Design
Toronto's Reimagined Maple Leaf Gardens Fulfills its Destiny (at Long Last)
There's no hockey, but a grocery store and sports center are drawing people from around the city.
After a decade of waiting, Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens is back in full use, only without any of the professional sports or concerts that once made it such an important part of the city’s identity.
A retail complex debuted in late 2011, but a full transformation of the historic former home of Toronto’s hockey team was finally completed this fall. Purists may be upset that the building isn’t being used for its original purpose. But just like the flagship grocery store that debuted before it, the Mattamy Athletic Center is filled with arena nostalgia.