A taste of life as a superhero
New Avengers exhibit hits Yorkdale.
Exclusive collectible items, glimpses of costumes worn in the actual Marvel Cinematic Universe and a chance to become an Avengers recruit are what fans can expect with the launch of the award-winning Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibit at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
The tour lasts about an hour, and you’ll get to jump into character and be trained as an Avengers agent while you’re tasked with carefully studying and learning about the history, science, genetics and technology of Marvel.
It all leads to one final test in which you have to defeat the Marvel supervillain Ultron — who infiltrates the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. — and stop him from taking over the world.
According to Justin Paquin, the director of live entertainment for Paquin Entertainment Group, the purpose of the exhibit is to give people a break mentally from the world around us. “We missed Halloween, we don’t know if Santa is coming, but Iron Man is here,” said Paquin.
Costumes, sets and props used in Marvel movies are featured in the exhibit, with Captain America’s suit from “Captain America: The First Avenger” on display.
When you first enter, you’ll walk into Iron Man’s lab where seven out of eight of his suits from the Marvel movies are lined up in a row. You’ll get to experience what it’s like to be Iron Man for a moment and fight off attackers in the streets of New York City.
There are rooms dedicated to learning how Bruce Banner goes from being a renowned scientist to the Hulk and Thor’s world of Asgard, including his notorious hammer.
The exhibit has made stops around the globe in London, Seoul, Paris, Singapore, Beijing and India — Toronto will be the first spot to feature an exclusive “Black Panther” display. It includes Kimoyo Beads, heartshaped herbs and a patented design of the Black Panther costume made by Oscar-winning designer Ruth E. Carter. The costume is showcased for fans to see first-hand while learning about the world of Wakanda.
Your knowledge of the Avengers is also constantly put to the test while touring the exhibit, with games that include matching superheroes with their corresponding weapons.
Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. also includes exclusive collectibles for diehard fans looking to get their hands on rare Marvel items.
Mark Fraser-Davidson, the manager of the guest experience, said there’s a bit of an “Easter egg” hidden in the exhibit just to see which fans notice. “We don’t want to have superfans come in here and say they know everything in this place,” said Fraser-Davidson.
“We’ve gone deeper into the timeline, deeper into the family tree of the Avengers. All of us have been briefed and have been researching for the last couple of months all the things about (Marvel).”
About 40 people at a time are expected to enter the exhibit in 15-minute intervals, but there’s no limit on how long you can stay. The maximum amount of people expected to be inside at any one time is 160 to 180.
“We have so many different rooms. There shouldn’t be more than nine to10 people in a room at a time,” said FraserDavidson.
Physical distancing measures are enforced and you’re provided with a stylus pen before entry that allows you to use the interactive screens without your hands touching them. A foot-activated dispenser for hand sanitizer is available at every station throughout.
Visitors must go through a health screening before entering and wear a mask at all times, while staff will follow cleaning protocols.
The exhibit, which is 25,000 square feet, wasn’t originally expected to be this massive, according to Paquin. When COVID-19 hit, the space at Yorkdale became more available and allowed for them to create a larger and safer environment for the tour.
There were discussions about having the exhibit elsewhere in Toronto, but when the option of Yorkdale was presented, it was the perfect fit. Construction for the exhibit began in mid-September.
“It’s really incredible to be part of a project that (will) be so impactful on this city, but also the country,” said Paquin. “It’s one of the few projects that you can open in this new world of COVID-19 and we hope to set an example for how to operate something safely, how to have properly trained staff and just inspire hope. Not only for customers and fans, but for the general entertainment industry.”