Canadians love their hockey, and Toronto fans are particularly passionate about Maple Leaf hockey and Raptors basketball. So when designing the Air Canada Centre Sports Store, designers wanted to communicate the same “going to the game” excitement prevalent at the arena.
The 3300-square-foot store visually unites the two teams'brands and colors and continues the court/rink ambience. Floor markings replicate a basketball court and hockey rink, and fixtures resemble sporting equipment. Perforated-metal displays recall basketball netting, while merchandise hangers resemble hockey pucks.
Design: International Design Group, Toronto–Ron Harris, president; Ron MacLachlan, managing director; Ann Bada Crema, design manager; Clayton Budd, designer
Client Team: Air Canada Centre, Toronto–Jeff Newman, director of consumer products
General Contractor: PCL Construction, Toronto
Suppliers: Para Paints, Rexdale, Ont. (paint); Lonseal Inc., Carson, Calif. (flooring); Pionite, Auburn, Maine, and Arborite, Oakville, Ont. (laminates); Dramex Expanded Metals, Montreal (perforated metal/steel); Graham Composites, Inglewood, Ont. (fiberglass)