Bell Centre

History and Construction

Construction on the Bell Centre began on June 22, 1993, shortly after the Montreal Canadiens won their 24th Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum. The arena officially opened on March 16, 1996, as the Molson Centre, named for the brewing company that owned the Canadiens at the time. When Molson sold the team, it elected not to retain the naming rights, leading to an official name change on September 1, 2002, after Bell Canada acquired them. The building was designed by a local architectural consortium, a departure from the Populous-designed arenas common across North America.

In October 2015, a major renovation project was announced with a budget of $100 million. The planned upgrades included the replacement of all seats, renovated hallways and concession areas, new restaurants, the installation of public Wi-Fi, and the conversion of Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal into a pedestrian-only street. These renovations were designed to proceed without interfering with the arena's normal operations. The arena has undergone other significant updates, including the installation of a new main scoreboard in 2024 featuring rounded edges and smaller, angled internal screens to improve sightlines for fans in lower seats.

Location and Accessibility

The Bell Centre is situated in downtown Montreal within the borough of Ville-Marie, near the corner of Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal and de la Montagne Street. Its prominent location places it across from the 1250 René-Lévesque skyscraper. The arena is exceptionally well-served by public transit, being directly connected to the Lucien L'Allier commuter rail terminal. It is also linked to both the Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations and integrates with Montreal's extensive underground city network and Central Station, making it easily accessible for large crowds.

Arena Design and Features

The Bell Centre covers an area of 1.568 hectares and is renowned for its steeply sloped grandstands, a design choice intended to improve sightlines for spectators. The seating is arranged in a three-tier layout. The lower 100 level sections are coloured red and are commonly called 'the reds'. The 200 level, known as Club Desjardins, is situated between two levels of private boxes and offers premium amenities like larger seats and complimentary food and non-alcoholic drinks. The upper 300 level is further divided into themed zones, including the Ford Zone at one end, which features section cheerleaders and flashing lights, and the Family Zone at the opposite end, with child-specific ticket prices and limited alcohol service.

Unique features include centralized washrooms on the 100 level and dedicated scoreboards on the back of the press gondola for seats in sections 318, 319, and 320, where the main scoreboard is obstructed. Following early criticism that the arena felt generic compared to the Forum, the Canadiens have incrementally decorated the interior with tributes to team history, including a ring of honoured players around the top seating level. The arena also houses six restaurants and the Molson Ex Zone, which features a live band stage. Notably, the Bell Centre is one of only two NHL arenas, alongside Boston's TD Garden, that uses an old-style siren to mark the end of periods, a tradition inherited from the Montreal Forum.

Major Sports Events

The Bell Centre is first and foremost the home of the Montreal Canadiens, who have played to nearly consistent sell-out crowds since October 2005. The arena hosted its first Stanley Cup Final in 2021, with Games 3 and 4 played under COVID-19 capacity restrictions. It has been the site of significant international hockey, hosting the final two games of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, pool games in the 2004 World Cup, the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, and the 2009 and 2022 NHL Entry Drafts. In February 2025, it was one of two host venues for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, staging the first four round-robin games.

The arena has also become a landmark for women's professional hockey. On April 20, 2024, it hosted its first Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) game, a sell-out match between the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres that set a new world attendance record for a women's hockey game with 21,105 fans. The PWHL returned on March 1, 2025. Beyond hockey, the Bell Centre has hosted NBA preseason games since 2010 as part of the NBA Canada Series, primarily featuring the Toronto Raptors, and was home to two Toronto Tempo games during the 2026 WNBA season. In mixed martial arts, the arena hosted UFC 83 in April 2008, the first UFC event in Canada, headlined by Montreal native Georges St-Pierre. Several subsequent UFC events have been held there, with the most recent being UFC 315 on May 10, 2025.

The Bell Centre has a storied history with professional wrestling, having hosted WWE pay-per-views like Survivor Series 1997, which featured the infamous 'Montreal Screwjob', and Elimination Chamber in 2023. All Elite Wrestling made its Montreal debut at the arena in December 2023 and returned for its Redemption event on July 26, 2026. The arena was also scheduled to host the 2020 World Figure Skating Championships, which were cancelled due to the pandemic, eventually hosting the 2024 edition instead. This wide range of events underscores the venue's status as a premier multi-sport facility.

Concerts and Entertainment

The Bell Centre is Montreal's primary venue for large-scale concerts and entertainment events, consistently listed among the world's busiest arenas for ticket sales. It has hosted a vast array of international artists across all genres. The performer with the most appearances at the venue is Céline Dion, with 50 performances between 1996 and 2020 across multiple world tours. Her final show of the Let's Talk About Love World Tour on December 31, 1999, was held at the Bell Centre before her three-year hiatus from the music industry. The arena's schedule remains packed, with major tours announced well into 2026 and beyond, solidifying its status as an entertainment hub for the city and the country.

