By Destination Toronto on
Pro basketball’s newest Canadian franchise tips off, as the Toronto Tempo launch their inaugural season competing against 14 other Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) teams.
Like the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Tempo are the only Canadian team in their pro league. Translation: expect plenty of national pride as fans cheer on our flag bearers from courtside and in sports bars and patios across town.
Eager to jump on the bandwagon before it takes off? With home court at downtown’s Coca-Cola Coliseum—which straddles the vibey Liberty Village and scenic Waterfront —great times are guaranteed!
So grab the gang, don the team’s signature Tempo Bordeaux and Borealis Blue Tempo swag, and get ready to cheer on the Tempos as they tip off their first season in Toronto.
Coca-Cola Coliseum is located in walkable, bikeable, public transit-accessible Exhibition Place.
Here for a girls’ night? From brunch in Liberty Village to beer and burgers on King West, you’ve got lots of restaurant, sports bar and patio options for before and after the game.
Travelling with kids or teens? Don’t miss the South Core neighbourhood’s massive Rec Room entertainment complex, where the whole family can get revved up with racing simulators, arcade games and beast-mode burgers.
And if you’re here for a couple’s escape, budget time for shopping the indie shops and pop-ups at STACKT market, dining in The Well, and sipping on post-game cocktails in the Entertainment District—all nearby!
Hop onto a streetcar to explore a little further in adjacent neighbourhoods like:
When it comes to WNBA, Toronto is setting the pace… or tempo…with the 2026 inaugural season! But it’s safe to say women’s basketball will be a fan-fave, since Toronto’s sole 2023 WNBA exhibition game was a sold-out hit—and led to speculation about an expansion team.
As Canada’s sole WNBA team, expect Coca-Cola Coliseum, the surrounding area, public transit, and any bars screening the big game to get loud on Tempo game days or nights.
Local fans will no doubt carry handmade signs and represent the home team with WNBA draft ball caps or jerseys sporting the names of Toronto Tempo star players like Marina Mabrey, Kiki Rice and Brittney Sykes.
Special game-day promotions will help you build your stash, too. Look for limited-edition merch drops during 2026 theme nights, including:
Accessibility tips: Coca-Cola Coliseum’s accessibility features include wheelchair accessible washrooms on its main concourse and additional sections; the availability of wheelchair escorts (by advance request); the ability to accommodate oxygen tanks (call Fan Services at 416-815-5982 beforehand); and Sensory Bags with fidget tools and noise-cancelling headphones at its Fan Services Desk (located behind Section 117).
The game may be over, but the night is young! Post-game, you’re within easy walking distance of many downtown attractions.
Hit the Entertainment District for bars, lounges and DJs. Petty Cash Social House has live music on Friday and Saturday nights and is a great place to keep the good vibes flowing.
Also within a short walk of home court is Loose Moose, a landmark sports haunt since 1989. You’ll find 50 beers on tap, plus live music in their Antler Room.
Dynamic King West is another exciting post-game neighbourhood. King Taps has craft beer and DJs; Ruby Soho has a high-energy younger crowd; and GRETA Toronto pairs street food, craft cocktails and arcade games with a party-all-night vibe.
Why visit for a day when you can stay longer? Turn your Toronto Tempo game day into a full weekend itinerary.
Toronto is easy to navigate on foot, by public transit and by bike (you’ll find Bike Share Toronto stands throughout the city).
Coca-Cola Coliseum is easily accessible from downtown and midtown neighbourhoods, including the Entertainment District, Financial District, Old Town, Yorkville and Downtown Yonge Street, all of which have hotels at various price points.
But if you want a short, carefree stroll to centre court, you can’t beat the luxurious Hotel X Toronto, located right inside Exhibition Place. With its Guerlain spa, romantic rooftop bar, Valerie, plus the steakhouse-meets-sports-bar Playbook Commons restaurant, it’s the obvious choice for a no-compromise weekend escape.
You could easily spend a day doing a deep dive into the neighbourhoods around Exhibition Place.
Run the waterfront, or brave EdgeWalk, a spine-tingling circuit around the world-famous CN Tower, 116 storeys above street level. Afterwards, float on over to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada to spy 20,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, rays and jellyfish.
Catch a streetcar to King West’s vibrant Theatre District, where you can enjoy the hottest musicals and stage dramas and then debrief over craft cocktails, sushi and/or tapas.
And don’t miss the everything-under-one-roof Toronto Eaton Centre shopping mall, Nathan Phillips Square (home to City Hall’s iconic TORONTO sign), and live music scene of eclectic Queen Street West.
Toronto’s diversity offers a plethora of international food, including Afro-Caribbean cuisine, Asian restaurants, Italian food, a plant-based dining scene, and more.
Or, follow your appetite to unique experiences like:
Ready for a slam-dunk Toronto Tempo weekend? Start planning now to cheer on the home team in their first season!