Bell Centre

indoor arena in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Bell Centre (French: Centre Bell) is a sports arena in Montreal, Quebec. The arena opened on March 16, 1996, and is the current home to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). The arena was originally known as Molson Centre (French: Centre Molson) from 1996 to 2002. Bell Canada currently has naming rights for the arena.

Bell Centre

Map
Former namesNew Montreal Forum (before construction–1996), Molson Centre, Centre Molson (1996–2002)
Location1909[1] Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H4B 5G0
Coordinates45°29′46″N 73°34′10″W / 45.49611°N 73.56944°W / 45.49611; -73.56944
OwnerMolson family
OperatorMolson family
CapacityHockey: 21,273 (1996-2014)
21,287 (2014-2017)
21,302 (2017-2021)
21,105 (2021-present)
Basketball: 22,114
Concerts: 15,000
Amphitheatre: 10,000 to 14,000
Theatre: 5,000 to 9,000
Hemicycle: 2,000 to 3,500
MMA: 16,000 to 23,152
Field size780,000 square feet (72,000 m2)
Construction
StartedJune 22, 1993
OpenedMarch 16, 1996
Expanded1981
Construction costC$270 million[2]
ArchitectLeMay & Associate, LLC.
Project managerIBI/DAA Group
Structural engineerDessau
Services engineerSNC-Lavalin
General contractorHuber, Hunt & Nichols
Tenants
Montreal Canadiens (NHL) (1996–present)
Montreal Impact (NPSL) (1997–2000)
Montreal Rocket (QMJHL) (2001–2003)
Montreal Express (NLL) (2002)
Inside the Bell Centre during a Canadiens game

The arena has also held several WWE events, which includes the Survivor Series in 1997, where the infamous Montreal Screwjob between Bret Hart, Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels took place, as well as other pay-per-views including No Way Out in 2003 and Breaking Point. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) have also hosted episodes of their weekly television shows Dynamite, Rampage, Collision on December 5 and 6, 2023.

References change

  1. "Directions & Parking". Centre Bell. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  2. Turner, Randy (9 April 2009). "Buyers are lining up for these Canadiens". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2014-10-15.

Other websites change

Events and Tenants
Preceded by
Montreal Forum
Home of the
Montreal Canadiens

1996 – present
Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Philips Arena
Host of the
NHL All-Star Game

2009
Succeeded by
RBC Center