The Montreal Canadiens, better known by locals as The Habs or Canadiens de Montréal, play their home games at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, and they currently compete in the Atlantic Division of the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
In 2015, the Bell Centre had a much-needed renovation at a cost of around $100 million, and several other renovations have also been made over the past decade.
The question being asked here is, does the Canadiens’ Bell Centre lack fan engagement zones that other leading NHL teams have? Let’s dive straight in to find out.
What renovations have been made to the Bell Centre since 2015?
Over the past ten years, several major renovations have been made to the Bell Centre to make it one of the best arenas in the NHL. Here’s a quick look at how some of the money has been spent and how these changes have enhanced the Montreal Canadiens fan experience:
- Interior – some of the key renovations included all of the seats being replaced, public Wi-Fi spots being installed (available at every seat), and renovations to the hallways and concessions areas
- Exterior – a section of De la Gauchetière Street, where the Bell Centre arena is located, called Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, was converted into a pedestrian-only street
- Other renovations – a new glass entrance was also added to the arena. The seating capacity was increased to 21,288. Boxes on levels 300 and 500 were remodelled, and the dressing rooms for home and away teams were constructed. A new ultra-high definition scoreboard (which has a total screen surface of around 2,900 feet) was also installed to enhance the fan experience
Does the Bell Centre lack fan engagement zones of other leading NHL arenas?
The Montreal Canadiens are well-known for having one of the NHL’s most passionate fan bases and a hockey-loving environment, and the newly renovated Bell Centre is known for its electric and vibrant atmosphere on matchday. Many regard this venue as one of the loudest, which makes for an exciting and memorable matchday experience.
The dedicated home fans significantly contribute to the intense atmosphere, win or lose, and the Bell Centre now has one of the best fan engagement zones in the NHL. They also installed the Canadiens Escape Room, which enables fans to participate in a fun pregame puzzle-solving activity.
If fans want to place a wager on their team, they can do so on a handful of legally permitted online sports betting websites that also typically have a variety of Canadian casino games from various multi-award-winning software providers and game development studios, but you must be at least 18 years old to access these sites.
Outside the Bell Centre, the CIBC Pregame Zone also offers fans a fun pregame experience with opportunities for photographs to be taken with the players, and there’s live music to add to the atmosphere.
There’s also the Canadiens Hall of Fame and museum with life-size mannequins of former players, championship rings, a reproduction of the locker room, and other Canadiens-themed exhibits.
They also allow fans to turn up early to watch the Canadiens warm-up before the match starts, with many fans saying that this experience is one of the highlights of the home game experience.
Those who take advantage of the Wi-Fi can look forward to ordering food and beverages and having them delivered to their seat.
Some of the other advantages of using your Wi-Fi-connected smartphone on matchdays include being able to watch instant replays, use the mobile ticketing service, and participate in social media promotions and fan loyalty programs.
For example, fans can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets to support the team and uniquely interact with the club. Finally, fans can also explore everything the venue has to offer and learn about the club’s history with the Bell Centre guided tours.
This venue has everything an NHL fan could ever want from a home arena. It’s in an ideal location that’s easy to get to, and there are several other things to do around the Bell Centre, with many bars and restaurants to choose from, such as Cage Aux Sports, Les 3 Brasseurs, McLean’s Pub, Mister Steer, St. Hubert BBQ, Peel Pub, and Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill, to name a few, plus there are several food trucks service delicious pregame food.
Players can gather in these fan zones before the game starts and can always count on a lively atmosphere to get them in the mood to watch their team win.
Final thoughts
The Bell Centre is now widely regarded by many, especially home fans, as the premier venue for watching NHL games. Other notable venues that also have fantastic fan engagement zones are Rogers Place, Madison Square Garden, the Bridgestone Area, the United Center, and the Bell MTS Place.
That’s not forgetting to mention the Amalie Arena, the Xcel Energy Center, the Boston (Td Garden), the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, the Air Canada Centre, and the Nationwide Arena, to name just a few.
Before visiting the Bell Centre, remember to book your travel and matchday tickets well in advance, and when purchasing Montreal Canadiens tickets, always purchase them from official ticket merchants/online vendors.
There is no other place quite like the Bell Centre, so if you enjoy watching ice hockey and want to have the ultimate live fan experience, make sure you add this place to your list of NHL venues to visit.