Description
Centre Bell or Bell Center is a famous multifunctional Canadian sports complex located in Quebec City. The home arena for the local hockey club "Montreal Canadiens" of the National Hockey League. The capacity of the arena is 21700 seats for hockey and basketball competitions.
Previously, this famous location was better known as the "Molson Center". This name was associated with a sponsorship contract with a large brewing company Molson, Inc. Since 2002, the arena has transferred this right to Bell Canada, and therefore changed its name.
According to statistics, the Bell Center has been one of the busiest arenas in the world since its opening in 1996. For example, in 2007, the complex was the most popular in Canada, the 2nd in North America and the 5th in the world. The Bell Center is one of the largest in the NHL and the most "loud".
It was the Bell Center that was chosen as the venue for the final games in the final of the Hockey World Cup in 1996, when the USA team defeated the Canadians. It also hosted the meetings of the 2004 Hockey World Cup. A little later, already in 2009, the complex hosted the NHL All-Star Game and the 2009 NHL Draft. The matches of the World Hockey Championship among youth teams in 2014 were also held here.
The Bell Center is also actively used for cultural events. For example, several WWE wrestling shows and the 1997 Survivor Series took place here. It also hosted such famous events as the show No Way Out 2003 and Breaking Point 2009.