Scotiabank Arena: Guide for Visiting Fans

This is about as easy as transit-to-arena logistics gets. Take the TTC subway to Union Station on Line 1 (Yonge-University); the arena connects directly via the underground PATH network, meaning no outdoor walking required — a real gift in a January blizzard. The covered PATH walkway connects Union Station directly to Scotiabank Arena; follow the red arena decals through the underground maze and you'll reach the turnstiles in under five minutes without stepping outside.

Coming in from the airport? The UP Express gets you from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to downtown Union Station in a reliable 28 minutes. Trains depart every 15 minutes from Pearson Airport Terminal 1. From Terminal 3, take the free Terminal Link Train to Terminal 1 and follow the "Train to City" signs. The walk from the UP Express station at Union Station to Scotiabank Arena takes approximately 5–7 minutes outside, or follow the PATH underground.

By car, the Gardiner Expressway is your highway. Exit at Bay Street heading north — you'll see the arena almost immediately. Budget 20 minutes from the 427/Gardiner junction under normal conditions; add 15–20 minutes on game nights. Rideshare drop-off works well on Bremner Boulevard (south side of the arena) before tip-off — less congested than Bay Street itself.

Parking near the arena in downtown Toronto is genuinely expensive and sells out for marquee games. The on-site arena garage charges a flat CAD $50 per event (credit/debit only). Nearby Green P lots and private event lots range from CAD $15 to $40. One public parking garage operates 24/7 and offers sports and entertainment event parking, with entrance off York Street and Bremner Boulevard.

The honest advice: if you're driving solo and on any kind of budget, book a Green P lot 3–4 blocks north around King or Adelaide before you leave the house. The lots directly adjacent to the arena fill up an hour before tip-off and exit slowly. The ones on Front Street West and around the Rogers Centre area are walkable (10–12 minutes) and clear faster because everyone else heads for Bay Street. Don't plan on leaving your car under the arena and zipping out at the final whistle — that is not how this works.

The South Core / Financial District area immediately surrounding the arena is hotel-dense and walkable. Scotiabank Arena is close to the CN Tower, the theatre district, restaurants, 15 major hotels, shopping, and two main transportation arteries: the Gardiner Expressway and Union Station.

For value, look at hotels on or just north of Front Street — you're 5–10 minutes on foot to both the arena and Union Station, which opens up the entire TTC network. The Fairmont Royal York is directly across from Union Station and walking distance to the arena; it's a beautiful old property and makes for a memorable stay if you want to splash out. The Entertainment District (King Street West, around the theatres) is lively the night before a game and still just a 10-minute walk east to Scotiabank Arena. King West also gives you better post-game bar options than the South Core dead zone. Budget travelers can find serviceable chain hotels a short subway ride north around Bloor-Yonge without paying the downtown premium.

Real Sports Bar & Grill (15 York Street, steps from the arena entrance) is the undisputed pregame hub. Decked out with nearly 200 TVs and 100+ beer taps, it is loud, packed on game nights, and unabashedly sports-focused. Expect 90-minute waits on game nights without reservations — book in advance or arrive early.

The Fox is a solid alternative when Real Sports feels overwhelming. Located just 50 yards south of Scotiabank Arena, The Fox provides an urban take on the traditional pub with handcrafted cocktails and craft beer. Faster service and less of a zoo.

Aria Ristorante is right next door to the arena and the place to go if you want an actual sit-down Italian dinner before tip-off. Directly adjacent to the arena, it sets the standard for authentic Italian cuisine in Toronto, with 35-foot glass walls bathing the dining space in daylight.

Steam Whistle Brewery at the Roundhouse is a short walk southwest of the arena — the historic locomotive roundhouse serves unfiltered pilsner in a unique setting, with a beer garden offering outdoor seating with CN Tower views. Worth the slight detour for the atmosphere alone, especially if you have 90+ minutes before tip-off.

To protect fans, employees, and teams, and to align with league and tour standards, a restricted bag policy is in place at Scotiabank Arena. Only small purses, clutch, or fanny pack-type bags smaller than 16.5cm × 11.5cm (6.5" × 4.5") are permitted. To be blunt: this is extremely small. Your standard fanny pack might not make it through. Plan to go pocketable. Bag check is available for $25 for items that do not fit the size requirement, located in the galleria across from Gate 1. X-ray inspection for medical or oversized bags is available at Gates 1, 3, and 5.

Doors typically open 90 minutes before events. The Galleria entrance off Bay Street (Gate 1) is well signposted and the most-used entrance; Gates 3 and 5 on the south and west sides tend to have shorter queues, especially for those arriving via Bremner Boulevard. Scotiabank Arena is fully cashless — all purchases inside, including food, drinks, and merchandise, are paid by credit or debit card only. No cash is accepted at any concession or retail point. Bring your phone and a card.

The arena provides one per cent of fixed seating for the disabled and their companions, with accessible seating areas strategically located throughout the building to provide maximum flexibility and pricing selection. All gates are fully accessible. Book accessible seats through Ticketmaster.ca.

