Bon Jovi To Be First Non-Sports Personality With Banner In Air Canada Centre Rafters

A banner depicting rock band Bon Jovi "will soon hang inside the Air Canada Centre," becoming the first in the arena "to celebrate a musician rather than a sports legend," according to Graham Slaughter of the TORONTO STAR. The banner will be unveiled Nov. 2, the "same day that Bon Jovi, here for a two-night gig, becomes the first inductee into the ACC’s new wall of fame." MLSE VP/Live Entertainment Wayne Zronik said that raising Bon Jovi's banner is "a special gesture to signify their record-breaking shows in Toronto." Bon Jovi has "sold more than 600,000 tickets in its 17 appearances at the ACC, more than any band in the arena’s history." ACC reps "could not confirm exactly where the banner will hang." MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke said, "We’ve left plenty of room up there for Stanley Cup banners. This doesn’t take away from the Leafs." Leiweke said that ACC "hosts more music acts than basketball or hockey games, so adding a banner of the bestselling musical act makes sense" (TORONTO STAR, 10/24).