Toronto Sports Culture

Toronto fields a team in every major North American professional league, almost all of it owned by the same company (MLSE) and clustered within walking distance of each other downtown.

Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)

Founded in 1917, one of the NHL's "Original Six" franchises, with 13 Stanley Cups — though none since 1967, a drought long enough to be its own running joke across Canada. They play at Scotiabank Arena, seating roughly 19,800.

Toronto Raptors (NBA)

Founded in 1995 as the NBA's attempt to bring basketball back to Canada. Their 2019 championship run produced the slogan that became a citywide identity well beyond basketball fans — full entry: We The North, unveiled in April 2014 as marketing and adopted almost immediately as something closer to civic pride.

Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)

Founded in 1976, Canada's only MLB team, playing at Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) — the first stadium in the world with a fully retractable roof when it opened in 1989. Their back-to-back 1992 and 1993 World Series wins remain the only World Series titles ever won by a non-U.S. team.

Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

Founded in 1873 — one of the oldest sports franchises in North America, professional or otherwise — and the most decorated team in Canadian Football League history, with a record number of Grey Cup championships.

Toronto FC (MLS)

Plays at BMO Field, Canada's first soccer-specific stadium, at Exhibition Place near the lakeshore.

Sources

• Wikipedia — Toronto Maple Leafs
• Wikipedia — Toronto Argonauts
• Wikipedia — History of the Toronto Blue Jays
• Wikipedia — Toronto FC

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