Mary Brown's Centre

History and Naming

The arena was constructed to replace the city's previous main venue, Memorial Stadium, and opened its doors in May 2001. During its construction, the City of St. John's sold the initial naming rights to brewing company Molson under a 10-year deal valued at 1.5 million dollars, which also included rights to be the venue's exclusive beer supplier. Molson subsequently resold those naming rights to Danny Williams, then the owner of Cable Atlantic, for 600,000 dollars. Williams, who later sold his cable company to Rogers Communications in order to pursue a career in politics, personally retained the naming rights. He ultimately chose the name Mile One Centre, a reference to St. John's status as the easternmost city in Canada and a symbolic starting point. This name remained in place for two decades, becoming deeply associated with the city's sports and entertainment scene. A new naming rights agreement was announced on October 14, 2021, purchased by the Newfoundland-originated fried chicken restaurant chain Mary Brown's. The venue was officially rebranded as Mary Brown's Centre on November 5, 2021. The arena is managed by St. John’s Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which handles all day-to-day operations, event bookings, and tenant relations from its offices at 50 New Gower Street.

Hockey Tenancy and Events

Hockey has been the central sporting tenant of the arena since its opening, with a history marked by both championship success and tenant instability. The first major tenant was the St. John's Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League, who played from 2001 until 2005 before relocating to Toronto to become the Toronto Marlies. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment stated the relocation was necessary to better monitor prospects for their co-owned NHL team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their departure created an opportunity for major junior hockey, and the Dobbin family were granted an expansion Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise in 2004, later named the St. John's Fog Devils. The Fog Devils began playing at Mile One Centre in 2005 but relocated to Verdun, Quebec, after only three seasons to become the Montreal Junior Hockey Club, with their demise attributed to lack of fan support, a poor lease agreement, and high travel costs. Professional hockey returned in 2011 when Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment announced a lease agreement with former premier Danny Williams that saw their AHL franchise, formerly the Manitoba Moose, relocated to St. John's as the St. John's IceCaps. As the minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets, the IceCaps played their inaugural season in 2011-12. In honour of this development, the Kraft Hockeyville pre-season NHL game between the Jets and Ottawa Senators was moved to the arena. In March 2015, it was announced the Jets would move their AHL team back to Winnipeg as the Moose for the 2015-16 season. The IceCaps' organization then secured the Montreal Canadiens' AHL team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, to relocate to St. John's for the 2015-16 season, retaining the IceCaps name temporarily while the Canadiens built a new arena in Laval, Quebec. This arrangement ended in 2017 when the Canadiens-owned franchise left to become the Laval Rocket.

After a year without a hockey tenant, St. John's was granted an ECHL expansion team in 2018, the Newfoundland Growlers. Their tenure was marked by controversy, including an eviction from the arena on October 27, 2021, citing workplace misconduct by the team's ownership, Deacon Sports and Entertainment. This forced the Growlers to play their first six home games of the 2021-22 season in nearby Conception Bay South before the city and DSE reached an agreement for a return in November 2021. The Growlers ceased operations on April 2, 2024, due to failing to fulfill ECHL league bylaws and financial reasons. The QMJHL announced in 2024 that the Acadie-Bathurst Titan would relocate to St. John's for the 2025-26 season, reviving major junior hockey at the venue under the new name Newfoundland Regiment. The arena has also been a frequent host for significant hockey events beyond league play.

• It hosted the AHL All-Star Game in both 2002 and 2014. The 2014 event featured a unique format where the AHL All-Stars faced Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League.
• It was the venue for the 2004 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, an international tournament for elite youth players.
• During the 2010 to 2011 hockey season, Hockey Canada used the arena as the host venue for both the women's Four Nations Cup and the national midget AAA championship, the Telus Cup.
• The annual Herder Memorial Trophy tournament, the largest hockey tournament in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is contested at the arena.
• It has hosted several NHL preseason games, including two split-squad games between the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders on September 22, 2014, which the Islanders won 3-2 in both contests, the latter via shootout. A game between the Senators and Carolina Hurricanes was held on September 27, 2015. A highly anticipated 2003 NBA preseason game featuring LeBron James's debut was cancelled due to unsafe court conditions from condensation.

