Centre Bell

I’ve been here three times now, all for concerts. As far as sound goes, it’s pretty good for a large stadium. You have a good view from almost all angles and there are always employees close by to help you find your way.
Now some issues you may run into: they just installed metal detectors at the entrances, which has made getting into the building a chore. I used to just walk up to a door, show them my ticket and that was the end of it. This last concert I went to, I had to wait a good half hour in the cold, just to get through the doors. This caused me to miss most of the opening act, and had me stressed out from rushing to try and find my seat in the dark.
Another problem I had recently with my floor seats, is that they are nearly impossible to find. Even when the lights are on, everyone’s jackets are covering their seats, which means you have to physically move someone’s jacket to see which row it is. To make it worse, I was late for the reason stated above, so the lights were off by then. I had to have a security guard escort me to my row TWICE. I though I’d be okay to get a beer and get back to my seat on my own, but I was wrong. It was the same guard both times too. I felt like such an idiot, and it was stressful and frustrating.
One last thing (I promise), it was so hard to squeeze in to get back to my seat. There was no room in between the chairs, and to make things worse nobody wanted to make way. Even when I tapped them on the shoulder, they basically ignored me until I just pushed my way through. Really rude. I think I’ll stick to the stands from now on unless I can get front row floor seats.

I was born and raised in Montréal and yet I didn’t grow up as a Montréal Canadiens die hard fan. I see myself being a NHL fan since I like players all across the league.
Everytime I visit the Bell Center. Even before the warmup, I get to feel goose bumps all over my body. The feeling you get to watch the team with the longuest history of all NHL is about to play!
As far as drinks and food. I wouldn’t pay a penny. Water bottles are sold for almost 8 $ Beer in cans for 11.50 $. Food is super expensive!
Yes, I would visit several times each year but don’t expect me throwing my money without looking during a hockey game

As far as venues go this was ok. As someone who frequents the SAP center I was not impressed. The entrance to the building was fairly innocuous, and easy to miss, it looks like a commercial building.
I sat in the rouge section during the Habs/​bruins game. The seating was nice, but no cup holders :/​sounds like a small complaint but the struggle is really when you try to eat you mediocre putine and drink your Molson Ex.

Went to see my Caps play the Habs. They are passionate about hockey here. Very welcoming to opposing team’s fans. Had a great time and hope to do it again in the future.
Really cool plaza outside that commemorates the deep history of the Canadiens. Get there early too see it and have time to get inside. Long lines to get in at game time.

My first Habs hockey game experience. It was a great venue. Easily accessible walking from many hotels right in the area. Tons of local bars and pubs right nearby. The entrance and security was quick and efficient. The lower bowl seats, which somewhat compact, are without ant sightline issues or obstructions. It looks like there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Jumbotron, sound, and lighting make sure the fan experience a great one. The concourse traffic wasn’t bad, while bathrooms are a bit limited. Overall a great place to watch a hockey game…
Solid 4 stars

I’ve been to the Centre Bell (and whatever names it previously had) countless times to watch the Habs play, when they used to practice in the arena before they moved to the South Shore, traveled several tours of their Hall of Fame and watched various artists in concerts. I even watched a few wrestling shows!
First and foremost, its location is easily accessible by car, bus, metro or train. There is plenty of parking albeit somewhat expensive due to its location. This arena is now a Montréal institution they are even building condos with its name. It’s a great arena that has a lot of foot traffic in its day to day.
We could talk about how expensive the prices are but it’s one of a kind in the area and the Habs have sold out seats longer than some young adults have been in existence. I do agree the prices to many shows, the Hab games and particularly their boutique is insultingly overpriced. And I won’t go in any detail about the concession prices…
The arena is modern and very well built, particularly the lower bowl when the ambiance is sizzling and when something amazing happens, you’ll remember it! The sound hits you like lightning and it’s a one of a kind experience. The stadium is beautiful and rather clean for the amount of times it is being used. The view you tend to get is very well done, you always crave for better but ultimately, you get to see what you came for without the building getting in the way.
My only gripe are the seats, it’s obvious they wanted as many seats as they could fit in here but let’s be honest with ourselves here, we’re not all slim teenagers. A few more inches wider the seating experience would have been so much better! The quality of seats are fine but sitting down for 3 hours… you leave with battle scars on your bum bum. They could have been better. Sorry to say.
All in all, a great place to go and one of the best arenas you’d probably find around… today.

