Scotiabank Arena officially replaces the ACC

Toronto saw the birth of a new(ly branded) major sports and entertainment complex this Canada Day long weekend, and locals have some thoughts about it.

Trash

— J (@OchoBlanko) July 2, 2018

Scotiabank Arena became a legitimate thing on Sunday, July 1, when Air Canada's naming rights for the stadium at Maple Leaf Square expired after almost 20 years.

The ACC, as it was known colloquially, is gone — and the new venue's namesake bank wasted no time in making sure its signage reflects that fact.

Currently under construction! Welcoming the new #ScotiabankArena to #Toronto this weekend 🏀🏒 Video by @DamnitMaurie 📹 pic.twitter.com/QcFXxKx6sP

— blogTO (@blogTO) July 1, 2018

The stadium doesn't appear to have changed all that much, at least not yet, in terms of its function. It will still host Maple Leafs and Raptors games, as well as concerts. The K-Pop band GOT 7 is playing there tonight.

Aesthetically, things do look a bit different outside.

What's your thoughts about this? #ScotiabankArena #Toronto #sports #Leafs #Raptors pic.twitter.com/Lhco7S7gEU

— Daniel L Wong (@DanielLWong) July 3, 2018

Torontonians are once again getting angry about the venue's name change on Twitter.

Some are vowing never to call Scotiabank Arena anything but The ACC ever again, likening it to the whole Rogers Centre / Skydome situation.

Not sure how I feel about the ACC being renamed ... well just about as angry as I was about the sky dome... sorry @scotiabank but @ScotiabankArena will always be THE AIR CANADA CENTRE.

— Tyler McLean (@Tyler_D_McLean) July 3, 2018

Many are decrying the fact that another huge corporation has plastered its name all over a piece Toronto history.

It's almost as if they didn't realize that Air Canada is, you know, a publicly traded company that pulled in $16,252 million last year.

Somebody destroy those signs.
Skydome and ACC forever.

They need to go back to the pre-corp days and give venues 1 name for life. MSG is the only arena left in the NHL without a corporate name.

— Dale Russell 🇨🇦 (@drussell1983) July 2, 2018

Sports fans noticed over the weekend that their location tags from the ACC had automatically changed to read "Scotiabank Arena" on Instagram.

"All of my Air Canada Centre tags on Instagram changed to Scotiabank Arena," wrote one local. "I feel VERY attacked right now."

Ha! 😂😂 hilarious & very sneaky changing my @AirCanadaCentre geo tag @scotiabankarena from an event back in April! so i went back in & changed them back to ACC screw you 😂😂 always the ACC cc @seanward @thepuffytaco change your tags people pic.twitter.com/JUGYPCEs2a

— Jon Gauthier (@JonGauthier) July 1, 2018

Like, every geotag in the history of one's account.

This was posted in Oct 2017 and the location tag already switched from ACC to Scotiabank Arena. Wow, Scotiabank wasted no time in ensuring everyone knows the name change. pic.twitter.com/P7RdT72elK

— Synthia T. (@synthiat) July 2, 2018

Those who are displeased with the venue's longer, harder-to-pronounce name are suggesting such nicknames for it as "The Vault" and "The Bank."

So now that the ACC is Scotiabank Arena are we going to just shorten it down to “The Bank”? What’s the over under on goals/baskets being called “Deposits in 17-18?” I will also be referring to John Tavares as “JT Money” from here on out. #TMLtalk #LeafsNation #stillbuzzing

— Pierce Lang (@piercelang_tv) July 2, 2018

Love it or hate it, they'd better get used to it.

When Scotiabank signed its $800 million deal with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment last August it secured naming rights to the facility for 20 years.

That agreement between Scotiabank and Maple Leaf Sports was said at the time of its signing to be the highest valued sponsorship agreement of its kind in North America.

Raptors are UNDEFEATED at Scotiabank Arena https://t.co/LJQHN9YCzc

— concerned thug (@seth_yyy) July 2, 2018

Maybe this name change will lift the Raptors' playoff curse? Maybe?

Silver linings.