Scotiabank Arena Parking Guide — Where to Park in Downtown Toronto
Where to park for Scotiabank Arena events without paying premium rates: the on-site garage, nearby Green P lots, financial-district garages, and the cheapest blocks within a 10-minute walk.
Parking for Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto is workable but expensive if you walk into the on-site garage without a reservation. With a little planning, you can park within a 5-10 minute walk and save 30-60 percent. Here is the breakdown.
On-site: BCE Place / Scotiabank Arena Garage
The most convenient option — entrance off Bremner Boulevard and York Street. Event-rate pricing on game and concert nights runs $40-60 CAD. The garage fills up about 90 minutes before doors for sold-out events. Pre-booking through SpotHero or a similar app guarantees a spot and usually drops the price 15-25 percent below walk-in.
Cheaper nearby alternatives (5-10 minute walk)
- Maple Leaf Square Garage — directly above the arena. Same effective convenience as the on-site garage but operated by a different company. Event rate $35-50.
- Hudson's Bay parking lot (Yonge and Queen area) — $20-30 event rate, 12-minute walk. Often has availability when closer garages are full.
- Adelaide / King Street financial-district garages — these are office-tower garages that open up after business hours. $15-25 on weeknights, $25-35 weekends. 10-15 minute walk.
- Toronto Star parking lot (1 Yonge Street) — east of the arena, $25-40 event rate, 8-minute walk along the lake.
- Harbourfront garages (Queens Quay west) — $20-30, 12-minute walk along the waterfront.
Green P lots (Toronto Parking Authority)
Green P lots are the city-run paid lots scattered throughout downtown. The closest ones to Scotiabank Arena are typically $15-25 on event nights. Lot 308 (York Street) and Lot 27 (Lower Simcoe) are the most accessible. Pay through the Green P app to avoid the kiosk line.
Transit alternative (almost always faster)
For Scotiabank Arena specifically, transit is the strongest play. Union Station is a 3-minute walk from the arena and connects to: - TTC Yonge/University subway - GO Transit (all major suburbs + Hamilton + Kitchener) - UP Express (Pearson Airport) - Streetcars throughout downtown
Post-event traffic exiting the entertainment district is slow — 30-45 minutes to clear the immediate downtown core on a sold-out night. The subway and GO Train are running in that same window, and they aren't affected by the bottleneck.
Rideshare drop-off zone
Uber and Lyft have a designated drop-off zone on Bremner Boulevard. Pickup zones are slightly further east near Cooper Street to manage congestion. Expect surge pricing in the 30 minutes after a sold-out show ends — wait 20-30 minutes inside or grab a drink at a nearby spot, and prices typically drop 30-50 percent.
Tips that save real money
1. Pre-book. SpotHero, Honk, or BestParking apps drop prices 15-30 percent below walk-in rates. Books a guaranteed spot. 2. Arrive 45-60 minutes before doors. Garages run last-in-first-out for pricing and availability. Late arrivals at sold-out events often find on-site full and end up at distant lots. 3. Pair with dinner. Many Front Street and King Street restaurants validate parking with a meal — saves $10-20. 4. Free street parking after 9pm in some downtown blocks. Limited supply, but possible for late shows. 5. Compare to transit cost. A round-trip TTC ride from anywhere in the city is $7-8 total. The price gap vs. $40-60 parking is significant.
What to expect post-event
Traffic clears the entertainment district in this order: Yonge Street first (15-20 minutes), Spadina second (25-30 minutes), Bremner-Lakeshore last (35-45 minutes). If your car is parked east of Yonge, you'll be out fastest. West of Spadina, plan to wait or grab dinner before driving.
For more downtown event-night context, see the first-time-at-Scotiabank-Arena guide.