Located in the Great White North, smack dab next to the St. Lawrence River, sits the city of Montreal, Canada. The largest city in Quebec, it’s home to the Centre Bell — which also happens to be the largest arena in the NHL. It’s home to the Montreal Canadiens, but Centre Bell (known as the Bell Centre in English) offers so much more.

The History of Centre Bell

Centre Bell opened its doors to the public in 1996 under the name Molson Centre (or Le Centre Molson for Montreal’s French-speaking citizens). Yes, that’s the same Molson as the brewing company — fitting for a Canadian hockey team to be owned by a Canadian beer manufacturer, isn’t it?

It wouldn’t last, though. Molson sold the team in 2002, and the company elected not to keep naming rights for the arena. Instead, those went to Bell Canada, a regional telephone operator. Meanwhile, more changes were in the works for this arena, as major renovations were undertaken in 2015 to modernize the building and its amenities.

What Makes Centre Bell Events So Special?

Centre Bell events are always amazing thanks to the unique design of the stadium. With a maximum occupancy of well over 21,000 there’s plenty of space for fans of all types, and thanks to the unique construction of the arena and its steeply sloped grandstands, you’ll get a perfect view of the action no matter where you’re seated. It’s little touches like this, plus the extensive renovations that include public WiFi and better restaurant options, that make any event at Centre Bell something you don’t want to miss!