Maple Leaf Gardens
The historic cathedral of hockey that hosted legends, championships, and the first NBA game.
Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street within Toronto, Canada's Garden District. 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 (NHL) from 1931 to 1999.
Quick Facts
- Status
- Repurposed as Loblaws supermarket and TMU Athletic Centre
Lore & Background
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. The first official annual NHL All-Star Game was also held at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1947. The arena hosted Game 2 of the 1972 Summit Series between Team Canada and the USSR, which Team Canada won 4–1. Elvis Presley performed there on April 2, 1957, one of the few venues outside the United States where he performed.
Reader's Guide
After the Leafs and Raptors moved to Air Canada Centre (later renamed to Scotiabank Arena) in 1999, Maple Leaf Gardens sat largely vacant for nearly a decade. 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.
Did You Know?
- The Gardens was constructed in five months and two weeks at a cost of C$1.5 million in 1931.
- The first game in the history of the Basketball Association of America (later the NBA) was played at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 1, 1946, between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers.
- Winston Churchill addressed a large audience at the Gardens in March 1932; when the loudspeaker system broke down, he continued without it.
- The NBA's Buffalo Braves played 16 regular season games at Maple Leaf Gardens from 1971 to 1975.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Maple Leaf Gardens?
It was the original home arena of the Toronto Maple Leafs, opening in 1931 and serving as the team's home until 1999. Fans often call it the cathedral of Toronto hockey because of the decades of identity and history forged within those walls.
What happened to Maple Leaf Gardens after the Leafs moved out?
Once the franchise relocated to what is now Scotiabank Arena, the old arena was gutted and converted into a Loblaws grocery store and the athletic centre for Toronto Metropolitan University. The building still stands in downtown Toronto, but the hockey arena itself no longer exists.
How long did Maple Leaf Gardens serve as the Leafs' home?
The arena hosted the franchise for roughly sixty-eight years, from its 1931 opening through the 1998–99 season. That span covered multiple Stanley Cup runs and countless defining moments in the team's history.
Can you still visit Maple Leaf Gardens today?
Not as a hockey arena, since the interior was demolished and replaced with a supermarket and university athletic facilities. The exterior of the building remains visible on Bloor Street, but there is no longer any way to walk through the old ice-level concourse or seating bowl.
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