Honours and Traditions

The rafters of the Bell Centre are adorned with the retired numbers of legendary Montreal Canadiens players, each honoured with individual banners. Unlike some NHL teams, the Canadiens do not hang division or conference championship banners, choosing instead to display only their 24 Stanley Cup championship banners alongside the retired numbers. In a unique tribute to Montreal's baseball history, the Canadiens raised a banner on October 18, 2005, honouring the departed Montreal Expos. This banner features the retired numbers of Expos legends Gary Carter (8), Andre Dawson and Rusty Staub (10), and Tim Raines (30). The Expos' mascot, Youppi!, was adopted by the Canadiens and remains a fixture at games.

The arena is also home to several beloved game-night traditions. During the 2026 NHL playoffs, a different Canadiens alumnus carried the team's torch into the arena to ignite the pregame ceremony before each home game. Special theme nights are a staple of the regular season schedule, including celebrations of Quebec culture, Halloween, Christmas, and community-focused events like Military Appreciation Night, Hockey Fights Cancer, and Pride Night. The 2026-27 season featured a special ceremony on November 10, 2026, to honour goaltender Carey Price following his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. These traditions foster a strong connection between the team, the venue, and its fans.

Recent and Future Developments

The Bell Centre continues to evolve as a modern sports and entertainment complex. Beyond the ongoing $100 million renovation program announced in 2015, the arena introduced a new centre-ice logo for the 2025-26 NHL season. The 2026-27 Canadiens season was highlighted by a full slate of theme games and community events, including the honouring of Carey Price. The arena remains a sought-after host for international competitions, having been selected as a venue for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, anticipated to be the city's most significant sporting event since the 1976 Summer Olympics.

The Bell Centre's operational success is reflected in its consistent sell-out streaks for Montreal Canadiens games, which have been almost consistently sold-out since October 2005. Its management under Evenko, a subsidiary of Groupe CH, ensures a continuous pipeline of major concerts and sporting events. Since it opened in 1996, it has consistently been listed as one of the world's busiest arenas, usually receiving the highest attendance of any arena in Canada. The arena is integrated with Montreal's urban fabric and transit systems, being linked to both Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations and connected to the underground city. Ongoing investments in fan experience, such as a planned $100 million renovation announced in 2015, position the Bell Centre to remain a central part of Montreal's identity.

Questions about Bell Centre

What other major sports events have been held at the Bell Centre besides Canadiens games?

Beyond NHL hockey, the Bell Centre has hosted a wide variety of major sports events. It was a venue for the 1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey, the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, and the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off. It set a world record for women's hockey attendance with a PWHL game in 2024. The arena has also hosted UFC events since 2008, WWE pay-per-views and television shows, NBA preseason games, and the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships.

What was the 'Montreal Screwjob' at the Bell Centre?

The 'Montreal Screwjob' refers to a controversial professional wrestling match that occurred at the Bell Centre during WWE's Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 9, 1997. Calgary native Bret Hart was defending the WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels. Without Hart's knowledge, WWF owner Vince McMahon instructed the referee to ring the bell and award the match to Michaels while Hart was in a hold but had not submitted, forcing Hart to lose the title in his home country of Canada. The incident is one of the most famous and discussed moments in wrestling history.

What are some of the special theme nights held at the Bell Centre during the NHL season?

The Montreal Canadiens host numerous special theme nights throughout the regular season to engage fans and celebrate community. These include Soirée Québécoise celebrating Quebec culture, Halloween and Christmas themed games, and a Mascot Party. The team also runs community appreciation nights such as Military Appreciation Night, Hockey Fights Cancer, Lunar New Year, Celebrating Black Excellence, First Peoples Celebration, and Pride Night. The 2026-27 season featured a special night honouring goaltender Carey Price following his Hockey Hall of Fame induction.

What is the seating capacity of the Bell Centre for a Canadiens game?

The Bell Centre has a seating capacity of 20,962 for ice hockey. This makes it the largest indoor arena in Canada and the second largest ice hockey arena in the world after the SKA Arena in St Petersburg, Russia. The arena's capacity varies for other events, holding about 15,000 for concerts and between 5,000 and 14,000 for amphitheatre or theatre configurations. The building is designed with steeply sloped grandstands to improve sight lines for spectators.

How do I get to the Bell Centre using public transit?

The Bell Centre is easily accessible by public transportation as it is located in downtown Montreal. It is directly connected to the Lucien L'Allier commuter rail terminal, which is next door. The arena is also linked to both Lucien L'Allier and Bonaventure Metro stations. Furthermore, it is connected to Montreal's underground city network and Central Station, providing convenient and sheltered access for visitors from across the metropolitan area.

Why are there banners for the Montreal Expos in a hockey arena?

Banners for the Montreal Expos hang in the Bell Centre as a tribute to the city's former Major League Baseball team. The Canadiens raised this banner on October 18, 2005, after the Expos left for Washington, D.C., following the 2004 season. The banner features the retired numbers of Expos legends Gary Carter (8), Andre Dawson and Rusty Staub (10), and Tim Raines (30). The Canadiens also adopted the Expos' mascot, Youppi!, integrating a piece of Montreal's baseball history into the hockey arena's culture.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.