Nathan Phillips Square during the NHL All-Star Weekend
With a team in almost every major sports league in North America and host to major events like the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, Toronto is a sports-lovers dream. When it’s game night, you’ll see it on the streets, with Torontonians proudly wearing their jerseys to show support for their team, whether it’s the Raptors, Maple Leafs or the city’s newest team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
"Toronto is a welcoming community of sport. We welcome one and all because we are one and all,” says Tessa Bonhomme, former TSN sportscaster and Olympian.
Because of this contagious enthusiasm and Toronto’s culturally diverse population, the city is also a testing ground of sorts for major leagues looking to experiment with new concepts and exhibition games, like the WNBA. Wellness has a big scene here, too, with plenty of opportunities for attendees to stay fit while on the road.
Activities in the city for the sports and wellness enthusiasts attending your meeting or event are plentiful, whether that means cheering on the home team or breaking a sweat themselves.
When building your Toronto itinerary, consider adding some of these experiences to the plan.
NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Arena
1. Have a bite and catch the game at Real Sports or NBA Courtside
Real Sports, right beside the Scotiabank Arena—home to the Raptors and Leafs—is a fantastic venue for an elevated game night. With 100 beers on tap and 200 TVs on display for viewing, the energy here is contagious. For smaller groups, a private dining room can accommodate groups of 13 or more. Equipped with its own bar and casual seating, it’s a space built for networking.
Basketball fans will love the new NBA Courtside restaurant on the city’s waterfront. Opened in April 2023, a love of the game is infused in every aspect of the space. From an iconic gallery wall of player’s sneakers, including an autographed size 22 shoe from Shaquille O’Neal, to table tops made from former hardwood court floors, this venue will make for a meal to remember. And the intimate upper-level private dining room, for groups of up to 16, is a unique space for meetings.
2. Enjoy Hotel X’s next-level facilities: pickleball, golf simulator, indoor/outdoor pool and more
While many hotels have fitness centres, there’s none quite like the space at Hotel X, which was home to several NHL teams for the league during the pandemic season. The five-level facility, called 10XTO, is a 90,000-square-foot hub for everything athletic, including four tennis courts, eight squash courts (some now converted to pickleball), Pilates and spin studios, plus strength training and Technogym spaces.
Most popular with the pros during their stay was the golf simulator, which hotel guests have access to. There’s also a heated indoor/outdoor pool on the 28th floor and gathering spaces like Cafe X with ample seating and power connections and a private screening room.
"It's all about ease of use and comfort,” says Matt Black, the hotel’s director of marketing. The hotel’s location is ideal for events taking place on Exhibition Grounds—there’s a direct connection to the Beanfield Centre and the Enercare Centre.
3. Play outdoor games at Stackt Market and WinterViews
Initially pop-up spaces, Stackt Market and RendezViews a.k.a. WinterViews have become so beloved by locals that they’re now long-time fixtures; and they’re exciting venues for events, whether it’s a speaker panel with cocktails or a casual social hour to kick off a conference. Both are in buzzy locations in the heart of the city and have original and vibrant mural art as their backdrops.
Table top curling at Stackt Market
An always-evolving market designed with shipping containers, Stackt’s spaces are malleable, and with indoor and outdoor facilities, any type of experience you want to plan can be achieved: fire pits, winter sports-inspired games (table top curling anyone?) and catering from onsite vendors, such as Blue Moon Brewery.
Nearby in the downtown core, WinterViews—presented by RendezViews—can be reserved as a single venue or its cozy cabins can be booked individually for team building. Each comes with its own fire pit and catering can be booked, including marshmallows to roast for s’mores. There’s a skating rink here too for those who want to lace up.
4. Explore the city’s outdoor rinks and trendy bathhouses
Social experiences are essential for team building and for unwinding after a day inside, and Toronto has memorable opportunities that will have your attendees talking long after your event is complete.
The Bentway, a repurposed public space under the Gardiner Expressway, is home to an iconic skating rink surrounded by public art. In the shape of a figure eight, the rink is open for day and evening skates, and gear rentals are available. Nathan Phillips Square, at City Hall, is another picture-perfect rink to consider for public skates.
Warm up and wind down at Othership, which has two locations in the city. The social bathhouse experience is a combination of sauna session and cold plunge, and can be done via guided class or a self-guided visit. The welcoming atmosphere, which is made to foster connections, is perfect for newcomers to this type of relaxation, and still invigorating for those who are cold plunge veterans.
