Rogers Arena

Last updated

Rogers Arena
The Garage
Rogers Arena Logo 3.png
Rogers Arena.jpg
Rogers Arena in 2011
Rogers Arena
Former names
  • General Motors Place (1995–2010)
  • Canada Ice Hockey Place (2010)
Address800 Griffiths Way
Location Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates 49°16′40″N123°6′32″W / 49.27778°N 123.10889°W / 49.27778; -123.10889
Public transit Translinkexpo.svg Stadium–Chinatown
Owner Aquilini Investment Group
Capacity Ice hockey:
18,422 (1995–2002)
18,514 (2002–2003)
18,630 (2003–2009)
18,810 (2009–2010)
18,860 (2010–2011)
18,890 (2011–2012)
18,910 (2012–present)
Basketball:
19,193 (1995–2003)
19,700 (2003–present)
Concert: 19,000
Field size44,100 m2 (475,000 sq ft)
Construction
Broke groundJuly 13, 1993 [1]
OpenedSeptember 21, 1995
Construction costCA$160 million
($294 million in 2023 dollars) [2]
ArchitectBrisbin, Brook and Beynon
Structural engineerStuart Olson Dominion [3]
Services engineerThe Mitchell Partnership Inc. [4]
General contractor
Tenants
Website
rogersarena.com
Rogers Arena during an exhibition basketball game between Canada and China in August 2010 China vs. Canada.jpg
Rogers Arena during an exhibition basketball game between Canada and China in August 2010

Rogers Arena is a multi-purpose arena at 800 Griffiths Way in the downtown area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1995, the arena was known as General Motors Place (GM Place) from its opening until July 6, 2010, when General Motors Canada ended its naming rights sponsorship and a new agreement for those rights was reached with Rogers Communications. Rogers Arena was built to replace Pacific Coliseum as Vancouver's primary indoor sports facility and in part due to the National Basketball Association (NBA) 1995 expansion into Canada, when Vancouver and Toronto were given expansion teams.

Contents

It is home to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The arena also hosted the ice hockey events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The name of the arena temporarily became Canada Hockey Place during the Olympics. It was previously home to the Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA from 1995 to 2001. The Grizzlies spent six seasons in Vancouver before relocating to Memphis for the 2001–02 season.

Rogers Arena interior in December 2016 Rogers arena vancouver 2016.jpg
Rogers Arena interior in December 2016

Prior to the start of the 2022–23 NHL season the arena underwent the first of three renovation phases. Phase one consisted of a complete renovation of the players dressing room and team staff area. Phase two was completed prior to the start of the 2023–24 NHL season during which a new centre-hung video board and a new ribbon board above the lower bowl were installed. [6] A new VIP restaurant is being added in between the two tunnels that lead out to the home and away team benches. The final phase was expected to be completed prior to the start of the 2024–25 NHL season, with a replacement of all the seats in the upper and lower bowl of the arena, [7] however this has been delayed to sometime in 2025. [8]

History

GM Place

The arena was completed in 1995 at a cost of C$160 million in private financing to replace the aging Pacific Coliseum as the main venue for events in Vancouver and to serve as the home arena to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. [9] It was originally named General Motors Place as part of a sponsorship arrangement with General Motors Canada, and was commonly known as "GM Place" or "The Garage". [10] The arena was also briefly home to the Vancouver Ravens of the National Lacrosse League from 2002 to 2004. [11] The operations of the team have since been suspended although attempts were made to revive the team in 2007 and again in 2008.

The employees of the arena belong to a trade union. In 2007, they chose to change their union affiliation from UNITE HERE – Local 40 to the Christian Labour Association of Canada. After many months of struggle, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board declared the employees choice of a new union. The employee group includes hosts, housekeeping, security and various event staff at the venue.[ citation needed ] UNITE-HERE local 40 still represented food service workers in the arena, employed by Aramark. Another union protest began in 2009 when GM Place concession workers, cooks and event staff protested their payment. [12] The arena's event technical employees are provided through Riggit Services Inc. In the same year, the arena also received a new suspended scoreboard, which at the time was the largest in the NHL. [13] [14]

In February 2010, the arena was used for the ice hockey tournaments at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Canada won both gold medals. [15] The arena was temporarily renamed "Canada Hockey Place" during the Olympics due to regulations regarding corporate sponsorship of event sites. [16] [17]

Rogers Arena

On July 6, 2010, it was announced that GM had declined to renew the naming rights, and that Rogers Communications had acquired the naming rights under a 10-year deal, under which it was renamed Rogers Arena. [18] The following year, the arena reached a five-year sponsorship deal with PepsiCo, under which it became the exclusive provider of beverages and snacks at Rogers Arena, and gained sponsorship placements. [19] In addition, all concerts held at Rogers Arena promote the venue as Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena.

In October 2010, prior to the 2010–11 Vancouver Canucks season. Canucks Sports & Entertainment installed four-storey high theatrical screens, and 16 projectors were installed. It was the first setup of its kind in North American sports. [20] Last time they were used was during the 2015–16 Vancouver Canucks season. They are still present inside the Arena; however, it is unknown when they will be ever used again.

In July 2012, Aquilini Investment Group had originally planned to build the towers with condo units. The switch to rental units provides the city with much-needed rental space. However, the city lost about $35 million in developer contributions to community facilities in the Northeast False Creek area that would have been collected if the buildings had been condos. [21] As of June 2016, the first tower is completed, with the second tower nearing completion. [22]

Notable events

Hockey

Basketball

UFC

WWE

Juno Awards

Other events

See also

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