Air Canada Centre
The ACC The Hangar
Location	40 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5J 2X2
Broke ground	March 12, 1997
Opened	February 19, 1999
Owner	Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Construction cost	C$265 million
Architect	Brisbin Brook Beynon, Architects
Tenants	Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) (1999-present) Toronto Raptors (NBA) (1999-present) Toronto Rock (NLL) (2001-present) Toronto Phantoms (AFL) (2001-2002)
Capacity	Basketball: 19,800 Hockey: 18,819 Lacrosse: 18,819 Concerts: 19,800 Theatre: 5,200

North Entrance Atrium

Prior to the commencement of a Raptors game

The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose arena located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Bay Street is a street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the centre of Toronto's financial district and is often used by Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd ( MLSE) is the owner and operator of the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League team Toronto Raptors "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The Toronto Rock are a Lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL The National Lacrosse League (NLL is the league of men's indoor lacrosse in North America. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Toronto Phantoms was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in New York City and New England The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Lacrosse is a full contact Team sport played using a solid rubber ball and long handled racket called a crosse or Lacrosse stick. A concert is a live Performance, usually of Music, before an Audience. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one Air Canada () is Canada 's largest Airline and Flag carrier. The airline founded in 1937 has had its corporate headquarters in Montreal Bay Street is a street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the centre of Toronto's financial district and is often used by Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec It is the home of the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League. The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The Toronto Rock are a Lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL The National Lacrosse League (NLL is the league of men's indoor lacrosse in North America. It was also home to the Toronto Phantoms of the Arena Football League during their brief existence. The Toronto Phantoms was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in New York City and New England The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. The arena is popularly known as "the ACC" or "the Hangar" (the latter nickname coming from its sponsorship by Canada's largest airline, Air Canada). Air Canada () is Canada 's largest Airline and Flag carrier. The airline founded in 1937 has had its corporate headquarters in Montreal

From its initial design to completion it revolutionized many concepts now included in new arenas and stadiums such as luxury suites accessible on the ground floor, splitting the main scoreboard into several sections, rotating all sponsor signage in the bowl at once (to allow dominant messaging), and multiple restaurants in and out of the main arena bowl view.

The arena is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., the same group that owns both the Leafs and Raptors, and is 665,000 square feet (62,000 m²) in size. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd ( MLSE) is the owner and operator of the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League team Toronto Raptors Air Canada Centre is connected to Union Station and the underground pedestrian PATH system, providing easy access to public transportation (TTC's Union subway station and GO Transit) for fans attending events. The Toronto Transit Commission ( TTC) is a Public transport authority that operates Buses streetcars, subways and Rapid transit Union Station is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina line of the Toronto, Ontario, Canada subway. The Toronto subway and RT is the main Rapid transit (RT railway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada operated by the Toronto GO Transit is the interregional public transit system serving the Conurbation in Ontario, Canada referred to by Metrolinx as the There are also 13,000 parking spaces within immediate walking distance.

Since opening, Air Canada Centre has been recognized with more than 25 industry awards that range from Canadian Major Facility of the Year (multiple times), the U. S. based Facilities & Event Management Magazine's Prime Site Award, the Wine Spectator, VQA Restaurant and the International (Diamond Wine Award) Awards of Excellence, and Tourism Toronto's Jeff Adams Access Award of Excellence for the facilities accessibility.

Air Canada Centre remains the only arena in North America to house three of its own exclusive award-winning restaurants -- The Platinum Club, Air Canada Club and Hot Stove Club. The restaurants, along with themed concessions stands and kiosks offer a diversity of food and beverages that capture Toronto's multicultural flavor. Two in-house bars, the Ice Box and Rickard's Brewhouse (which has its own micro-brewery) are favorite spots for fans before and during games.

