This is what sports stadiums looked like in Toronto before the Rogers Centre

Despite the technological advancement of Toronto's biggest pro sports facilities—the Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena—there remains something to be said for what it was like to watch a game at the ballparks and arenas of the previous era.

Here's a look back at Toronto's stadiums and arenas of yore.

Sunlight Park, Toronto's first baseball stadium, 1893

Lacrosse at Hanlan's Point Stadium in 1910

Varsity Stadium, facing Bloor Street and Bedford,1906

Varsity Stadium, 1920

The TTC hockey team at Varsity Arena, 1927

Pro hockey outdoors at Riverdale Park/Christie Pits, 1912

Boxing match at Riverdale Park/Christie Pits, 1915

Liberal Party meeting at the Mutual Street Arena, 1913 (via the Wikimedia Commons)

Mutual Street Arena interior, 1920s

Civic Arena/The Coliseum under construction, 1921

Civic Arena/The Coliseum interior, 1922

Civic Arena/The Coliseum interior, 1922

Civic Arena/The Coliseum interior, 1922

Maple Leaf Stadium exterior, 1929

Game action at Maple Leaf Stadium, 1937

Maple Leaf Stadium from Fort York, 1934

From the bleachers of Maple Leaf Stadium (date unspecified)

Crowds at Maple Leaf Stadium (date unspecified)

Just prior to the demolition of Maple Leaf Stadium

Maple Leaf Gardens, a gem on Carlton in 1934

Ice Show at Maple Leaf Gardens, late 1930s

The Circus at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1940s

Basketball at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1950s

Hockey game at Maple Leaf Gardens, with Johnny Bower in goal

Renovations at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1955

New escalators at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1955

Daryl Sittler at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1970s

Harry Jerome at CNE/Exhibition Stadium, 1950

Miss Toronto contest at CNE/Exhibition Stadium, 1951

Queen Elizabeth II visits the CNE/Exhibition Stadium, 1959

Exterior of CNE/Exhibition Stadium, 1959

1980s (postcard of CNE/Exhibition Stadium)

CNE/Exhibition Stadium Seating Plan

Plans for SkyDome/Roger's Centre, 1980s

The SkyDome in all its early glory (postcard)

by Staff via blogTO