Montreal Forum facts for kids
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"The Famous Forum"
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Interior of the arena (political event) (1972)
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| Address | 2313 Sainte-Catherine Street West |
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| Location | Montreal, Quebec |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 17,959 Basketball: 18,575 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 24, 1924 |
| Opened | November 29, 1924 |
| Renovated | 1998 (interior only; exterior still stands) |
| Expanded | 1949, 1968 |
| Closed | March 11, 1996 |
| Construction cost | C$1.5 million ($23.6 million in 2021 dollars ) |
| Architect | John Smith Archibald (1924) Stone & Webster (1968) |
| General contractor | Atlas Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Montreal Maroons (NHL) (1924–38) Montreal Canadiens (NHL) (1926–96) Montreal Junior Canadiens (QJHL) (1933–61) Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) (1961–72) Montreal Voyageurs (AHL) (1969–71) Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL) (1972–75) Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) (1975–82) Montreal Manic (NASL Indoor) (1981–82) Montreal Roadrunners (RHI) (1994–95) |
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| Designated: | 1997 |
The Montreal Forum (known in French as Forum de Montréal) is a famous old building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Many people called it "the most storied building in hockey history." It was a large indoor arena that was home to two professional hockey teams.
The Montreal Maroons played there from 1924 to 1938. The Montreal Canadiens, a very famous team, played there from 1926 to 1996. The building was constructed very quickly, in just 159 days.
Today, the Montreal Forum is mostly a movie theater called Cineplex Cinemas Forum. It is run by Cineplex Entertainment. Also, parts of the upper floors are now used by Dawson College for classes.
This building is very important in sports history. A total of 15 Stanley Cup championships were won on its ice. The Canadiens won 12 of these, and the Maroons won one. Two visiting teams, the New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames, also won their Stanley Cups there.
Contents
A Look Back: The Forum's History
The idea for the Montreal Forum came about in 1923. Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty, who was in charge of the Canadian Pacific Railway, suggested building it. At first, they planned a huge rink with 12,500 seats.
However, due to money reasons, they decided to build a smaller rink with 9,300 seats. Even then, it was hard to find enough money to build it. Eventually, H. L. Timmins helped pay for the project. The building was named "The Forum" because it was built on the site of an old roller skating rink with the same name.
Building and Changing Over Time
The Montreal Forum first opened its doors on November 29, 1924. It cost about $1.5 million Canadian dollars to build. When it first opened, it could hold 9,300 people.
The building was updated two times, once in 1949 and again in 1968. By the time it closed in 1996, it could hold 17,959 people, including standing room.
In 1968, the arena got a big makeover. They added a new digital score clock that hung in the middle of the rink. This clock was similar to ones in other famous arenas. In 1985, an even newer score clock was installed, which had color screens on each side.
The Montreal Forum was known for its loud, high-pitched siren. This siren would sound to signal the end of each period in a hockey game. This special siren sound was later moved to the Bell Centre, which is the Canadiens' current home arena.
Hockey's Home: Ice Hockey at the Forum
The Forum was a very busy place for hockey. Besides hosting the Canadiens and Maroons, it also held games for other leagues. These included the Quebec Senior Hockey League and the Quebec Junior Hockey League.
The Forum hosted many important hockey events. It was the site of several Memorial Cup games, where the Junior Canadiens even won on home ice in 1970. In 1972, the Forum hosted the first game of the famous "Summit Series" between Team Canada and the USSR. The USSR won that game 7-3.
The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was also held at the Forum. This was the first time an NHL arena hosted this event, where teams pick new players.
Stanley Cup Moments
The Montreal Forum saw many Stanley Cup Finals games over the years. The Canadiens won many of their championships on this ice.
Only two visiting teams ever won the Stanley Cup at the Forum. The New York Rangers won against the Maroons in 1928. Later, the Calgary Flames defeated the Canadiens there in 1989.
The Last Game and a Special Farewell
On March 11, 1996, the Montreal Canadiens played their final game at the Montreal Forum. They won 4-1 against the Dallas Stars. After the game, many legendary hockey players came out to say goodbye.
One of the most touching moments was when Maurice Richard, a beloved Canadiens player, received a 16-minute standing ovation. He was so moved that he cried. A special torch, representing a famous poem, was passed from former Canadiens captains to the current captain, Pierre Turgeon. The next day, a parade carried this torch to the new arena, the Bell Centre.
More Than Just Hockey: Other Sports and Events
The Forum was not only for hockey. It hosted many other exciting events.
Olympic Glory and Other Sports
In 1932, the 1932 World Figure Skating Championships were held in Montreal, and the Forum was used for the free skating parts of the competition.
The Forum was also a venue for five events during the 1976 Summer Olympics. These included gymnastics, handball, basketball, volleyball, and boxing. It was at the Forum that Nadia Comăneci achieved the first perfect 10 score in Olympic gymnastics history!
Other sports like indoor soccer, boxing, lacrosse, and tennis were also played there. The Forum was also a popular place for professional wrestling matches.
Famous Concerts and Gatherings
The Forum hosted many famous musicians and events. The Beatles performed there in 1964. Other legendary bands and artists like Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Bee Gees, Journey, Rush, Queen, and Madonna also held concerts at the Forum.
In 1990, Billy Graham held a large religious event called Mission Quebec, which nearly 20,000 people attended.
Seating Capacity Over the Years
| Seats | Standing room |
Total | Period |
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| 9,300 | 3,200 | 12,500 | 1924–1949 |
| 13,551 | 2,000 | 15,551 | 1949–1968 |
| 16,500 | 2,500 | 19,000 | 1968–1978 |
| 16,074 | 2,002 | 18,076 | 1978–1991 |
| 16,259 | 1,700 | 17,959 | 1991–1996 |
The Forum Today: After Hockey
After the Canadiens moved out, the Forum building was completely changed. It became an entertainment center called the Pepsi Forum. It now has a large movie theater, shops, and restaurants.
Inside, they recreated the center ice area, complete with a small section of old grandstand seats. There was even a statue of a fan cheering. A statue of Maurice Richard was also placed near the grandstand.
The building was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997. This was because it was such an important sports venue and a symbol of hockey's role in Canada.
In recent years, parts of the building have been leased by Dawson College for classrooms. Some of the hockey tributes and decorations inside the building have been removed to give it a more modern look. However, you can still find some Forum and hockey memorabilia on the upper levels.
See also
In Spanish: Forum de Montreal para niños