Andy Frost is the public address announcer at the ACC during Toronto Maple Leafs home games, while Herbie Kuhn does the job for the Toronto Raptors, and Bruce Barker is the announcer for Toronto Rock games. Andy Frost (born April 15, 1956 in Winnipeg Manitoba) is the Public address announcer at the Air Canada A public address or " PA " system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, Amplifier and Loudspeakers used to "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St Herbie Kuhn (born ca 1970 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian Public address Announcer for the Toronto Raptors of the The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Toronto Rock are a Lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL

History

The Air Canada Centre was started by the Toronto Raptors under its initial ownership group headed by Canadian businessman John Bitove. John I Bitove (Jr (born 1960 in Toronto Ontario) is a Macedonian Canadian businessman and noted sportsman The building was designed for both hockey and basketball, but basketball was its foremost purpose; indeed, sight lines were designed to be especially good for basketball's smaller court. While the building was under construction, the Maple Leafs were also looking at building their own new arena at a different location. Journalists such as the Toronto Star's Dave Perkins encouraged both sides to pair up into one arena; two 20,000-seat arenas were seen as overkill for the city. The Toronto Star is Canada 's highest-circulation newspaper though its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario.

In purchasing the Raptors and the under-construction Air Canada Centre, MLSE provided the Maple Leafs the venue to move out of the aging legendary Maple Leaf Gardens. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd ( MLSE) is the owner and operator of the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League team Toronto Raptors This article is about the arena For the company formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd MLSE made some changes to the plans while the construction was underway, including turning upper level seats in the west end of the arena into private boxes. The Air Canada Centre's groundbreaking was performed in February of 1997. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar

The site was once occupied by the Canada Post Delivery Building. Canada Post Corporation ( Société canadienne des postes) is the Canadian postal operator operated as a crown corporation. The current building retained the striking Art Deco facades of the east (along Bay Street) and south (Lake Shore Boulevard) walls of that structure, but the rest of the building (facing Union Station) was removed to make room for the arena. Art Deco was a popular international design movement from 1925 until 1939 affecting the decorative arts such as Architecture, Interior design, and Industrial Bay Street is a street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the centre of Toronto's financial district and is often used by Lake Shore Boulevard is an east-west route running along most of Toronto 's waterfront

The 15-storey tower on Bay Street stands at 55 metres, and provides connections in the atrium to Union Station, Bay Street, and York Street (via Bremner Boulevard).

On February 26th, 2008, the Spice Girls performed for the very last time to a sold out crowd. The Spice Girls are a BRIT Award -winning English pop Girl group formed in 1994 The concert was the last stop of their The Return of the Spice Girls tour. The Return of the Spice Girls was a Spice Girls Concert tour that visited five countries and commenced on December 2, 2007 in Vancouver All five girls reunited, after ten years, to celebrate their achievement by a world concert tour. Right before the very last song, Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice), said to Toronto, "Are you ready to see the Spice Girls perform one last time!"

Games and concerts

The first Maple Leafs home game took place on February 20, 1999 versus the Montreal Canadiens, won by the Leafs 3-2 on an overtime goal by Steve Thomas. Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell (born 6 August 1972 is an English pop Singer-songwriter, Children's author, Actress Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell (born 6 August 1972 is an English pop Singer-songwriter, Children's author, Actress Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The Spice Girls are a BRIT Award -winning English pop Girl group formed in 1994 Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Overtime, in Ice hockey, is a method of determining the winner and loser of ice hockey matches should a game be tied after regulation Stephen Anthony "Stumpy" Thomas (born 15 July, 1963 in Stockport) is a retired English -born Canadian Ice hockey The first Raptors game took place the following night versus the Vancouver Grizzlies. The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional Basketball team based in Memphis Tennessee. The facility hosted the 2000 NHL All-Star Game and the championship game of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. The 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game was part of the 1999–2000 NHL season, and took place in Toronto 's Air Canada Centre The 2004 World Cup of Hockey is the second World Cup of Hockey (WCH an international Ice hockey tournament

