Emergency Evacuation Hits Maple Leaf Square Prior to Leafs and Senators Game 5

While the action inside Scotiabank Arena is expected to be intense, hard-hitting and leads for the potential for some fireworks, but so too is the weather.

With Southern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area experiencing some severe storm and weather conditions, the fan gathering outside has been evacuated due to an emergency as well as a potential tornado warning.

Unfortunately for fans, they will need to stay inside and cheer on their own, and it's a good thing the team has the foresight to cancel things before anything disastrous happened.

Typically, the Maple Leafs Square will have tailgate tickets assigned a few hours before that day's scheduled game, and while it doesn't bring in the type of prices that a typical night at the rink would bring, it does have a huge following of devoted and diehard fans.

They wouldn't really care frankly, but safety always needs to trump passion in these cases. Granted, there are several bars and restaurants available for fans and patrons to sit in and watch the game, have a couple of brews and some wings, and enjoy the game without fear of being outside in a storm.

Is it still dangerous? Yes of course, and people would be best situated at home, but that isn't going to stop a lot of fans.

The massive warning sign on the Jumbotron, coupled with the 35+ mph winds, darkening sky, and ominous haze in the air makes for a scary combo, and passionate fans need to also heed any potential warnings and get to safety if things start to get worse.

It's not the first time that Maple Leafs Square has had some newsworthy headlines, as it was near the location of a shooting in 2022, and has had multiple incidents involving potential fires in the area; but fans normally keep things civil.

But all we can hope now is that fans, players, and everyone who is involved in either playing, watching, or otherwise can get through things safely, and the Maple Leafs can add at bit of brightness to a very dark and blustery April evening.

**UPDATE**

Well, it seems like the passion of the fans may have won out, or perhaps it was just a bit overblown, but Scotiabank Arena has announced that they are going to allow fans back into the tailgate area, and they are going to monitor things as the evening goes on.

Let's just hope that the Maple Leafs themselves can weather the storm that is the Senators, much like fans are going to potentially weather the elements to make sure they see Toronto take the victory once and for all.