Basketball and Other Sports

Professional basketball arrived at the arena with the St. John's Edge of the National Basketball League of Canada, who began play in the 2017-18 season after long negotiations, bringing professional basketball to St. John's for the first time. The team's tenure ended on July 15, 2021, when the city did not renew the lease with the team to play in the arena, opting instead to grant a lease to a different ownership group with an American Basketball Association franchise. Currently, the arena is home to the Newfoundland Rogues of The Basketball League (TBL). Beyond hockey and basketball, the venue has established itself as a premier site for major curling events in Canada, drawing national attention and significant crowds. It hosted the Canadian men's curling championship, the Tim Hortons Brier, in 2017 and is scheduled to host the event again in 2026, when it will be branded as the Montana's Brier. The arena also hosted the Canadian women's curling championship, the Scott Tournament of Hearts, in 2005. Other notable sporting events held at the venue demonstrate its versatility. These include the 2005 Skate Canada International, a major figure skating competition, and the 2008 5th World Junior Street & Ball Hockey Championship. The venue's adaptability for different sports has been tested, most notably by the 2003 NBA cancellation which highlighted the operational challenges of managing court conditions in a multi-purpose arena primarily designed for ice sports. The arena continues to seek a diverse sports calendar to complement its primary hockey and concert bookings.

Concerts and Major Entertainment

Mary Brown's Centre has been a key stop on national concert tours since its opening, with the first musical act to play the venue being the band Live in 2001. The venue's stage has welcomed a vast and diverse array of musical artists spanning rock, pop, country, hip-hop, and classic acts, making it the primary large-scale concert hall in the province. The extensive list of performers includes foundational Canadian artists like The Tragically Hip, Bryan Adams, Gordon Lightfoot, Blue Rodeo, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Sarah McLachlan, Our Lady Peace, Barenaked Ladies, Billy Talent, Simple Plan, Feist, Bachman & Turner, Tegan and Sara, and Carly Rae Jepsen. International stars have consistently included Elton John, Pearl Jam, KISS, Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg, Journey, Sting, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Backstreet Boys, Billy Idol, Ludacris, Celtic Thunder, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Hilary Duff, Nickelback, and Alanis Morissette. The arena has twice hosted Canada's premier music awards, the Juno Awards, in 2002 and 2010. The 2002 ceremony on April 14 was historically significant as it was the first Juno Awards presentation held outside of Ontario or British Columbia, bringing national media focus to St. John's. The venue also hosts a wide range of other entertainment, including family shows, comedy acts like Jimmy Carr's 'Laughs Funny Tour' scheduled for November, and special events like the Stars On Ice holiday tour, which is scheduled for December 2026. The arena served as the main venue for the third annual Avalon Expo sci-fi, comics, and pop-culture convention on August 25-27, 2017. The venue actively promotes its upcoming events through various channels, encouraging visitors to discover experiences designed to bring people together for concerts, sporting events, and community celebrations.

Venue Features and Community Art

Operated by St. John’s Sports & Entertainment Ltd., the arena is designed as a comprehensive multi-purpose facility capable of hosting events ranging from intimate theatre productions to large-scale concerts for 7,000 people and major sporting championships. The venue's box office is located at 50 New Gower Street and operates with standard business hours from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and on Saturdays from 12 PM to 5 PM. A significant and permanent artistic addition to the venue's interior is a large-scale mural titled All Together Now. Created by local artist Sarah O’Rourke-Whelan through a collaboration between St. John’s Sports & Entertainment Ltd. and Business & Arts NL, the mural spans more than 1,000 square feet and transforms a prominent interior wall into a visual celebration of people, places, and shared experiences. It was commissioned through a competitive artist selection process facilitated by Business & Arts NL and was designed specifically for Mary Brown’s Centre. The artwork incorporates elements of hockey, basketball, curling, live music, local landmarks, and everyday moments of connection, intended to reflect the energy that fills the venue year-round. The completion of this mural is part of SJSEL’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the guest experience, supporting local artists, and creating welcoming spaces that reflect Newfoundland and Labrador’s creative community. The mural is now a permanent feature of the centre, offering visitors a lasting point of interest that connects the building's function to the culture of the province.

