London has a number of outstanding sporting venues able to accommodate a wide variety of events, from indoor to outdoor, winter to summer, local to international, and everything in between. Below are some of our most popular sport hosting venues.
Home to the London Knights (OHL) and London Lightning (NBL), Canada Life Place is a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility located in the heart of downtown London. With a capacity of 10,000, Canada Life Place hosts hundreds of annual concerts and events, and has experience hosting major events including the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, MasterCard Memorial Cup, Canadian Country Music Awards and JUNOs.
The Western Fair Sports Centre is a fully accessible multi-use facility with four ice surfaces, including one Olympic-sized pad with seating for over 2000. Connected to the Sports Centre via indoor bridge is the Western Fair District Slots and Casino, as well as the Raceway at Western Fair District which host live harness horse racing and outdoor concerts and festivals. Located across the parking lot is the Western Fair Agriplex, offering 126,000 sq ft of event space, including a 24,000 sq ft arena with seating for 1500, 33 ft ceilings, and a full-service concession area. This versatile facility makes for a great tournament location and can accommodate a wide variety of sports including hockey, para hockey, ringette, figure skating, broomball, equestrian, wrestling, volleyball, boxing and more.
Western University's state-of-the-art athletic and residence facilities provide an unmatched tournament and event experience including TD Stadium, Mustangs and Alumni Field, Thompson Arena, Alumni Hall and the Western Student Recreation Centre (WSRC). From grassroots to international events, Western University has the venues to host a wide variety of sports, while housing and feeding participants within their residence facilities.
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario and boasts a strong reputation in athletics and residence facilities. Located on campus is the Glenn Johnson Athletic Centre, a multi-use facility featuring a double gym with capacity for 1100, along with a third adjacent gym. The double gym features a FIBA and FIVA regulation sized basketball and volleyball court. With 1200 residence rooms available, Fanshawe is also able to accommodate teams and groups as a cost-effective alternative to hotels.
With a history dating back to 1877, Labatt Park has the distinct honour of being recognized by Guinness as the "World's Oldest Baseball Grounds". Nestled in the heart of downtown London with views of the city skyline, this 5200-capacity stadium and currently home of the London Majors (IBL) has also been named "Canada's Favourite Ballpark" by Baseball Canada.
The Canada Games Aquatic Center is a world-class swimming and diving facility which features a 50m 8-lane Olympic sized pool featuring an aquatic rock-climbing wall, 1 and 3m spring boards, as well as 3, 5, 7.5, and 10m diving platforms and a moveable bulkhead. The facility is a legacy from the 2001 Canada Summer Games and continues to host annually host major swimming and diving meets.
Boler Mountain is Canada's most southernly ski hill. Located within the city, Boler Mountain offers 17 ski runs along with a half pipe and tubing. During the summer, it transforms into an outdoor adventure facility with beach volleyball courts, a treetop adventure park, and over 12km of hiking and mountain bike trails, which have been used to host many provincial mountain bike championships over the years.
Housed within the Upper Thames Conservation Area, the Doug Wells Rowing Centre is a picturesque area that houses the Western University Rowing Team as well as community clubs, and previously served as Rowing Canada's Women's National Training Centre. The Centre is home to a full six lane course complete with a starting pontoon, starting tower, grandstands and three level finish tower. Additional facilities include a six-bay boathouse with lounge, offices, and change rooms.
The recently renovated RBC Place London located in downtown London is a fantastic space to host competitions, meetings, and banquets. Whether it be a dance, cheerleading, a weightlifting competition, meeting for 10 people or a gala with over 2000 guests, this 70,000 square foot venue has the flexibility to accommodate any of your specific event hosting needs.
Scattered throughout the city are 15 arenas, over 85 sport fields, and over 65 baseball diamonds to accommodate tournaments and multi-venue events. A full list and locations of these facilities can be found here.