The Toronto Rock also moved to the ACC from Maple Leaf Gardens for the 2001 NLL season. The 2001 National Lacrosse League season began on December 21, 2000 and concluded with the championship game on April 27, 2001. The Rock's first game was a 17-7 win over the Ottawa Rebel on December 21, 2000^[1]. The Ottawa Rebel was a team in the National Lacrosse League based in Ottawa Ontario from 2001 until 2003. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

The ACC has held numerous concerts to prominent stars such as The Cure, Shania Twain, Sammi Cheng, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner, Shakira, Van Halen, Evanescence, Celine Dion, Kiss, Aerosmith, Queen + Paul Rodgers, My Chemical Romance, Justin Timberlake, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, Depeche Mode, The Who, David Bowie, Gwen Stefani, Coldplay, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, U2, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Simple Plan, Elton John, Oasis, Metallica, Megadeth, Heaven and Hell 2007 (Black Sabbath/Dio), Iron Maiden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billy Talent, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Janet Jackson, Pearl Jam, Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne, Beyonce Knowles, John Mayer, Spice Girls, Rush, Roger Waters, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Green Day, Rappers Magee, Britney Spears, Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, System Of A Down, Slipknot and Stevie Wonder. The Cure are an English rock band that formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976 Shania Twain ʃəˈnaɪə 'tweɪn OC (born Eilleen Regina Edwards, August 28 1965 is a Canadian Singer and Songwriter in the Sammi Cheng Sau-Man is a Hong Kong Cantopop Singer and actress. Barbra Streisand (ˈstraɪsænd "STRY-sand" born April 24 1942 is an American Singer, Film and Theatre Actress Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an eight time Grammy Award -winning American Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2 1977 known simply as Shakira Van Halen is a Hard rock band formed in in 1972 They enjoyed success from the release of their self titled debut album in 1978 Evanescence is an American Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( OC OQ (born March 30 1968 in Charlemagne Quebec) is a Canadian pop Singer Kiss (also typeset as KISS) is an American rock band formed in New York City in December 1972 Aerosmith is an American Hard rock band sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston " and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" The Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration began in late 2004 when Queen were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame My Chemical Romance (often shortened to MCR or' My Chem') is an American alternative / post-hardcore quintet that formed in 2001 Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31 1981 He has English ancestry although he has also claimed some American Indian ancestry probably through unconfirmed Bon Jovi is an American Hard rock band from Sayreville New Jersey. Guns N' Roses is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 Depeche Mode (dəˌpɛʃˈmoʊd are an English Electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend David Bowie (ˈboʊiː born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947 is an English Musician, actor producer, and arranger. Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3 1969 (ˈgwɛn stɛˈfɑːni is an American recording artist and Fashion designer Stefani fronts the rock band No Doubt Coldplay TalkColdplay#Is_or_Are_dispute_again Tool is an American rock band that was formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, Radiohead Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16 1958 known as Madonna, is an American Simple Plan is a French Canadian Pop punk band based in Montreal, Quebec. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991 Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in. Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder front man guitarist and songwriter Dave Mustaine. Black Sabbath are an Dio is an American heavy metal band led by Vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who formed it in 1982 after leaving Black Sabbath. For other uses see Iron maiden. Red Hot Chili Peppers are Billy Talent (formerly known as Pezz and often shortened to BT) is a Canadian Punk Rock band formed in 1993 in Mississauga Ontario Christina María Aguilera (born December 18 1980 is an American pop / R&B Singer and Songwriter. Nelly Kim Furtado (born December 2 1978 is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, record producer actor and instrumentalist, who also holds Portuguese Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16 1966 is an American recording artist and entertainer Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990 Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28 1987 is an American Actress, pop Singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne Whibley (born September 27 1984 better known by her birth name of Avril Lavigne (ˈævrɨl ləˈviːn is a Canadian Grammy Award Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (born September 4 1981 commonly known as Beyoncé (biːˈɑn John Clayton Mayer (; born October 16 1977 is an American musician The Spice Girls are a BRIT Award -winning English pop Girl group formed in 1994 Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968 in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, currently comprised of George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943 in Great Bookham, Surrey) is an English rock musician Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July Marco Antonio Muñiz (born September 16 1968 is an American singer/songwriter/actor of Puerto Rican descent popular in Latin America for his Salsa music Hannah Montana is an Emmy Award-nominated American Television series, which debuted on March 24 2006 on Disney Channel. Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23 1992 is an American Actress and Singer-songwriter. Green Day is an American rock trio Britney Jean Spears (born December 2 1981 is an American recording artist and entertainer John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer Zakk Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt on January 14, 1967 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American musician who System of a Down (commonly referred to as System or abbreviated as SOAD) is an Armenian American rock band formed in 1994 in Slipknot is an American band from Des Moines Iowa. Slipknot consists of nine members the current band members are Sid Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an

