Maple Leafs Arena History

The Toronto Maple Leafs arena history consists of three different venues. The first was Arena Gardens, which later became Mutual Street Arena. Arena Gardens was built in 1911, and was the home of the National Hockey Association's Toronto Blueshirts from 1912 to 1917. After the other member clubs of the NHA decided to form a new league, the NHL, it became the venue of the new Toronto franchise, the Arenas. The Arenas became the St. Patricks, and the St. Patricks became the Maple Leafs, but they still called Arena Gardens home until the end of the 1931-32 season. After that, the team moved to their second home arena, the Maple Leaf Gardens. Maple Leaf Gardens was build by then-owner Conn Smythe, and became the home of Leafs hockey until 1999. In fact, from 1946 until the Toronto NHL team left the Gardens, they sold out every single hockey game played at the arena. Ultimately, though, the new team ownership, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, decided it was time for the franchise to move into a more modern facility.

Maple Leafs Arena History: The Air Canada Center

Thus began the latest chapter in Maple Leafs arena history. MLSE decided that, in keeping with the times, they needed to build a new stadium for Toronto hockey -- one with plenty of luxury suites and other revenue generating seating arrangements. At the same time, the ownership of the Toronto Raptors NBA basketball team were overseeing the construction of their own new arena, the Air Canada Centre. MLSE did not want to share their facility at first, and intended to build a second new arena within the city of Toronto. However, as it turned out, MLSE would up purchasing the Raptors. Thus, the Air Canada Centre was modified to accommodate both sports. It opened in February of 1999. Fittingly, the first event ever held there was a match-up between the Maple Leafs and the rival Montreal Canadiens.