Picture a group of eight friends staying at a Fallsview hotel with tickets for a Friday concert in St. Catharines. Three of them are driving in from Toronto after work, two have never been to Niagara, and everyone wants to go for a late dinner on the way back. The concert is the easy part. The logistics are not.
The Meridian Centre in St. Catharines and the Avalon Theatre at Fallsview Casino Resort are the two indoor venues Niagara visitors ask about most. This post explains where each one is, what the arena says about parking and drop-off, how far they are from the hotels and from Toronto, and how NiagaraFallsLimo.net moves a group to the show and home again without anyone hunting for a space or waiting for an app car at midnight.
How do you get to the Meridian Centre from Niagara Falls hotels?
The Meridian Centre is at 1 David S. Howes Way in downtown St. Catharines, about 20 km (13 mi) from the Fallsview hotels, usually 20–25 minutes by the QEW. There is no on-site event parking, so a front-door drop-off helps. NiagaraFallsLimo.net books the round trip online with a fixed fare shown before you pay.
The Meridian Centre is the home arena of the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and it also hosts touring concerts, family shows and other events. Its own event calendar and visitor pages are the place to confirm dates and door times for any show.
What the arena says about parking and drop-off
This is the single most useful fact for anyone going to a show. According to the Meridian Centre's directions and parking page, during an event there is no parking on site apart from accessible spaces for vehicles displaying a government-issued permit, and those fill quickly. The arena points visitors to downtown garages, naming the Ontario Street Garage and the Carlisle Street Garage, and says its drop-off area is at the front of the building, with guests able to be dropped off and picked up at the main Box Office doors.
In practice, a group driving itself has to split up: someone parks in a garage, everyone walks across, and after the show the group waits for the driver to queue out of the garage. A chauffeured car simply pulls into the front drop-off, then collects you at the same doors afterward.
The arena's visitor FAQ lists a few other rules worth knowing before you set out:
- Bags must be soft-sided and no larger than 12 × 12 × 12 inches. Guests with larger bags are sent back to their vehicle, which is easy if the car is waiting nearby and awkward if it has gone.
- Security includes walk-through metal detectors.
- No re-entry once you are inside.
- Outside food and drink are not allowed, though refillable water bottles are accepted.
Distances and drive times to the Meridian Centre
| From | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Fallsview hotels, Niagara Falls | about 20 km (13 mi) | 20–25 min |
| Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake | about 21 km (13 mi) | 25–30 min |
| Downtown Hamilton | about 57 km (35 mi) | 50–60 min |
| Toronto Pearson | about 104 km (65 mi) | 1 h 25 – 1 h 40 off-peak |
| Union Station, Toronto | about 112 km (69 mi) | 1 h 25 – 1 h 40 off-peak |
| Buffalo Niagara International | about 68 km (42 mi) | about 1 h, plus the border crossing |
Those are off-peak figures. A weeknight concert usually means driving through the end of the evening rush from Toronto, so allow 2 hours or more from the city on a Friday. Our post on short rides from St. Catharines to Niagara Falls covers the route between the two cities in more detail.
Check your fixed fare to the Meridian Centre
The Avalon Theatre and the OLG Stage at Fallsview
The other half of Niagara's concert scene is inside Fallsview Casino Resort at 6380 Fallsview Boulevard. The resort's official site says it has two entertainment venues, the OLG Stage and the Avalon Theatre, with more than 320 shows a year between them.
For guests staying in one of the Fallsview hotels, the Avalon is often a walk, not a drive. Where a car helps is for everyone else:
- Guests at Clifton Hill, Lundy's Lane or Niagara-on-the-Lake. Clifton Hill is about 1.6 km from the casino by road, but the walk is uphill, and Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake is about 23 km (15 mi), around 30 minutes.
- Visitors from Toronto. Toronto to Fallsview is about 125–130 km (78–81 mi), usually 1 h 30 to 1 h 45 off-peak.
- Anyone combining the show with dinner elsewhere. The car takes you to the restaurant, then to the casino doors.
The casino floor itself is 19-plus, so check your ticket for any age rules that apply to the show you are seeing. Our Fallsview Casino Resort page explains where cars drop off, and the post on getting to the OLG Stage and home again covers the larger venue.
Planning the night for a group
Groups get the most out of a pre-booked vehicle, because one car or van keeps everyone together. A few rules of thumb from the desk:
- Match the vehicle to the group. An Executive Sprinter seats up to twelve; a Stretch SUV Limousine up to sixteen, availability confirmed at booking; a Standard or Executive Black SUV up to six. For larger groups, coaches are available on request. Our group transportation page explains the options.
- Book the return at a fixed time, with a buffer. Encores and hockey overtime both happen. We set the pickup for a reasonable time after the expected finish and adjust on the night if you message the desk.
- Agree a meeting point. At the Meridian Centre, the main Box Office doors are the natural spot. At Fallsview, the chauffeur confirms the entrance in advance.
- Plan the after-show stop. If the group wants food after a late show, add it to the booking. Our post on late-night food after the casino lists options near Fallsview.
