Budweiser Gardens, London, Ontario, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Budweiser Gardens is the main indoor arena in downtown London, Ontario, on Dundas Street. It is the home ice of the London Knights junior hockey team and the city's biggest venue for touring concerts and large events, which makes it a natural landmark for anyone exploring the core of London.

The story behind it

The arena opened in 2002 as the John Labatt Centre, a name that nodded to the brewing family tied to London since the 19th century. In 2012 it was renamed Budweiser Gardens under a new naming agreement. The building is owned by the City of London and was part of a push to bring more activity into the downtown.

Its anchor tenant is the London Knights, who play in the Ontario Hockey League. On a game night the streets around the arena fill with fans, and on concert nights the same crowds come for touring acts. Few buildings in London change the feel of the neighbourhood as much as this one.

What to look for

• Notice how the large modern arena sits among older downtown blocks, a contrast that shows how much the city core has changed in recent decades.
• Look at the exterior signage and marquee, which announce the next hockey game or concert and tell you at a glance what is on.
• On a game day, watch for fans in Knights colours heading toward the doors, which is the quickest way to feel the team's place in local life.
• Glance along Dundas Street, where the pedestrian-friendly stretch of Dundas Place gives you room to take in the arena and the surrounding storefronts.

Tips for your visit

• Plan 15 to 20 minutes if you only want to see the outside, and longer if you are combining it with a stroll through the surrounding blocks.
• You can go inside only for a ticketed event such as a Knights game or a concert, so check the current event schedule before you come.
• Covent Garden Market and Victoria Park are both a short walk away, so the arena fits easily into a wider downtown stroll.
• Event evenings are lively but busy, while daytime is calmer for taking photos and walking around the exterior.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in London, Ontario is a mystery-themed walk that passes Budweiser Gardens as one stop on a longer route through downtown. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape in London takes a Wizard of Oz theme through the same part of the city, so you reach the arena on foot between other stops. You hear about each place as you get there and solve a puzzle in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.