Where to watch pro sports games in Ontario

Baseball

In a country filled with regional sports rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays stand alone in claiming to be "Canada’s Team." After back-to-back World Series titles in the early 90s and playoff successes earlier this decade, fans are hopeful for another major win under the retractable roof at the Rogers Centre. 

Hockey

Canadians love their sports, but make no mistake—nothing brings the nation together quite like a big Saturday night NHL game. Toronto is home to Leafs Nation, and long-suffering and eternally optimistic Maple Leafs fans have good reason to believe this is the year that the team’s 50+-year Stanley Cup drought comes to an end. If you’re lucky enough to attend a playoff game, you’ll witness an intensity you might not expect of the normally polite and reserved locals.

Even without tickets to the game, you can witness Leafs playoff excitement at every location that has a TV, or join the huge crowds that gather to watch on the big screen in Maple Leaf Square, just outside Scotiabank Arena. And no hockey pilgrimage to Toronto is complete without a visit to the sport’s shrine to greatness, the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Toronto isn’t the only Ontario city devoted to the country’s national winter sport. The Ottawa Senators may not have the history of their provincial rival, but that doesn’t mean the team’s fan base is any less passionate. The same holds true of the cities that are home to Ontario Hockey League teams. In Niagara, Windsor, London and Kingston, just to name a few, you can catch the next generation of NHL superstars.

Fans of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) can watch the Ottawa Charge play home games at TD Place Arena and the Toronto Sceptres play at the  Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Basketball

In Toronto, the Raptors have captured the hearts of sports fans of all ages. With local rapper Drake’s influence, the “We The North” slogan, and their historic 2019 Championship win, the team and its fans have developed a strong confidence and pride over the past few years.

The Raptors and Leafs both call the Scotiabank Area home, and each team is cheered on by vibrant, enthusiastic fans. During the basketball playoffs, Maple Leaf Square is transformed into a festive outdoor viewing venue for Raptors fans.

The WNBA franchise extends north to Canada in 2026 when a new team based in Toronto is set to play women’s professional basketball at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Football

For fans of high-scoring action, the Canadian Football League (CFL) delivers an exciting season of offensive showdown. A bigger field and only three downs means this pass-first game provides non-stop excitement.

In Ontario, the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa REDBLACKS compete for the Grey Cup, a championship that dates back over 100 years.

Golf

The RBC Canadian Open attracts popular names in golf. The CPKC Women’s Open  is on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. Canada’s golf hero Brooke Henderson captured the title in 2018.

Soccer

Soccer fans in Ontario have a lot to cheer about. Toronto FC is Ontario’s only soccer team in North America’s professional major league soccer club. Prepare to stand and chant for 90 minutes at a Toronto FC game. The community spirit and atmosphere match the liveliness in Europe and South America.

Canadian Premier League features three Ontario teams: York United FC in Toronto, Forge FC in Hamilton and Atlético Ottawa. 

Canada's premier professional women's soccer league, the Northern Super League (NSL), launches in spring 2025.Teams from Toronto and Ottawa will represent Ontario in this highly anticipated soccer league.

Get ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup featuring Toronto as one of the sixteen host cities in North America.

Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé!

Motorsports

For motorsports fans, the IndyCar circuit roars into Exhibition Place on Toronto’s waterfront in the summer for the Honda Indy. The two-day festival that surrounds the event is every bit as rockin’ as the big race itself.

More sports worth seeing

UFC Fight Night: Check the schedule for a show in Ottawa.

National Bank Open: Watch Canada’s marquee Tennis event in Toronto.

Toronto Rock: The city’s National Lacrosse League team has won several league titles and it should be noted that lacrosse is also the national summer sport of Canada.

Toronto Defiant: eSports aficionados welcomed Toronto to the Overwatch League in 2019. Join fellow Overwatch enthusiasts in real-life settings like Click ESports in Ottawa.
 

