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Loads of room for taking-in-the-action entertaining in a
Summit Suite
at the Rogers Centre.
Toronto is our kind of town when it comes to year-round sporting action. Home to big leagues and big stadiums, planners need not search too hard for ideas that will reward, entice and entertain groups and VIPs; tickets to the game are always welcome.
When set to impress, though, aim for the private suites where the perks are plenty and the privilege prestigious. Here’s an inside look at stadium suites around town:
Rogers Centre
Dome open or dome closed, the suites here are mighty nice either way with sweeping field vistas and chic interiors—baseball never looked so good! Two top Toronto design firms recently transformed over half of the centre’s 95 suites into upscale modern lounges for 16 to 350 people. All boast full amenities and interior/exterior seating. Merchandise packaging and player visits can be arranged.
While a lease is often the entry key to suite use, the new Summit Suite along the 400 level is available for event rental year-round. The large, fully convertible space fits groups from 30 to 350 with boardroom area, billiard table and bars. Season-ticket holders can also entertain groups of up to 40 in the Club VIP wine lounge and restaurant. www.rogerscentre.com
A view from above in a Theatre Suite at the Air Canada Centre.
Air Canada Centre
Maple Leaf hockey, Raptors basketball and a star-studded concert and event calendar typically sell out the ACC’s 160 suites for the year. However, planners without an “in” can turn to the centre’s Adopt-A-Suite program, which rents out unused dates on behalf of suite holders. Suite sizes range in capacity from 10 to 25 people and are located at five different levels of the stadium.
Among the perks, are an exclusive VIP entrance for your guests, up to two-hour post-event access and opportunity for in-suite Leaf alumni meet and greets. All of the suites boast rich cherry wood and leather interiors with ample seating and standing room. New furnishings, cabinetry and decor recently updated all 40 Platinum Lounges, which combines suite entertaining with premium in-stadium seating. www.theaircanadacentre.com
The BMO Field and its chic suites open this spring.
BMO Field
Soccer fans are in countdown mode as Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium, on the grounds of Exhibition Place, adds the finishing touches before its official opening game next month. Home to Toronto FC, the city’s first major league soccer team, and Canada’s national teams, the 20,000-seat stadium will play host to FIFA’s Under-20 World Cup this summer.
Thirty glassed-in sleekly designed suites, located on the concourse level, accommodate up to 20 guests and include in-room LCD screen, designated hospitality host and double-row exterior seating areas with excellent vantage points. Two additional corporate entertaining lounges are located along the north end of the stadium, opening options for larger groups of 90 and 105. Non-suite holders can check availability through an Adopt-A-Suite program. www.bmofield.com
Two large hospitality lounges are among the Rexall Centre's
suite choices.
Rexall Centre Sports & Entertainment Complex
Tennis is the name of the game as corporate entertaining at this York University campus stadium swings into high gear during the Rogers Cup in August. Forty suites offer capacities for 14 people to 80, with two large hospitality lounges each accommodating about 160 people. Souvenir programs, player walk-throughs and signed merchandise can be arranged.
A unique Be-A-Player program gives suite-holders and guests the option of revisiting the stadium post-tournament, while it’s still dressed in Rogers Cup promotion, for a behind-the-scenes tour and a couple hours of court play. On-site boardrooms are available for combining a meeting before convening to a suite for game-set-match. http://tor.tenniscanada.ca/rexall
Ricoh Coliseum's intimate arena size brings suites into the action
Ricoh Coliseum
Minor-league hockey action makes this Exhibition Place centre one of the most affordable and accessible options for companies and community groups looking for family-focused entertainment. Suite rentals can be packaged to include post-game skates with Toronto Marlie players, private ice time rentals, Jumbotron welcomes and mascot visits.
The suites—38 in all—offer premium viewing with capacities ranging from 12 to 30 guests. Tickets, suite attendant and buffet are part of a regular rental. Plans to super-size a few of the suites into true interactive family zones with kid-friendly amenities and arcade games are currently under consideration. www.ricohcoliseum.com 
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