Operations and Future Outlook

The arena is managed comprehensively by St. John’s Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which oversees all aspects of the business including event bookings, operations, marketing, sponsorship, and tenant relations. The venue maintains an active and publicly promoted schedule, using its official social media channels and an 'Insiders' email program to communicate with the public. This program offers subscribers early access to ticket presales, special promotions, and insider information, ensuring a dedicated audience for events. The future sports lineup is firmly anchored by the arrival of the Newfoundland Regiment of the QMJHL for the 2025-26 season, which promises to provide a stable, long-term hockey tenant following the recent departures of the Growlers and the earlier IceCaps. The scheduled return of the Canadian men's curling championship, the Montana's Brier, in 2026 confirms the venue's established reputation as a trusted and repeat host for national sporting championships, capable of handling the logistics and audience demands of such events. With its central downtown location at 50 New Gower Street, modern facilities adaptable for various events, and a consistent calendar featuring major concerts, family shows, comedy, and sports, Mary Brown's Centre remains the undisputed focal point for large-scale entertainment in Newfoundland and Labrador. The venue's operational and financial model, which includes long-term naming rights partnerships like the one with Mary Brown's and a deliberately diverse event calendar, is structured to ensure its long-term sustainability and continued role as the community's primary gathering place for memorable live experiences.

Questions about Mary Brown's Centre

What hockey team will be playing at Mary Brown's Centre in 2025?

Starting with the 2025-26 season, the arena will be home to a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) team. The franchise is relocating from Acadie-Bathurst and will be renamed the Newfoundland Regiment. This follows the cessation of operations by the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers in April 2024. The team will join the Newfoundland Rogues basketball team as a primary tenant of the venue, restoring a major junior hockey presence to the city.

What major curling events have been held at Mary Brown's Centre?

The arena has hosted the Canadian men's curling championship, the Tim Hortons Brier, twice. It first hosted the Brier in 2017 and is scheduled to host it again in 2026, when it will be called the Montana's Brier. The venue hosted the Canadian women's championship, the Scott Tournament of Hearts, in 2005. These events, which draw thousands of visitors and national television coverage, position the arena as a significant and recurring destination in the Canadian curling circuit.

What is the seating capacity of Mary Brown's Centre?

Mary Brown's Centre has a full capacity of 7,000 people. This indoor arena and entertainment venue in downtown St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador opened in May 2001. The 7,000 seat capacity allows it to host a wide variety of major events, including concerts, sporting competitions, and national tournaments. It is described as the province's premier entertainment and sports venue, capable of accommodating large scale productions and significant crowds for events like the Juno Awards or the Tim Hortons Brier.

Has Mary Brown's Centre ever hosted the Juno Awards?

Yes, Mary Brown's Centre has hosted the Juno Awards on two occasions. It first hosted the awards on April 14, 2002, which was historically significant as the first time the ceremony was held outside of Ontario or British Columbia. The arena subsequently hosted the Juno Awards again in 2010. These events highlight the venue's role as a major national entertainment destination capable of staging complex, televised productions that bring significant attention to St. John's and Newfoundland and Labrador.

What happened to the NBA game scheduled at the arena in 2003?

An NBA preseason game between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers scheduled for October 2003 was cancelled moments before it was to begin. The game, featuring rookie LeBron James and All Star Vince Carter, had a sold out crowd. The cancellation was due to an unseasonably warm day which caused excess condensation inside the arena and a dangerous pooling of moisture on the court. Toronto Raptors General Manager Glen Grunwald addressed the crowd from centre court to announce the cancellation, marking a notable and disappointing event in the venue's history.

Sources and further reading

• Mary Brown's Centre (Wikipedia)
• All Together Now | Mary Brown's Centre (mbcentre.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.