great venue for many events be it sports, entertainment and whatnot. the really bad is the pricey everything, beer and food.
anyway, comfy seats, great seats as the view is great. acoustic is mostly good, bad if you are in the bleacher. the people working there are nice, the security is a pain in the ass but if you follow the rules, its painless.

There really is no comparable experience to watching a Habs game in the Bell Center, even for non-​fans. It’s something I think almost every Montrealer should check out at least once. Also, the design of the stadium allows for a great experience even in the cheaper seats.
That being said, there are some serious drawbacks which could irritate even die-​hard fans. The cost of food/​beverages is laughably obscene, there’s no convenient way to get in/​out between periods, and seat prices for Habs games are (somewhat understandably) outrageous.
That being said, if you get a chance to go (regardless of your hockey affinity), it’s a unique and worthwhile experience.

I came here for the Madonna concert and realized how poorly run this place was.
First of all, when there’s a major concert how can they allow cars to drive through the crowds right in front of the stadium? There’s also no place to form any semblance of a line to enter. It’s literally a free for all. Once inside there was a bunch of areas sealed off for construction. You have to walk hallways around the place to find the bathroom.
Why 3 stars? The venue itself is pretty much unobstructed view regardless of where you sit. The space itself is quite good.

Quel expérience…le soufflé nous coupent quand les joueurs entrent sur la glacé. le son de l’animateur qui résonne et les partisans qui crient! On les aimes nos canadiens et il n’y a rien eu d’aussi géniale que de vivre cet expérience en vraie et non dans mon sofa derrière ma télé 55pouces! Juste à l’écrire les frissons me reviens… je né suis pas née au Québec mais je peit vous dire que cela à été comme un baptême et qu’il n’y a pas plus québecoise que moi aujourd’hui! Vive les habs et vive la bière! ;-)

If you are into hockey you have to come here. great team, great fans nice staff. Everything was very good. Go Habs

J’ai eu la chance d’assister à un match de hockey des Canadiens dans cet endroit incroyable; toute cette ferveur c’est un autre niveau qu’en France !
On assiste à un vrai show, les joueurs entrent sur la glacé comme des stars à coup d’écran géant et de grosse musique qui tâche.
Seul bémol: le prix des places qui grimpe vraiment trop vite; en zone rouge, il fallait compter plus de 100 $ par place) mais on est quasiment devant les joueurs !
GO HABS GO!

I’ve been to the Bell Center twice and both times were a blast. I went to a preseason basketball game, which isn’t normally held at the Bell Center and a concert. Two very different experiences and both lots of fun. The venue was clean both times, prices were reasonable, and the staff was friendly. Also, they did a great job hosting the preseason basketball game considering they don’t host NBA games there. I’ll definitely go again!

I came here to watch many Habs games over the years and this arena is in a great location in Montréal. It’s easy to get to by subway, car or walking, but I don’t suggest driving as parking and traffic are a bit of a pain.
The arena is pretty new and the facilities are clean and modern. Almost every seat in the arena is a good one and it’s got one of the bigger capacities compared to others in Canada. The rest rooms are clean and there are plenty of them scattered around.
Staff are pretty nice and it’s easy to get around the arena without feeling crammed or claustrophobic. My only real issue with the rink is the crappy food and expensive beer prices. Considering how cheap beer is in Montréal, I figured it would be a bit of a better price. I have to note the hot dogs were horrible, for $ 5 the roll a slice of bread on a .10 wiener. Not even joking the worst hot dog I’ve ever had!