Where to stay, eat and play

In Toronto 

Stay in trendy places that ooze style without sacrificing convenience. Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square is just steps away from the Scotiabank Arena and the Rogers Centre. The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto’s landmark heritage hotel, underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and is perfectly situated within walking distance of all the downtown sports and nightlife action.

Dine at restaurants that offer great food and the best scenic views of Canada’s largest city.

At Kost, sample a menu inspired by the Baja Peninsula on the 44th floor of Bisha Hotel. Valerie offers glorious waterfront views from its three-level rooftop perch at Hotel X.

You won’t find a better view than from 360 The Restaurant‘s revolving dining room 1,150 feet (350 metres) up the CN Tower. Sportsnet Grill, located in the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, offers superfans the ultimate dining experience with a bird’s-eye view over the Rogers Centre.

Immerse yourself into local culture and tap into Canada’s craft brew scene at Left Field Brewery, where baseball-inspired brews are served in a super chill east-end brewery (the head of security and customer relations is a basset hound). 

Steam Whistle Brewing, located at the Roundhouse—a Toronto landmark just steps from the Rogers Centre—is a must before and/or after a Jays game. And The Loose Moose is a perfect pre- and post-game hotspot, boasting one of the largest draft selections in the city and live music in the underground Antler Room.

In Hamilton

Stay at C by Carmen’s, a boutique hotel with celebrity-themed rooms, a rooftop lounge, heated indoor pool and suites with full kitchenettes. In the heart of the city, the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel offers roomy suites that are perfect for groups. 

The downtown dining scene is where "Steeltown" sets itself apart. At Born & Raised, owner/chef and Top Chef Canada finalist Vittorio Colacitti blends local ingredients to create a bold and vibrant Italian menu. It’s worth venturing 11 kilometres from downtown to dine at Ancaster Mill (housed in a restored heritage mill, overlooking a scenic waterfall—one of over 100 in the area), where the menu is dedicated to farm-to-table fare.

Naturally, a game and a meal calls for a bar hop. Collective Arts Brewing is a one-of-a-kind experience. This hotspot combines local craft beer with a thriving music and arts scene. If your idea of a home run is a sausage-based menu served with craft beer, then you’ll want to head over to Merit Brewing. And at Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill and Bar, there’s a chance you may bump into the former Maple Leafs captain at his casual grill house.

In Ottawa

To stay close to the sports action, you’ll want to check into Brookstreet Hotel, the "official hotel of the Ottawa Senators" located in Kanata. It’s just a short distance from the Canadian Tire Centre and offers up to a 15% discount the night before and night of Senators games. For autograph and selfie hounds, it’s also a popular hotel for the visiting teams.

To stay close to the action in the heart of the city, the Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market features contemporary, Canadian design with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Parliament Buildings, Gatineau Hills and the bustling market below.

There’s more to Ottawa’s palate than poutine or BeaverTails (although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with either of them). Sur-Lie Restaurant and Wine Bar, located in ByWard Market, is an upscale eatery focused on modern French cuisine.

An unforgettable meal at Signatures Restaurant, Le Cordon Bleu, the in-house restaurant of the prestigious French culinary institute, the only one in Canada, will save you the trip to France. And at Atelier, Marc Lepine (the owner and one of Canada’s most recognized chefs) serves up an experiential and interactive 40-course tasting menu.

When it comes to enjoying a pint or cocktail, you can't go wrong in the seat of Canadian political life. Union 613, a hip speakeasy-style hangout with communal seating, is renowned for its outstanding cocktails and late-night menu.

If you prefer an upscale pub featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of craft beers from across Ontario, check out Wellington Gastropub. Join the local fans at The Senate Tavern, whose Clarence Street location provides a Senators game-day return shuttle service.

Whether you’re following your team across the border or find yourself joining enthusiastic locals and adopting a new favourite, Ontario welcomes sports fans of all stripes.