Elevators are available at all public levels and accessible routes run through the PATH connection from Union Station, making it possible to get from the subway platform to your seat without using stairs. Assistive listening devices are available; contact Fan Services at (416) 815-5982 ahead of your visit to arrange accommodations. Fans with food allergies or medical conditions who require specific types of food and beverage are permitted to bring their own into the facility; call Fan Services at (416) 815-5982 to inquire about exceptions. Note that Scotiabank Arena sells peanuts and other nut products throughout the building and does not have areas free from nut products, so those with nut allergies should exercise extreme caution.

There is no designated away section for NBA games at Scotiabank Arena — seating is general admission by ticket. Away fans typically scatter throughout the lower bowl, but you'll find natural concentrations in sections 101–108 (baseline/corner, lower bowl) and the 300-level ends. The arena is compact enough that there isn't a bad sightline in the building. Good views come from most seats.

If you want to be around fellow travelers, the upper bowl (500–521 range) tends to draw more casual and mixed-fan crowds — the die-hard Raptors loyalists tend to pack the lower bowl and corner club sections. The 300-level sidelines (sections 307–311, 316–320) offer solid mid-tier sightlines without paying lower bowl prices. Avoid seats at the very top corners of the 500s — they're fine acoustically but feel removed from the action. Baseline lower bowl seats (101–107) are excellent for the away team's offensive possessions.

The cheapest alcoholic drinks start at $13.25 CAD and only go upwards from there — so budget accordingly. The 100-level concourse offers Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza, poutine, shawarma, and grilled cheese , which skews Canadian and covers the basics. The arena is fully cashless, with all purchases made by credit or debit card. Outside food is not permitted (the bag policy alone makes smuggling impractical), so eat beforehand or accept the arena economics.

Raptors fans are genuinely knowledgeable — this is a city that watched its team win an NBA championship in 2019 and hasn't let go of that identity since. Expect real engagement: they know your team's roster, they'll chirp specific players, and they don't need to be loud to be effective. The arena is compact and intimate for a 19,800-seat building, which means visitor noise doesn't carry the way it might in a domed stadium — your cheers will be heard, but they'll be quickly swallowed up by the home crowd. The one thing no guide will warn you about: the underground PATH routing means everyone in Scotiabank Arena arrives looking fresh and warm. There's no miserable walk through January sleet to pre-exhaust the crowd. They arrive comfortable and ready, and so should you.

Transit: This is by far the best exit option. Scotiabank Arena is connected to Union Station's railway, subway, and regional bus services and the PATH. Head underground immediately after the final buzzer and you can be on a southbound Line 1 train within 5–7 minutes. TTC runs frequent service post-game, typically every 3–5 minutes on game nights; the platform fills fast but trains come fast too. Aim to leave your seat with 90 seconds left on the clock if the game is decided — you'll beat the full crush by 3–4 minutes and catch an uncrowded train.

Driving: Lots on Bremner Boulevard (south side) clear faster than the Bay Street-facing lots because you can exit onto Lake Shore Boulevard West and go east or west without fighting the Bay/Front intersection gridlock. Realistically, add 30–40 minutes to any drive time in the first hour after final buzzer. If you're in no rush, wait inside the building for 45 minutes — grab a drink at a concourse bar and walk out when the roads are moving.

Rideshare: Surge pricing is real — typically 1.5–2.5× within 10 minutes of final buzzer on Bay Street. Walk two blocks east to Yonge Street or west to York Street and request there; the arena's central location connects to GO Transit, VIA Rail, the TTC subway, streetcars, and regional services all at Union Station, so Uber and Lyft drivers are circling that whole radius. Best move: wait 20–25 minutes in the arena, walk to the Harbour Square area or the Rogers Centre end on Bremner, and request there. Surge will have dropped significantly.

One opinionated tip: The PATH is your unfair advantage. While everyone else is funneling onto Bay Street or sitting in parking garages, you can be underground, at Union Station, on a northbound subway in under eight minutes. Use it.

How do I get to Scotiabank Arena from Pearson Airport (YYZ)?

The UP Express gets you from Pearson Airport to downtown Union Station in 28 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes from Terminal 1. From Union Station, the arena is a 5–7 minute walk (or underground via PATH).

What is the bag policy at Scotiabank Arena?

Only small purses, clutch, or fanny pack-type bags smaller than 16.5cm × 11.5cm (6.5" × 4.5") are permitted. Bag check is $25 and located in the Galleria across from Gate 1.

How much does parking cost near Scotiabank Arena?

The on-site arena garage is a flat CAD $50 (credit/debit only). Nearby Green P and private lots range from CAD $15 to $40. Book ahead for best rates.

What time do gates open for Raptors games?

Doors typically open 90 minutes before events. Confirm on your event listing, as tip-off times vary.

Does Scotiabank Arena accept cash?

No. The arena is fully cashless — no cash is accepted at any concession or retail point. Credit and debit cards only.

What are the best seats for away fans at Scotiabank Arena? There is no designated away section. The 300-level ends and upper bowl (500-level) have the most mixed crowds; sections 101–108 in the lower bowl provide excellent sightlines if you want to be close to the action.

How much does beer cost at a Raptors game?

The cheapest alcoholic drinks start at CAD $13.25 and only go up from there. Budget accordingly or pre-game at one of the many bars nearby.

What is the nearest subway station to Scotiabank Arena?

The nearest subway station to Scotiabank Arena is Union Station on Line 1 (Yonge-University), a 4-minute walk away. The PATH underground connection makes it even faster in bad weather.