This is a very cool place. I was last here to see game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Habs and the Bruins in 2011. Montréal had taken the first two games in Beantown and the series moved to the Bell for game 3. It was my first playoff hockey game on Canadian soil, and to say that that I was excited is an understatement.
I had purchased seats in an area where food was included in your ticket price. I figured I’d gorge myself while watching an awesome game. The atmosphere was really electric. When they dimmed the lights and started the introductions, the roar of the crowd was so loud that the entire place was vibrating!
It really was an exciting place to watch a hockey game. Until the Bruins scored 3 minutes into the first period. That really took the wind out of the sails of the fans. Then they scored again later in the first period. The Bruins were up by 3 until the Habs finally scored in the 2^nd period, but by that time, the crowd was demoralized. it didn’t really get loud again and I found that disappointing.
However, the arena is still pretty cool. I found it easy to get around and I could walk underground from my hotel to it so I didn’t have to wear a big heavy coat and lug it around at the game.
Oh, I also got to see Youppi! who I remembered fondly from Expo games. Love that guy!
The Canadiens Hall of Fame is at the Bell Centre too. There’s a separate admission required for that, but I really enjoyed visiting there as well.
Very nice arena, but as a Leafs fan, I have to say it’s no ACC.

I don’t think there’s much to say that hasn’t been said already. A recent visit revealed a long line to get in but if you’re patient, it can move quickly. I don’t remember being asked to open my bag last time I was there, but no big deal. Like with all big venues, the prices for everything is inflated, but you’re probably there for a specific reason, so it’s all part of the experience… right? I guess. Acoustics aren’t that great, but it is what it is…

I saw a concert here while visiting Montréal. The arena was large and it looked like most people had a good view of the stage. One of the things I liked the most is that it was easily accessible via public transit. There was a train platform outside one of the entrances and the subway was only a few flights of stairs to the arena. Once you left the arena you were on the one of the main streets in town which is easily navigable. One of my favorite things about the venue was the access to free wifi! How else are you supposed to upload images of the concert live to instagram without internet access?

Excellent endroit, on nous traite avec prestige, on devient très excité en entrant.

Que ce soit pour le hockey des Canadiens, ou pour tout autre événement, … j’adore cet endroit. Le son est excellent, l’ambiance est bonne, on est toujours servi par les lieux. La localisation le rend très facile d’accès au centre-​ville par le métro et le réseau de transport de surface. Le stationnement reste toujours à déterminer selon si vous voulez être très près de l’endroit ou si vous né vous souciez pas de marcher un peu :-)
Would it be for a great Canadians game or any other event, … it’s a great place to be, I like it. The sound and atmosphere are at their best, always well served by the area inside and outside. The place is easy to find and easy to get to by Metro or any surface transport. The parking is a little harder depending on where you want to be… near or far… depends on your walking habilities :-)

As an Oilers fan (and a pure anglophone at that) venturing into enemy territory… I was admittedly a little weary of the ‘perception’ Le Canadiens fans have of being a little harsh with us outsiders. This coming from a 6ft4, 300+lbs, former bouncer.
I was greeted with a happy smile, and few friendly barbs from the box office staff and told to make my way to the private elevators (I had purchased a ticket for the Desjardins Club Seats). Bit of excitement for me being a Halifax Mooseheads season ticket holder.
I knew that they tickets came with free concessions, and so I got a tray of one of everything to try haha. (I hadn’t eaten in a day and a half to prepare)
It was all really delicious.
The game was great for me as well. A 4 — 3 win for the «Bad Guys» from Edmonton. a rarity for the Oil this year.
A beautiful building that left me in absolute awe (and put a bit of a damper on the visit to the Oilers home arena of Rexall place afterwards). Gorgeous arena, with a great pre show, and some fun in-​game entertainment.
The fans (except for some swearing at me as I celebrated the away goals) were amazing as well. Fun spirited and no issues at all.
Merci Montréal!

Visited the Bell Centre recently to see the Leafs take on the Habs. Will call is convenient and well organized, in and out with our tickets in less than a minute.
Stadium is nice and clean, staff were friendly and there was a good selection of sights to see prior to the start of the game. Seats were comfortable and the section we were in (103) provided a great view of the action. Ticket prices were decent as well, less than what were used to back home.

