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Montreal Rocket
Arena Name: Molson/Bell Centre |
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| Molson Centre |
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| What was the Arena Like? |
| In 1996, the Montreal Canadiens abandoned the legendary Montreal Forum and moved a couple miles southeast to the Molson Centre, a gigantic, cavernous building with little of the charm or atmosphere of the previous home of nos glorieux. Yet in spite of their unlovable, airless home, the Habs are still the Habs, and the legends still live on at their games. If you were the sort of person who loved strangeness, and you really wanted to find out what it was like to watch a hockey game in an empty aircraft hanger, you needed to go and watch the Montreal Rocket, which you could do along with a couple hundred diehards from 2001 to 2003 after the team left the Maurice Richard Arena. The arena, which was renamed in 2002 to the Bell Centre, dominates its block. It is a massive red brick building with the domineering presence of a train station, which it sort of is - the Lucien L'Allier commuter station is located in the same building. Inside, there are three layers of maroonish seats, a gigantic video board, and all the other sterile bells and whistles you'd expect from today's NHL. For Rocket games, the junior team often drew less than a thousand people - that's less than 5% full - and so you pretty much could have an entire section to yourself. After a few seasons of that madness, the Rocket moved on to Charlottetown, a city that appreciates junior hockey much more in spite of having an almost equally unsuitable arena. |
| Inside the Bell Centre |
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| How To Get There |
| From A-720: Take Exit 4 to Rue de la Montagne. Turn left on St. Antoine Street West, then turn right onto Rue de la Montagne. Turn right onto Rue de la Gauchetière Ouest. The Bell Centre will be on your right. |
| What's it Used For Today? |
| As mentioned, the Bell Centre is home of the Montreal Canadiens, as well as the usual concerts and trade shows you'd expect out of a large new arena in a major city. |
| Feedback |
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at  and I'll update the guide. |
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Copyright © Kevin Jordan
2002-07. |