Rogers Arena

Construction and Financing as General Motors Place

The arena was completed in 1995 at a cost of C$160 million, financed entirely with private funds. Its construction was a direct response to the need for a modern facility to replace the Pacific Coliseum and to secure franchises in the National Basketball Association's 1995 expansion into Canada. The facility was originally named General Motors Place through a 15-year sponsorship agreement with General Motors Canada, leading to its common nicknames "GM Place" and "The Garage". From its opening, it served as the dual home for the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL and the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA. The arena's operations have always involved unionized labour, with a significant shift occurring in 2007 when non-food service employees changed their union affiliation from UNITE HERE Local 40 to the Christian Labour Association of Canada after a ruling by the British Columbia Labour Relations Board.

In 2009, the arena received a new suspended scoreboard, which at the time was the largest in the NHL. The same year, concession workers employed by Aramark, who were still represented by UNITE-HERE Local 40, protested their payment. The arena's event technical employees are provided through Riggit Services Inc. In 2007, the arena's other employees chose to change their union affiliation from UNITE HERE, Local 40 to the Christian Labour Association of Canada. These labour matters have been part of the arena's history.

The Olympic Transformation and Naming Rights Change

In February 2010, the arena was the central venue for the ice hockey tournaments at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Due to International Olympic Committee regulations prohibiting corporate sponsorship at event sites, the arena was temporarily renamed "Canada Hockey Place" for the duration of the Games. This period marked a high point for the venue, as both the Canadian men's and women's teams won gold medals on home ice. The success of the Olympics demonstrated the arena's capability to host world-class international events under intense global scrutiny. On July 6, 2010, shortly after the Olympics, it was announced that General Motors Canada would not renew its naming rights agreement.

Rogers Communications immediately acquired those rights under a new 10-year deal, and the building was renamed Rogers Arena. This transition marked the end of the "GM Place" era. The following year, a significant five-year sponsorship agreement was signed with PepsiCo, making it the exclusive provider of all beverages and snacks sold within the arena. As part of this deal, all concerts held at the venue are promoted under the banner "Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena".

Technological Upgrades and Multi-Phase Renovations

In October 2010, prior to the 2010-11 NHL season, Canucks Sports & Entertainment undertook a major technological installation. They installed four-storey high theatrical scrims and 16 projectors, creating the first setup of its kind in North American sports. This system was used for player introductions and in-arena entertainment until the 2015-16 season, and though the equipment remains in place, its future use is uncertain. A more comprehensive renovation project began prior to the 2022-23 NHL season, planned in three distinct phases to modernize the facility without disrupting the primary sports schedule.

The first phase involved a complete reconstruction of the players' dressing room and the team staff areas. Phase two was completed before the start of the 2023-24 season and focused on fan experience technology, installing a new centre-hung video board and a new ribbon board above the lower bowl. Concurrently, construction began on a new VIP restaurant located between the two tunnels that lead to the home and away team benches. The final and most extensive phase, originally scheduled for completion before the 2024-25 season, involves replacing every seat in the arena's upper and lower bowls. This seat replacement project has been delayed and is now expected to be finished sometime in 2025.

Primary Sports Tenants and Historical Moments

Rogers Arena's primary and longest-serving tenant is the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Canucks played their first game there on October 9, 1995, in a 3 to 5 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The arena hosted the 1998 National Hockey League All-Star Game and was the site of Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, where the Boston Bruins defeated the Canucks in game 7. The arena was previously home to the Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA from 1995 to 2001, with their first home game on November 5, 1995, and their final home game on April 14, 2001.

The venue returned to hosting major basketball with an NBA preseason game between the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings on October 5, 2014. It is scheduled to host a landmark WNBA regular season game on August 15, 2025, between the Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream, marking the first such game in Canada. Since 2018, the venue has been the home of the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League. The arena also hosted the Vancouver Voodoo of the Roller Hockey International for one season in 1996 and the Vancouver Ravens of the NLL from 2001 to 2004.