Best Buy Theatre

Located within the Air Canada Centre is the 5,200-seat Best Buy Theatre, used for theatre concerts, Broadway and family shows, and other events. Best Buy Co Inc ( is a Fortune 100 company and the largest specialty retailer of Consumer electronics in the United States and Canada It was formerly called the Sears Theatre and is also known as the Theatre at ACC. Sears Canada Inc ( (more commonly referred to as "Sears" is a Retailer, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that operates in all provinces

Future developments

In late 2005, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced that they would be renovating the western side of the Air Canada Centre during the 2008 off-season, to connect it with the future Maple Leaf Square development. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Maple Leaf Square is a two-tower condominium hotel office and retail complex currently under construction to the west of the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto Maple Leaf Square is jointly owned by MLSE, Cadillac Fairview and Lantera Developments. The $500 million development will include two restaurants, Hotel Le Germain at Maple Leaf Square boutique hotel, extensive retail shopping including a 9,000 square foot Leafs, Raptors, and Toronto FC store, two 54-storey condominiums, a Longo's supermarket, a High-Definition broadcast studio, and a public square. Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club located in Toronto, and the first non-American team in Major League Soccer (MLS Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc ( Longos) is a family run Grocery chain in the Greater Toronto Area. It is slated for completion in 2009-10.

During the 2007 off-season summer MLSE installed a $4 million dollar dehumidifier to help create better ice conditions for the hockey players.

During the 2008 off-season, MLSE will be installing a new high definition video scoreboard. The centre hung scoreboard will have 17 screens and will be made by Mitsubishi Electric.

Security at the ACC

Security Services at Air Canada Centre are divided into two departments, Event Security and Facility Security. The facility security team is 24-hour security service. The building is monitored 24 hours a day by foot patrols, and CCTV cameras. The event security team works the events only. They are responsible for enforcing the Liquor Licence Act and the Trespass to Property Act. The Liquor Licence Act of Ontario is a provincial act in Ontario dealing with licensing and possession of alcohol Event and Facility security officers have the full authority to arrest and physically remove patrons off the property. Facility security officers back up the Event Security team in the event of violent individuals. The entire security team is trained with the Use of Force model used by the police. At each event, there are Toronto Police officers on site. The Toronto Police Service ( TPS) formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the Police force for the City of Toronto, Ontario When coming to an event, outside food or drink are prohibited from entering in the building.

Gallery

View from CN Tower	During a Leafs game	Another view of the ACC from the inside	The Police performing on their world tour, November 2007
During a Raptors game

See also

Other venues in the Toronto area, past and present, include:

• Rogers Centre (Formerly known as SkyDome)
• Ricoh Coliseum
• Maple Leaf Gardens
• Mutual Street Arena
• Molson Amphitheatre
• Varsity Arena
• Hershey Centre (in Mississauga)
• St. Michael's College School Arena
• BMO Field
• Maple Leaf Stadium
• Exhibition Stadium

External links

• The Air Canada Centre
• Seats3D - Interactive Seating Map at Air Canada Center for Maple Leafs
• Seats3D - Interactive Seating Map at Air Canada Center for Toronto Raptors

References