Maple Leaf Square is a multi-use complex and public square located in the South Core neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located to the west of the Scotiabank Arena on the former Railway Lands. The $500 million development was jointly developed by Cadillac Fairview, Lanterra and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), who own the nearby Scotiabank Arena. The complex has 1,800,000 square feet (170,000 m2) of usable space covering 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) on one city block.[2]
Name
Maple Leaf Square is named after Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, both of which play in Scotiabank Arena next to the square.[3][4] During the 2014 postseason for the Raptors, the public square became a popular gathering area to view playoff games, and was nicknamed by fans as Jurassic Park,[4][5] in reference to the film from which the Raptors team name originated. The square is now colloquially referred to as Jurassic Park by the fans and media in addition to the real name, the Raptors Tailgate.[6]
On September 25, 2014, it was reported that the official name of the square would be changed to Ford Square from Maple Leaf Square, after the Ford Motor Company of Canada's purchase of naming rights to the square.[7] After public uproar to the rename,[8][9][10][11] five days later, MLSE said that those reports were "premature and unfounded" and that they would not get rid of the name.[8] Instead, they announced that the square would be rebranded as the Ford Fan Zone at Maple Leaf Square[8] due to a five-year sponsorship deal with Ford Canada.[10]
History
Construction on the project began in January 2007.
The two glass and cast-in-place concrete towers are 65 storeys, containing 872 residential units, a 167-room Hotel LeGermain Boutique Hotel, 230,000 square feet (21,000 m2) of office space, 110,000 square feet (10,000 m2) of retail space, a 7,000-square-foot (650 m2) daycare centre, a high-definition theatre that broadcasts Leafs Nation Network and NBA TV Canada 24-hours a day, and four levels of underground parking with nearly 900 spaces.
The public square has a capacity of 5,000 people. It hosts pre-game gatherings and other sports-related events.[12]
In conjunction with the project, the Scotiabank Arena itself on the side of Maple Leaf Square was renovated.[12] The renovations included a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) atrium addition to the west side of the arena which abuts the plaza. The outside wall of the atrium features a 50 by 80-foot (24 m) video screen overlooking the plaza which was inspired by similar plazas at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, and Victory Park in Dallas.[12] Games going on inside the arena are often displayed live on the outdoor screen.
The public square holds special outdoor viewings of significant games like home openers and playoff games for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors on a giant video screen affixed above the west entrance of Scotiabank Arena. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns both franchises, puts concession and merchandise stands on the square during such occasions.[4] These viewings happen regardless of whether the team is playing at home or on the road. Popularity of this fan experience has risen over the years and has required heightened security and traffic control.[13] Interest in attendance reached a new level on May 25, 2019, to watch the Raptors win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time.[14][15][16] Following the Raptors' historic win in the 2019 NBA Finals, the City of Toronto renamed as Raptors Way a portion of Bremner Boulevard from York Street to Lake Shore Boulevard.[17]
^"Toronto's Jurassic Park adds college vibe to NBA Finals". The Oklahoman. Associated Press. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019. Officially, it's called 'Raptors Tailgate in Maple Leaf Square,' but it's better known as Jurassic Park.