- Leave bags in the car. With the Meridian Centre's bag size limit, coats and shopping can stay in the vehicle.
A sample concert evening from Toronto
For the group of eight in the opening example, the plan the desk would suggest looks like this:
- 3:45 pm The three friends driving from Toronto leave their cars at home instead. An Executive Sprinter collects them in the city; three stops are easy to add in the booker.
- 5:45 pm The Sprinter reaches the Fallsview hotel and picks up the other five.
- 6:15 pm Dinner in downtown St. Catharines, booked ahead, a short walk from the arena.
- 7:30 pm Drop-off at the Meridian Centre's front doors, with coats left in the vehicle because of the bag rules.
- 10:45 pm Pickup at the main Box Office doors, then back to Fallsview, about 20 minutes away, and on to Toronto for the three who are not staying.
Some visitors prefer the train. GO trains serve St. Catharines on the Niagara line, and our post on St. Catharines GO station pickups explains how a car can meet you there for the last few kilometres.
Sports nights as well as concerts
The same logistics apply to an IceDogs hockey game or a River Lions basketball game during the CEBL season. Hockey nights draw local crowds, and a family visiting Niagara can make a game part of the trip. Our concerts and sports transportation page covers other venues, including events across the border in Buffalo, where every passenger needs their own valid documents and the chauffeur crosses the bridge with you.
Booking it with NiagaraFallsLimo.net in 3 steps
- Set up the round trip. Enter your hotel or home as the pickup, "Meridian Centre, St. Catharines" or "Fallsview Casino Resort" as the drop-off, and the date and time. Add the return trip, or choose "By the hour" if the evening includes dinner and the show.
- Choose the vehicle. Each class shows a fixed fare for the exact trip, from a Standard Sedan for three to an Executive Sprinter for twelve.
- Add passengers and notes, then pay. Note the show's expected finish time and your preferred pickup door. Pay securely; confirmation arrives by email.
Chauffeur vs rideshare vs taxi for this trip
| Option | Door-to-door time | Cost note | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked chauffeur | 20–25 min Fallsview to the Meridian Centre | Fixed fare via booker | Coats and bags stay in the car | Groups, out-of-town visitors, late finishes |
| Rideshare | Same drive when a car is free | Surge pricing after shows end | Depends on the car | Two people in downtown St. Catharines |
| Taxi | Same drive | Metered | Standard trunk | Short trips within St. Catharines |
| Driving yourself | Same drive plus a garage and a walk | Fuel and garage fees | Your car | Locals who know the downtown garages |
| Walking | Not practical between the two cities | Free | None | Fallsview hotel guests going to the Avalon |
The honest verdict: if you are staying in Fallsview and going to the Avalon, walk. If you are a couple staying in downtown St. Catharines for an IceDogs game, a short taxi is fine. A pre-booked chauffeur makes sense when a group needs to travel together, when you are coming from Toronto or Niagara-on-the-Lake, or when the show ends late and thousands of people open the same app at once. For event nights in particular, our chauffeur, taxi and rideshare comparison sets out when each one wins.
Who these event rides suit
Groups of friends and families going to the same show are the obvious fit, and our groups page covers larger bookings. Couples planning a dinner-and-concert evening get a door-to-door night without either of them driving. Individuals travelling to Niagara for a one-off show, especially from Toronto or Buffalo, avoid the downtown garage hunt. Corporate hosts taking clients to a game or concert can book several vehicles on one account.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines?
It is at 1 David S. Howes Way in downtown St. Catharines. It is about 20 km (13 mi) from the Fallsview hotels in Niagara Falls, usually 20–25 minutes by the QEW, and about 104 km from Toronto Pearson.
Is there parking at the Meridian Centre?
Not during events, apart from accessible spaces for vehicles with a government-issued permit. The arena recommends downtown garages, naming the Ontario Street and Carlisle Street garages, and has a drop-off area at the front of the building.
What is the bag policy at the Meridian Centre?
The arena allows soft-sided bags no larger than 12 × 12 × 12 inches, and all bags are searched. Guests with larger bags must return them to their vehicles, and there is no re-entry once you are inside.
Who plays at the Meridian Centre?
It is home to the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. It also hosts touring concerts and family shows; check the arena's calendar for current events.
Where is the Avalon Theatre in Niagara Falls?
The Avalon Theatre is inside Fallsview Casino Resort at 6380 Fallsview Boulevard. The resort has two venues, the Avalon and the OLG Stage, with more than 320 shows a year between them. Fallsview hotel guests can often walk there.
Can a limo wait during the concert?
Yes, if you book by the hour, the chauffeur stays nearby and returns to the drop-off point when you message. For point-to-point bookings, we set a pickup time after the expected finish and can adjust it on the night.
Can we drink in the limo on the way to the concert?
No. The car is a no-drinking zone at all times, because Niagara Region's by-law forbids licensed drivers to permit alcohol on board. Enjoy the venue's licensed bars, and let the chauffeur handle the drive home.