Major Concert Series and Award Ceremonies

Beyond sports, Rogers Arena is a premier destination for live entertainment in Western Canada, having hosted the Juno Awards on four separate occasions. The first was the 27th annual awards in 1998, followed by the 38th in 2009, the 47th in 2018, and most recently the 54th ceremony in March 2025. Major concert tours have consistently chosen the venue, including Celine Dion's stop on her Let's Talk About Love World Tour on October 9, 1998. More recent major bookings include Linkin Park's performance on September 21, 2025, as part of their From Zero World Tour, and K-pop group TWICE's scheduled shows on January 9 and 10, 2026, for their This Is For World Tour.

The arena's booking strategy demonstrates a commitment to diverse, high-calibre entertainment. It has also hosted significant one-off events like the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships from March 17 to 25. In the field of eSports, it was the host venue for The International 2018 Dota 2 tournament from August 20 to 25, bringing a global digital competition to a traditional sports facility. The 2023 Laver Cup men's tennis tournament was held from September 22 to 24, further expanding the types of events held within its walls.

Combat Sports and Professional Wrestling History

Rogers Arena has established a strong reputation as a host for major Ultimate Fighting Championship events, beginning with UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin on June 12, 2010. The venue has since held numerous UFC pay-per-views and Fight Night cards, creating a regular schedule for mixed martial arts fans in Vancouver. Key events include UFC 131: dos Santos vs. Carwin in June 2011, UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov in June 2014, and UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit in August 2016. The most recent UFC event was UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana in June 2023, with another UFC Fight Night scheduled for October 18, 2025, featuring a main event of de Ridder vs. Allen.

The arena has an equally long history with professional wrestling, dating back to WWE's In Your House 9: International Incident pay-per-view on July 21, 1996. It hosted WWE's Rock Bottom: In Your House in December 1998 and a live SmackDown broadcast in February 2020. More recently, it was the site of WWE's New Year's Revolution special episode on January 5, 2024, and Survivor Series in November 2024. A major event is scheduled for April 12, 2026, when All Elite Wrestling will present its Dynasty pay-per-view, which is projected to draw the largest non-WWE pro wrestling live audience in British Columbia in 58 years.

Community Engagement and Fan Experience Initiatives

Canucks Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the arena, actively engages with the community through structured charitable and fan-focused initiatives. The Canucks For Kids Fund runs 50/50 raffles during events, allowing fans to donate to community causes while entering to win cash prizes. In a major new undertaking for the 2026-27 season, the organization launched its first-ever Fan Fest, presented by Rogers. This three-day celebration began on Thursday, September 24, 2026, ahead of the team's first home preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Fan Fest was designed as a comprehensive fan experience, building activities throughout Friday, September 25, towards a full day of pre-game events on Saturday, September 26, before the Canucks hosted the Seattle Kraken for the official season opener. The festival included interactive activities, music, food and drinks, and exclusive opportunities for fans to see and meet players. Michael Doyle, President of Business Operations for Canucks Sports & Entertainment, stated the event was about celebrating the connection between the team and the community. The arena also offers behind-the-scenes tours, ice rentals, and premium hospitality options at venues like The SportsBar LIVE, extending its role beyond event hosting.

Location, Accessibility, and Surrounding Development

Rogers Arena is centrally situated at 800 Griffiths Way in downtown Vancouver, making it highly accessible by public transit, which the venue actively promotes on its website. For drivers, the arena provides information on numerous parking facilities both on-site and in the surrounding downtown area. Its location places it within walking distance of many hotels, restaurants, and other urban attractions, contributing significantly to the pre- and post-event experience for visitors. This central location has been a key factor in its success as a host for major tournaments that draw international visitors.

The area around the arena has seen significant development. In July 2012, the Aquilini Investment Group, which is connected to the arena's ownership, had plans to build condo towers nearby. These plans were switched to rental units to address the city's need for rental housing, resulting in the loss of about $35 million in developer contributions for community facilities. The first of these towers was completed by June 2016, with the second nearing completion at that time, adding much-needed rental space to the Northeast False Creek area.

