1st Leafs Game

[fro29445]

I have been a life long fan of the Leafs and my wife has surprised me with tickets to a home game coming up. We will be traveling from the US ( south ) but staying in Niagara Falls for a while. Where would be the best place for us to park for the game?

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[Niagara Bill]

I have been a life long fan of the Leafs and my wife has surprised me with tickets to a home game coming up. We will be traveling from the US ( south ) but staying in Niagara Falls for a while. Where would be the best place for us to park for the game?

Burlington. Take the go train.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Better yet don't leave NF .. you can buy a GO Train ticket there and back to Union Station .. Scotiabank arena is walking distance from Union Station .. parking downtown is a pain .. go to Hot stove before game for dinner and drinks .. you can't beat it

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Have fun bro, parking in the city is atrocious so unless you have to, take the train.

But have a good time, i remember my first game, I've only been to three, just not in the financial position to attend games, but it is an experience, great views nomatter where you sit.

 

[67leafs]

Novotel underground parking on the esplanade

 

[Swervin81]

What I do is park at Yorkdale and then take the TTC. Depends on your plans, though. If you're just planning on staying the night and then going straight back to the Falls, you can just take the GO Train to and from.

As far as pregaming goes, pretty much the entire stretch of Front St between Spadina and Yonge is filled with sports bars and restaurants. Real Sports is the big one (named the best sports bar in North America by ESPN), but unless things have changed since the last time I was there (7 years ago lol), you need a reservation a good month in advance. Loose Moose is another good option. If barcades are your thing, there's the Rec Room which right across the street from the Dome and easily accessible via the skywalk from Union.

Gates open an hour before puck drop, warmups start 30 mins before puck drop. You can get down to the glass for warmups. While it's mostly crowded with kids, who knows. You may get lucky and have a puck bounce your way (that happened to me in Chicago a couple years back, my most cherished puck). If you wanna take it a step further, try and get a stick from a player and if you do, just leave, make up some bullshit about how arena staff f***ed you over, and get free shit from another team

 

[Petrus]

If you want easy access to the Arena like I do, I park at 1 York Street SunLife Building). Also when leaving, the parking exit of the building is right on lakeshore which makes it easy to leave and avoid traffic. There are Lots of parking spaces. Also the parking is cheaper relative to anywhere else near the arena at $15.

The building is on the corner of York and Queen’s Quay.

Once you get to the Lobby there is an escalator up to the concourse across a pedestrian bridge into the Arena. You can enter the stadium from the 2nd floor and avoid the lineups.

If you like Art there is a Banksy painting at the end of escalator at the 1 York Building. You can’t miss it.

If you have children there is a place to take pictures and get a certificate at the arena if it is their 1st Leaf game ever! Maybe you can get one too?

Enjoy the game!

 

[ACC1224]

I park on Front street beside Scaddabush, think that’s Simcoe for $10. I can be home in Burlington within 45 minutes of the game ending.
Never take the train, too inconvenient and expensive.

 

[gswift]

I always park in the underground @ 15 York St. (below Real Sports Bar) the entrance is on Bremner. I find the convenience of parking & leaving coats/jackets in the car awesome. It's usually about $30.

 

[cupcrazyman]

My first Leafs game was at MLG Leafs 7 Wings 5 back in the late 80's
Wendel was not playing.

 

[Mr_Fun]

My first Leafs game was at MLG Leafs 7 Wings 5 back in the late 80's
Wendel was not playing.

My first Leafs game was opening night, 1974-75, against the Kansas City Scouts. Leafs won 6-2. My dad gave me the money to buy tickets with the stipulation that he didn't want to go unless I could buy Greens or better. All they had was Greys so I bought them anyways because I wanted to go so, so badly as a 13 year old kid. My dad was a little pissed but he went with me anyways. lol

 

[Tak7]

Enjoy!

If you're both planning on having a few drinks, highly consider taking the Go Train into Union Station - which is right next to the arena.

I highly recommend getting there nice and early to take it all in - right outside the Union Entrance you can take some pictures at Legends Row, and then pop in for something to eat at Real Sports Bar. All right next to each other, and that will allow you to get into the Arena right next the ticket office - you can have them print off a ticket stub for your digital ticket, as a nice little momento/keepsake of your first Leafs game.

Make sure you get in before warmups as well - it's always cool to get to your seat before warmups and the crowds wash in. If you have upper bowl tickets, getting in early will let you go lower bowl and take some pics right by the glass as well - just explain to the ushers what you're planning to do, and they'll have no issues.

If you're absolutely set on driving in, then parking underneath Real Sports (15 York Street) is your best bet. It will be a little pricy, but it's right nextdoor and super convenient. There may be a little rush to get out when the game is over, but it's still my preferred location for parking.

Have fun man. Hopefully they pull out a W for you.

 

[Hairz]

I am heading to my first leafs game, however it is on the road (Next Saturday vs Panthers)

Anyone know where the leafs stay when visiting the Panthers? They are in Tampa on the Thursday.

 

[therealkoho]

Enjoy your first bud, losing the cherry can be scary but no matter you'll be glad you did

 

[deltamachine]

25 York street is the best place to park. $24 to park 24 hours. it's also very easy to get in and out of, considering its at the end of a cul de sac so not much traffic to deal with. And you're literally right next to the arena.

 

[ECanuck]

I am heading to my first leafs game, however it is on the road (Next Saturday vs Panthers)

Anyone know where the leafs stay when visiting the Panthers? They are in Tampa on the Thursday.

I'd personally would go to Tampa game. Tampa has the feel of Canada with the nice weather as bonus.

 

[htpwn]

Better yet don't leave NF .. you can buy a GO Train ticket there and back to Union Station .. Scotiabank arena is walking distance from Union Station .. parking downtown is a pain .. go to Hot stove before game for dinner and drinks .. you can't beat it

These days, the latest trip to Niagara Falls departs Union at 5PM. Ridership fell like 75% due to COVID and the Niagara service was always a pain for GO to run in the first place (due to disruptions from ship traffic on the Welland Canal), so it is no surprise it was among the first service cuts.

If the OP does want to avoid the hassle of driving/having to park downtown, Burlington is the closest station that makes sense, but Clarkson is another one to consider. Fairly close to the highway, right before the QEW tends to bunch up (at least, in pre-COVID times, don't know about now), and less time on the train (35 minutes instead of an hour to Burlington).

Honestly, though, I'd probably just recommend driving. The cost of parking is going to be a pain, as will be driving downtown and getting out of the city after the game. But once OP gets on the Gardiner, he should be okay.

 

[Voodoo Child]

If you’re staying in Niagara Falls and just have tix for the game I’d recommend just eating it and getting a room in the city, taking the GO in and worrying about the commute back tomorrow.

Driving in Toronto or any of its suburbs is a war crime, and you’ll be lucky to park for less than $40 anywhere.

EDIT: My dad took me and my buddy to my first game sometime around 1988 or 89, they played the Bruins and lost.