For the ice hockey fans, this is the ONLY temple of this great sport !!! With around 21’000 seats, this is probably the biggest hockey arena in the NHL. Believe it or not, even if the price of the tickets are quite high, it’s sold out for every games.
Every time I go watch a game at the Bell Center, which is unfortunately only once a year at max, I buy tickets in the red section in line with the faceoff line of the skating rink. For me this is the best area to enjoy the show.
The ambiance was just great during the game. Here, in Montréal, the team has without any doubts the best fans! They are also quite demanding but hey that’s part of the game. With the years many players said that they could feel quite a pressure when playing in Montréal. The Fans will treat them like gods if they play well but they can be very nasty if the players do not perform like expected!
I bought once a ticket for a seat located on the very last row up next to the roof, and I would never do it again. The view was partly blocked by the press gallery and you could barely see the puck. Still if you are stopping by Montréal on a game night and you’ve never been there, buy a ticket even if it’s up next to the roof. You will still enjoy the evening.
The only reasons I’ve put 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the outrageous food prices! I was shocked. A «trio» which includes a beer, a hot dog and a potato chips bag cost the crazy price of 21 Canadian dollars! This is simply a slap in the face of the fans who already paid good money for the seats. I just don’t get it, it costs almost the same price to buy a t-​shirt (29 $)!!! Somehow the prices of the souvenirs seemed more reasonnable. Oh and by the way there are many souvenirs shops in the arena if you want to buy the shirt of your favourite player!
All in all I had a great evening, the Montréal Canadiens won, which was super great since it’s my favourite team!
To note that the Bell Center is not only for hockey games. Throught out the year there are many shows (musics, tournaments etc…). The Bell center is also quite well located. Next to many restaurants, bars and also close by busy shopping streets. There is a subway station (Lucien L’Allier, on the orange line) right next to the Bell Center. There is even a an enclosed corridor between the two which is quite convenient when it’s –30 deg C outside!!!

Excuse me while you try to find your seats… I’ll just be here in the company loge! Okay, so I had it pretty good, being waited on by a young hostess, treated to glasses of wine and super comfortable seating in our own private box. Who could complain?
I had not been to the Bell Center. Ever. Not once. Not only are there no shows I was interested in seeing, I find the ticket prices to be outrageous. So, imagine my surprise and delight when I get invited to come to the Cirque de Soliel Varekai gratis!
First. Let me start with access. It is great. Don’t bring your car downtown, just take the metro. Attached to the Bonaventure metro station, access to the Bell Center is fast and easy. I love that. Mind you, the loges entrance will take you outside as there is no direct access from the metro to that section of the arena, probably because private parking is included for most of the loges, so… no need to slum it with the STM.
The rest of my experience is with the loges and privileged access, so it might be irrelevant unless you are lucky enough to have a friend with connections. Or maybe you win some. Who knows.
Once you head off the stairs and into the loges entrance, it ends up feeling very much like a big convention area. A swanky convention centre, but with the same aesthetics. Leather seating, employees dressed like flight attendants. A bank of manned elevators takes you to your floor and you walk down the corridors like so many hotels looking for the right box number.
When we arrive, we are greeted by a sweet hostess. My friend knows her, as she’s served this box many times before, and greets her, the kids and I by name. AAAHH! She takes our coats and immediately warms us up with a glass of red wine. Oh, yes, I could get used to this!
The room is small, with a little kitchenette and a washroom just past it. There is leather seating, a bar overlooking the stage and then several traditional arena seats that jut out towards the stage. At this height, we can see the full stage, we can see the track lighting and most of the «above the scene» action. Kind of cool, for me at least, since I had seen Varekai before.
The show was great, not as great as I remembered it, but still quite good! I was afraid that being so far up, we wouldn’t be able to see everything, but in fact, seeing the show was not an issue at all. And that fact that we had kids with us, and that I had 3 glasses of wine, the bathroom, that came in very handy! Very handy indeed!
So, I don’t imagine wanting to see many shows at the Bell Center, but if I ever did again, I would not hesitate to head to my friends loge for the treat. Would I get into, what I can only imagine is a cramped seat? Nope.

