Bell Centre facts for kids
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| Former names | New Montreal Forum (before construction–1996), Molson Centre, Centre Molson (1996–2002) |
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| Location | 1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H4B 5G0 |
| Coordinates | 45°29′46″N 73°34′10″W / 45.49611°N 73.56944°W |
| Owner | Molson family |
| Operator | Molson family |
| Capacity | Hockey: 21,273 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 size | 780,000 square feet (72,000 m2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 22, 1993 |
| Opened | March 16, 1996 |
| Expanded | 1981 |
| Construction cost | C$270 million |
| Architect | LeMay & Associate, LLC. |
| Project manager | IBI/DAA Group |
| Structural engineer | Dessau |
| Services engineer | SNC-Lavalin |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols |
| Tenants | |
| Montreal Canadiens (NHL) (1996–present) Montreal Impact (NPSL) (1997–2000) Montreal Rocket (QMJHL) (2001–2003) Montreal Express (NLL) (2002) |
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The Bell Centre (known as Centre Bell in French) is a large sports arena located in Montreal, Quebec. It first opened its doors on March 16, 1996. This arena is the current home for the Montreal Canadiens, a famous ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL).
When it first opened, the arena was called the Molson Centre. This name lasted from 1996 until 2002. Today, the arena is named after Bell Canada, a large telecommunications company. The Bell Centre is not just for hockey; it also hosts many other exciting events.
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What is the Bell Centre?
The Bell Centre is a huge indoor stadium. It is designed to host many different types of events. These include hockey games, basketball games, and big concerts. It can even be set up for theatre shows or mixed martial arts (MMA) fights.
Home of the Montreal Canadiens
Since 1996, the Bell Centre has been the official home ice for the Montreal Canadiens. This team is one of the oldest and most successful teams in the NHL. Fans fill the arena to cheer on their favorite players during hockey season.
Other Sports and Events
Besides hockey, the Bell Centre has hosted other sports teams. The Montreal Impact soccer team played here for a few years. The Montreal Rocket hockey team and the Montreal Express lacrosse team also used the arena.
The Bell Centre is also a popular place for big entertainment events. It has hosted many concerts by famous musicians. It has also been the site of major wrestling events. One notable event was the Survivor Series in 1997.
Key Facts About the Bell Centre
The Bell Centre was built at a cost of about C$270 million. It is a very large building, covering 780,000 square feet. The arena can hold a lot of people. For hockey games, it can seat over 21,000 fans. For basketball, it can hold even more, up to 22,114 people.
Building and Design
The construction of the Bell Centre began on June 22, 1993. It was designed by architects from LeMay & Associate, LLC. Many different companies worked together to build this impressive arena. It was built to be a modern and versatile space for sports and entertainment.
Images for kids
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The Canadiens' locker room prior to being renovated.
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Bell Centre in a basketball configuration.
