Toronto’s sports expansion is reshaping tourism and event planning

# Overview Toronto's recent sports activity and venue investment are changing how the city markets itself to meeting and event planners. High-visibility moments — including six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at BMO Field and the Blue Jays' run to Game 7 of the 2025 World Series — have raised Toronto's profile and tested its ability to host and move large numbers of visitors.

# What changed in Toronto's sports landscape Several factors are creating new opportunities for tourism and corporate events:

• Venue upgrades: BMO Field expanded to roughly 45,000 seats for the World Cup and received a new pitch, upgraded player areas, expanded hospitality space and improved broadcast infrastructure. Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena have gone through multi-year renovation efforts to modernize hospitality, concourses and premium spaces.

• More flexible venue design: Coca-Cola Coliseum and training facilities such as the Ford Performance Centre and the OVO Athletic Centre are being used for more than game days, offering technical infrastructure that supports corporate AV, catering and hybrid programming.

• Tempo is the WNBA's first franchise outside the U.S., and the PWHL Toronto Sceptres sold out full-season ticket memberships and recorded attendance highs at Scotiabank Arena. These teams extend Toronto's sports calendar and provide fresh inventory for group packages.

# Practical options for meeting and event planners Destination Toronto's director of major events, Scott Ventresca, frames sports assets as programmable components planners can add into agendas with minimal transfer time because many venues sit close to downtown hotels and meeting spaces.

• Private field-level events and corporate baseball games at Rogers Centre through programs like "Beyond the Baselines."
• Full-ice or full-court rentals at Scotiabank Arena for private corporate play. Groups can use the same playing surface recently used by the Raptors or Maple Leafs.
• Suite buyouts and hospitality packages across MLSE venues, including Real Sports Bar & Grill and Maple Leaf Square for turnkey group buyouts.

# Why this matters for tourism and business High-profile sports events provide immediate tourist demand and longer-term destination credibility. The World Cup and the Blue Jays' postseason run generated worldwide exposure and offered proof points that Toronto can deliver complex, high-profile gatherings. That exposure can make it easier for planners to justify choosing Toronto for future large-scale meetings, incentives and hybrid events.

# Takeaway for planners and local businesses Sports infrastructure is no longer isolated to fan experiences. Investments and new teams have created technically capable, flexible venues that meeting planners can use for corporate programming, hospitality and memorable incentive experiences. Because many venues are in or near downtown, planners can integrate game- or team-based programming with minimal transport, turning standard meetings into distinct Toronto experiences.

# Quick action ideas

• Contact venue event teams about private field/ice/court rentals and suite inventory for your next program.
• Consider seasonal packages with the Tempo or Sceptres for player-access experiences.
• Evaluate Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena premium spaces for gala dinners, hybrid stages or large-scale hospitality activations.