Sports and Recreation

     No matter the season, there is almost always a game to be enjoyed, whether it's baseball, football, hockey, lacrosse or soccer. Toronto sports fans feel there are no better places than the retractable-roofed Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, and the high-tech Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St.

Baseball
     The Toronto Blue Jays, with consecutive World Series wins 1992-93, play at Rogers Centre from April through September. For information phone (416) 341-1111; for tickets phone (416) 341-1234.

Basketball
     The NBA's Toronto Raptors have home-court advantage at the Air Canada Centre during their playing season, October to mid-April. For general information phone (416) 366-3865; for tickets phone Ticketmaster (416) 872-5000.

Football
     There are some differences between U.S. and Canadian football--Canada has a slightly larger playing field with larger end zones and plays the game with three downs instead of four. Zealous fans cheer the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts to victory at Rogers Centre from June through October. For information phone (416) 341-2700; for tickets phone Ticketmaster at (416) 872-5000.

Hockey
     Toronto fans love hockey so much that their Toronto Maple Leafs usually play home games before capacity crowds in the Air Canada Centre, while the AHL Toronto Marlies entertain fans at Ricoh Coliseum in Exhibition Place; the season for both teams runs from October to mid-April. You will notice many cars adorned with the blue Toronto Maple Leafs flag during the season, as fans proudly show their support. Although seats generally sell out every year, standing room tickets are sometimes available. Phone (416) 815-5700 for Toronto Maple Leafs general information and (416) 597-7825 for Toronto Marlies; for all tickets phone Ticketmaster at (416) 872-5000.

Soccer
     Toronto's professional soccer team, Toronto FC, plays at the National Soccer Stadium in Exhibition Place from April through mid-October; phone (416) 872-5000. Fans of the game enjoy the local talent of the Toronto Lynx of the United Soccer League as well as the Toronto Lady Lynx. Games are played at the National Soccer Stadium. The Toronto Lynx plays from late April through mid-September; the Toronto Lady Lynx plays from mid-May through mid-July; phone (416) 251-4625.

Recreation
     Public recreational facilities in Toronto include beaches, a campground, golf courses, ice-skating rinks, ski and snowboard facilities, a skateboard park, swimming pools and tennis courts. City parks are ideal for a variety of activities, and the Toronto Islands, accessible by ferry, are favored for outdoor fun any time of year.
     Courses used for jogging and walking double as great cycling tracks. Certainly the Martin Goodman Trail, extending 20 kilometres (14 mi.) along Toronto's waterfront, and numerous municipal parks are scenic and interesting. The Humber River Trail in the west end is a quiet, 16-kilometre (10 mi.) trail with some hills. The east end offers the Don Valley Trail, 18-kilometres (11 mi.) long and a bit more challenging.
     High Park offers paved and natural courses with scenic views of the great outdoors. Cycling is popular, too, on the Toronto Islands; take the ferry across Toronto Harbour, then island hop at your leisure. You can rent a bicycle on the mainland or at Toronto Island Bicycle Rental on Centre Island; phone (416) 203-0009.
     Toronto claims the highest ratio of golf courses per capita in North America, and its challenging golf courses are laid out against scenic backdrops of rolling hills, shade trees and rippling waters.
     The city maintains approximately 60 outdoor swimming pools, all supervised by lifeguards from early June to early September. Those closest to downtown include Alexandra Park, at Bathurst Street and Dundas Street W.; Alex Duff-Christie Pitts Park, at Bloor Street W. and Christie Street; and Riverdale Park, west of Broadview Avenue and Riverdale W. near Danforth Avenue. For more information phone Toronto Parks and Recreation, (416) 392-8186, or the pool hot line at (416) 338-7665.
     Canoeing and kayaking are favorite Canadian sports, and amateurs and professionals alike are challenged by the multitude of lakes and rivers in Ontario. The cost of renting a canoe or kayak ranges from $35 to $70 per day. Canoe rentals and complete outfitting are available in the Toronto area.
     As the temperature dips or snow begins to fall, many Torontonians venture out to enjoy winter in a variety of ways. With 25 artificial rinks close to downtown and numerous others in the outlying areas, ice skating is one of the favorite leisure winter activities. The city maintains outdoor rinks that are open from November to March (weather permitting). Harbourfront Centre sports a supervised artificial rink open daily. The rink in downtown's Nathan Phillips Square becomes a reflecting pool when the ice melts. Admission is free and skate rentals are available at both sites. For more information about municipal rinks phone (416) 392-8186, or Access Toronto at (416) 338-0338.
     Cross-country skiing remains a favorite for all ages. Trails are found on the Toronto Islands, at the Toronto Zoo, in High Park and along the ravines that stretch from downtown Toronto to the Ontario Science Centre.
     Those in search of downhill skiing and snowboarding can find facilities for those sports at the North York Ski Centre in Earl Bales Park on Bathurst Street and at Centennial Park Ski Hill. Rentals and instruction are available at both locations; for more information phone (416) 338-6754. Downhill and cross-country skiing are available in several locations north of the city. Penetang-Midland Coach Lines Ltd. schedules daily ski trips by bus; phone the Toronto Coach Terminal at (416) 393-7911.