I’m not a hockey fan so this review is based entirely on my experience here for concerts and shows like the Cirque du Soleil. The seating is comfortable and even if you don’t have the best seats you can still have a pretty good view of the stage. Sometimes if you’re really lucky (as I was when I came for the Cirque) they might even upgrade you to significantly better seats just like that (we got upgraded from the nosebleeds to the floor). I’m pretty sure it’s the kind of thing though that happens once in a blue moon so don’t go expecting it and given how it’s pretty full during hockey nights I imagine it never happens when the Habs play.
My main complaint is the price for food and drink. $ 11 for a Coors is absolutely ridiculous and overly expensive even by stadium food standards which is generally overpriced to begin with. Your best bet is to eat before you go.

J’ai eu la chance hier d’avoir des billets pour le spectacle du groupe The Who.
Comme l’aréna n’était pas plein, nous avons eu des billets dans la section rouge, donc plus près de la scèné que les sièges prévus! Yeah! Je donne 5 étoiles pour cette raison!
On né voyait pas très bien les musiciens, mais il y avait deux écrans géants et le son était très bien. Bref, nous avons passé une bonne soirée!
Deux trucs: n’achetez pas les souvenirs hors de prix dans les boutiques du centre Bell. Gardez votre argent et achetez vos t-​shirts et autres babioles dehors. Il y a plein de vendeurs itinérants et on peut bargainer! J’ai acheté une belle casquette noire pour 10 dollars!!!
Né mangez pas dans les concessions: c’est trop cher et pas bon! Mangez à l’extérieur. Le buffet chinois Ka lo hin est rapide et pas cher! Allez voir ma critique sur Unilocal

L’adresse la plus recherchée en ville:
La bouffe la plus médiocre en ville…
La bière la plus chère en ville…
Les sièges les plus collés en ville…
La scèné la plus glacée en ville…
L’assemblée la plus bruyante en ville…
La populace la plus survoltée en ville…
La plus grande messe en ville…
Faites votre prière à la sainte flanelle.
GO! HABS! GO!
(Gomez, on veut juste un but!!!)

Vu que la «game» joue à la télé en ce moment, je me suis dit que le moment est parfait pour parler du Centre Bell.
J’ai mon gilet des Canadiens (en version rose pour filles… je sais que c’est quétaine, mais c’est la seule manière que je vais porter un gilet d’équipe sportive.) Je suis abonnée à RDS parce que c’est la seule chaîné qui montre toutes les parties du Canadiens (ok, ok… c’est mon chum nous a abonné à RDS.) Et j’essaie de planifier des «soupers sports» de style pizza, ailes de poulet, sandwich smoke meat les soirs de match (ça c’est tout vrai.) MAIS. Je n’ai jamais été voir les Canadiens jouer au Centre Bell.
J’y suis allé par contre pour voir des concerts de musique à plusieurs reprises dont celui de Madonna et j’ai été impression par la grandeur de l’immeuble, la facilité d’accès par transport public et les toilettes tellement nombreuses que même la file pour celles des femmes avance rapidement. Ce qui me déçoit un peu de l’endroit est le prix des billets pour divers événements et le prix de la bouffe pour de la nourriture correcte mais pas très bonne.
Cet été, j’ai eu la chance d’aller le visiter en tant que touriste puisque la famille de mon chum était en visite. Entre autres, on y a vu le «Temple de la renommée» (
), un magasin avec tout ce que vous pouvez imaginer imprimé du logo des Habs, puis beaucoup, beaucoup, beaucoup d’enseignes qui racontent l’histoire de la fameuse équipe de hockey. Même si c’est un coin qui peut être vu comme étant trop populaire ou simplement touristique, ça me rappelle que je suis fière de venir d’ici et de notre histoire.