a fan of a particular sport that you absolutely want to see during your stay, double check if you’re coming during the season. Too often I get messages from people who come in July and hope to see an NBA game. But by then the season is over.
Basketball
The season starts in October. You usually have a few games before the opening game. These games are part of the pre-season, which we consider friendly games. Prices are generally lower than for the rest of the season. They do not count towards the championship.
The regular season ends in April. Qualified teams then go into the playoffs, which last until June. Only 16 teams qualify for the playoffs, and prices are often higher than in the regular season.
Hockey
We continue our guide to sports in Toronto with one of the most popular sports: hockey. The season is quite similar to that of basketball, beginning in October and ending in April. Then the playoffs begin for the 16 qualifying teams. Prices are also higher during this period.
Football/Soccer
That’s when things change. The season starts in February and ends in October. Soccer is a summer sport in this part of the world. In the same way as for hockey and basketball, we then switch to the playoffs between November and December.
Canadian Football
Another sport, another calendar. Canadian soccer begins in June and ends in October. The league has only 9 teams, which may explain why the season is shorter than in other sports.
Baseball
And to conclude with the seasons of each sport, the baseball season begins between late March and early April. It ends in late September/early October. We then switch to the playoffs until early November.
Where can I buy tickets for sports games in Toronto?
This is perhaps the question that comes up most often in my Instagram messages. Where can I buy tickets to the games… without getting ripped off!
Directly from Ticketmaster
If you visit the Raptors, Maple Leafs, TFC, Argos or Blue Jays websites, you’ll find the “buy a ticket” section. You’ll notice that this link takes you to the Ticketmaster site. All tickets are sold on the Ticketmaster platform, which has a monopoly on ticket sales for sports and entertainment events in North America.
Resellers
You can also find them on resale sites. Sometimes cheaper just a few hours before the game, for example. You can look at GameTime, StubHub, Seat Geek and Ticketmaster too.
From people you know
You can also buy them from someone you know. They can transfer the tickets to you. I do it regularly. And for this part I’d really encourage you to only do it with people you trust.
Tips for the best game experience in Toronto
Tickets and prices
- When searching for tickets, pay close attention to the currency. Some sites list prices in Canadian dollars, others in U.S. dollars.
- Speaking of prices, be sure to check that all charges are included: taxes, management fees, etc., so you don’t get any nasty surprises at the checkout.
- Let’s continue this guide to games in Toronto with another piece of information about prices. I’m often asked about prices for games, but they change depending on the team or the particularity of the game. There’s no one same price for every game in the season. And prices also change depending on the stadium’s location. Make sure you compare similar seats, section-wise, row-wise and seat-wise.
- Make sure you buy tickets for the stadium you’re interested in, as many stadiums have similar names. For example, the Rogers Centre in Toronto and the Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
On-site experience
- You can arrive 30 mins early. You’ll need to pass through security and then find your seat. Allow enough time to grab something to eat and drink if you feel like it. But not pressure I have arrived 5 mins before and it was fine!
- If you’re attending your first game, you can ask a free first-game certificate from the fan desk. If you’re at Scotiabank Arena there’s an office just inside the Gate 1 entrance. Otherwise just look for the fan services desk in the stadium you’re in. It’s a nice little souvenir for you, and even more fun if you’ve got people coming to visit.
- If you’re going with small children, remember to bring ear protection – the sound is really loud.
- When you’re looking for games, make sure you look at both home and away games. I often sell basketball tickets and I’m often asked about games that aren’t here. Be sure to check.
- If the Raptors score over 100 points, you can get free slices of pizza at Pizza Pizza, there’s a QR code to scan at the end of the game.
- If you go to a baseball game on Tuesday night, hot dogs are $1 a piece.
I hope this guide to attending sports games in Toronto helps you make the most of your Toronto experience. If you want to know the best bars to watch the games in Toronto you can read this article. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to watch sports in Toronto you can read this article.
Enjoy the game!
