Sports and Entertainment: Cathedrals of the 21st Century

Downtown Toronto experienced a boom of new cultural and athletic facilities from the late 1980s through the early 2010s, with the development of the Canadian Broadcasting Centre (1988), the MLB stadium called the Rogers Centre (1989), Metro Hall (1992), NHL and NBA venue Scotiabank Arena (1999), the historic Roundhouse including Steamwhistle Brewery (2000), a major expansion of the Art Gallery of Ontario (2008), the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Bell Lightbox (2009), and Ripley’s Aquarium (2013). These facilities are centered on Bremner Boulevard and John Street, now both important axis of tourism as well as cultural and athletic life in Toronto, and the city is undertaking a major redevelopment of John Street into a “cultural corridor” in recognition of its national importance. These venues were complemented by extensive high-density residential and office developments, often replacing underused surface parking lots and railway lands. Join us for a walking tour of this densely programmed area, with stops at several key locations for a deeper look at their place in Toronto’s cultural and athletic life.