You’d think it’s a simple question. If you’re standing in the middle of a city where every second person is wearing a "We The North" hoodie, you probably figure you’re close. But honestly, pinpointing exactly where is the Toronto Raptors located depends entirely on whether you’re looking for where they play, where they sweat, or where the "soul" of the team actually lives.
It isn't just one building.
For the casual fan, the answer is Scotiabank Arena. It sits right at 40 Bay Street in the heart of downtown Toronto. But if you show up there on a Tuesday morning hoping to see Scottie Barnes practicing his mid-range jumper, you’re going to be staring at a lot of empty concrete and maybe some guys setting up for a concert.
The Iconic Home: Scotiabank Arena
The primary spot where the Toronto Raptors are located for home games is the Scotiabank Arena. Located at the northwest corner of Bremner Boulevard and Bay Street, it’s a massive, multi-purpose hub that they share with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
The building has a weird history. It wasn’t always a high-tech sports palace. It actually started as the Toronto Postal Delivery Building back in the 40s. If you look closely at the exterior walls on the east and south sides, you can still see the original stone and bas-relief designs from its days as a mail depot. Pretty cool, right? In 1999, it opened as the Air Canada Centre before the name swap in 2018.
Here is the quick breakdown of the "Game Day" location:
- Address: 40 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5J 2X2.
- Capacity: Roughly 19,800 for basketball (they can squeeze in over 20,500 with standing room).
- Transit Hub: It’s literally connected to Union Station via the PATH (Toronto's underground walkway system). You don’t even have to go outside in the winter, which is a lifesaver when it’s -20°C.
If you’re driving, good luck. The Gardiner Expressway is right there, but the traffic is legendary for all the wrong reasons. Most locals just take the GO Train or the TTC subway.
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Where They Actually Work: OVO Athletic Centre
Now, this is the part people miss. Players don't live at the arena. Most of their time is spent west of the downtown core at the OVO Athletic Centre.
Located at 30 British Columbia Road, this is the team’s dedicated practice facility. It’s tucked away in Exhibition Place, near the lakeshore. It opened in 2016 (originally as the BioSteel Centre) and it’s basically a 68,000-square-foot laboratory for basketball.
Why have a separate spot?
Basically, the Scotiabank Arena is too busy. Between the Leafs, the Raptors, and every major touring artist like Drake or Taylor Swift, there’s no time for a basketball team to have 24/7 access to the court. At the OVO Centre, they have two full-size NBA courts, a state-of-the-art medical wing, and a "cognitive operations centre" powered by IBM Watson to analyze player data.
It’s named after Drake’s brand, OVO (October's Very Own), which makes sense given his role as the team’s Global Ambassador. You can’t usually just walk in and watch a practice, but this is the "true" location where the team chemistry is built.
Jurassic Park: The Location That Isn't a Building
When people ask where the Raptors are located during the playoffs, the answer is Maple Leaf Square.
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Known globally as Jurassic Park, this is the outdoor plaza right outside the west entrance of the arena. It’s located at the intersection of Bremner Blvd and York St. During big games, thousands of fans cram into this space to watch the game on a massive 40-foot screen.
It’s become such a landmark that other NBA cities have tried to copy the "outdoor viewing party" vibe, but nothing really beats the energy of the original. Even if you don't have a ticket to the game, being at this specific location makes you feel like you're part of the roster.
How the Location Has Changed Over Time
The Raptors haven't always lived downtown. When the franchise started in 1995, they were basically orphans. They played at the SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre), which is a baseball stadium. It was huge, weird, and the sightlines were terrible for basketball. They even played a few "home" games at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton and the Prudential Center in Newark (but we don't talk about the Tampa season during the pandemic).
Since 1999, they’ve been firmly planted at the foot of Bay Street. This move was huge for the city. It turned a bunch of old railway lands into the "Southcore" district, which is now filled with condos, restaurants like Real Sports, and tech offices.
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Actionable Tips for Visiting
If you're planning to head to where the Toronto Raptors are located, keep these practical points in mind:
- Use the PATH: If it’s cold or raining, find an entrance to the underground PATH system. It leads directly into the Scotiabank Arena Galleria.
- Gate 1 is the Hub: About 60% of people enter through Gate 1. It’s usually the busiest, so try the side gates on Bay Street if you’re running late.
- Check the Training Schedule: While the OVO Athletic Centre is private, they sometimes host community clinics or open practices. Keep an eye on the official Raptors social media for those rare invites.
- Security is Strict: Scotiabank Arena is a "no bag" or "small bag" venue. Don't bring a backpack or you'll end up paying for a locker outside.
The team is deeply rooted in the 416 area code. Whether it's the high-stakes hardwood of the arena or the quiet grind of the practice courts at Exhibition Place, the Raptors are central to Toronto's identity. If you're heading down there, just follow the crowd of jerseys heading south from Union Station—you can't miss it.