Drake announces name change and hiatus at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena

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Ahead of Drake’s two sold-out shows in Toronto, MLSE will be giving Scotiabank Arena a new name this weekend.

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October’s Very Own Arena will be the home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, of which the rapper is a global ambassador, for two days on October 6th and 7th. Drake’s It’s All A Blur tour will also take place at this venue.

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“Drake and October’s Very Own have played a pivotal role in the success of the Toronto Raptors over the past decade, and this precedent-setting relationship has captured the attention of fans locally, across Canada, and around the world. ” Chief Shannon Hosford said. Head of Marketing at MLSE.

“We are thrilled to be working with Scotiabank, who share naming rights, to celebrate 10 years of the Raptors’ partnership with Drake and OVO. We would like to say “Happy Anniversary” to the team’s global ambassadors. We knew there was no better way to do it than to transform Scotiabank Arena like we’ve never seen it before. Scotiabank Arena embodies the creativity of our partnership and will make the venue a true “Drake home” for our next two teams. night. We look forward to working together to express the passion and pride of the Raptors and the City of Toronto for many years to come. ”

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In addition to rebranding, A 501 Queen Eastbound TTC bus featuring It’s All A Blur art will be parked in front of the arena for fans to view and take photos. Areas around the complex will also be decorated with special artwork, allowing “fans to immerse themselves in the new look and feel of Very Own Arena in October.”

A sign in Dundas Square outside Toronto Eaton Center announced the name change and announced that the CN Tower would be lit up in gold to commemorate the concert.

GO Transit also announced a collaboration with the music superstar, decking out the train in his trademark black and gold colors. However, this partnership didn’t go very well after the recent outage.

“YoThere’s money for this, but no money to provide reliable service to riders? Shame on you,” one critic swiped, while another said, “Whoever thought this was a good idea… They deserve to lose their jobs,” he added.

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But for many fans hoping to see Drake in his hometown, this activation may be the only way to enjoy the excitement of this weekend’s concerts. His one seat at his show cost him over $1,000, and the cheapest resale ticket currently is $595.

After the tour ends, Drizzy, 36, plans to take some time off.

“I probably won’t be making music for a while. I’ll be honest,” he said on the show. 1 person table On Sound 42 on SiriusXM. “I have some things I need to do for other people that I’ve committed to, but I probably won’t be making music for a while. I’m going to be serious about you. I’m going to take care of my health first and foremost. We need to focus on that, so we’ll talk about that soon.”

Revealing he has the “craziest problem” with his stomach, the musician says he plans to walk away from the stage.

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“Nothing crazy, but I just want people to stay healthy, and I’ve had weird stomach problems for years,” he continued. “So I need to focus on my health and get it right, and I’m going to do that… So I’m going to close the studio door for a little while. I don’t even know what the little thing is. Maybe 1 It might take a year or so, maybe a little more.”

The Grammy winner’s update came on the same day he released his eighth studio album. for all dogs.

Meanwhile, Scotiabank Arena will open its doors to events on Tuesday. $350 million Renovation work will be carried out on the property next week. This includes updating equipment. Concourse, Suites, Premium Club, Retail Space, F&B more.

mdaniell@postmedia.com

X: @Mark Daniel

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