Toronto sports fans will soon face heightened security measures at Maple Leafs' and Raptors' home games.
Those visiting the Air Canada Centre will now have to pass through metal detectors ahead of sporting events. The detectors were installed as part of a sweeping change to all facilities hosting MLB, NHL and NBA games.
Similar scanners were installed at the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, in April.
The detectors, revealed to media on Tuesday, are similar to those seen at airports, but are calibrated to be less sensitive, ACC Operations General Manager Vince Bozzo told CTV Toronto.
Spectators only have to remove large or heavy metal items. Loose change, belts and watches do not trigger the alarms.
The detectors can also pinpoint exactly where a metal object is, so the process will only take seconds, Bozzo said.
Bozzo said the ACC gates will be open 90 minutes early on game days to help deal with possible delays, but added that the ACC hopes customers won't have to wait longer than seven minutes to clear security.
When the scanners were installed at the Rogers Centre, officials warned Toronto Blue Jays fans that they should arrive at least 20 to 30 minutes early.