Future Event Calendar and Long-Term Significance

The event calendar for Rogers Arena remains consistently full, blending the annual schedules of the Canucks and Warriors with a wide array of other attractions. The Vancouver Canucks are scheduled to begin their 2026-27 NHL season at home on Thursday, October 9, 2026, against the Seattle Kraken, which will be presented by RBC as part of a new sponsorship agreement announced for that season. The arena will once again host the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships from December 26, 2025, to January 5, 2026. It has also been confirmed as the venue for the first Professional Women's Hockey League game in Vancouver on January 8, 2025, between Montreal and Toronto, which drew an attendance of 19,038.

Other confirmed future events solidify its status as a national venue. These include the WNBA game in August 2025, the 54th Juno Awards in March 2025, and the UFC Fight Night in October 2025. The venue will continue to welcome major music tours, with TWICE scheduled for January 2026. The ongoing renovations, particularly the seat replacement project scheduled for 2025, indicate a commitment to maintaining the arena's standard as a top-tier facility. From its origins as a catalyst for NBA expansion to its role in Olympic history and its ongoing community presence, Rogers Arena remains a foundational piece of Vancouver's urban and cultural landscape.

Questions about Rogers Arena

Which sports teams have called Rogers Arena home?

The primary and current tenant is the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL, who have played there since 1995. The arena is also the home of the Vancouver Warriors of the NLL. Historically, it was home to the Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA from 1995 to 2001, the Vancouver Voodoo of the RHI in 1996, and the Vancouver Ravens of the NLL from 2001 to 2004. The Ravens' operations were suspended, though revival attempts were made in 2007 and 2008.

What are the details of the recent renovation phases at Rogers Arena?

A multi-phase renovation began prior to the 2022-23 NHL season. Phase one involved a complete rebuild of the players' dressing room and team staff areas. Phase two, completed before the 2023-24 season, installed a new centre-hung video board and a ribbon board above the lower bowl, and began construction on a new VIP restaurant between the team tunnels. The final phase, delayed to 2025, will replace every seat in the upper and lower bowls of the arena.

What notable non-sporting events are held at Rogers Arena?

The arena has hosted the Juno Awards four times, in 1998, 2009, 2018, and 2025. It is a major concert venue for tours from artists like Celine Dion and Linkin Park. It regularly hosts UFC events and major professional wrestling pay-per-views from WWE and AEW. Other events have included the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships, The International 2018 Dota 2 eSports tournament, and the 2023 Laver Cup tennis tournament.

When did Rogers Arena open and what was its original name?

Rogers Arena opened in 1995. Its original name was General Motors Place, stemming from a sponsorship arrangement with General Motors Canada, and it was commonly called GM Place or The Garage. The arena was built with private financing to replace the Pacific Coliseum as Vancouver's primary indoor sports venue. This construction coincided with the NBA's 1995 expansion into Canada, which included the Vancouver Grizzlies. The name changed to Rogers Arena on July 6, 2010, after Rogers Communications secured the naming rights following General Motors Canada's decision not to renew its sponsorship.

What was the arena called during the 2010 Olympics and why?

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, the arena was temporarily renamed Canada Hockey Place. This change was required due to Olympic regulations that prohibited corporate sponsorship names at event sites. Rogers Arena served as the venue for all ice hockey tournaments during those Games, where Canada won both gold medals. The temporary name was used exclusively for the Olympic period in February 2010. After the Olympics concluded, the venue reverted to its corporate name, which was still General Motors Place at that time, before becoming Rogers Arena later that same year.

What major hockey events beyond Canucks games has the arena hosted?

Beyond Vancouver Canucks games, Rogers Arena has hosted several major hockey events. It was the site of the 1998 NHL All-Star Game and the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. The arena served as the main venue for the ice hockey tournaments at the 2010 Winter Olympics. It has also hosted the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2006 and 2019. Furthermore, on January 8, 2025, it hosted the first Professional Women's Hockey League game in Vancouver, where the Montreal Victoire defeated the Toronto Sceptres before an attendance of 19,038 fans.

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