View source for Bell Centre

{{Short description|Indoor arena in Montreal}}
{{Redirect2|Bell Center|Molson Centre|the arena in Barrie, Ontario formerly known as the Barrie Molson Centre|Sadlon Arena|other uses|Bell Center (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Place Bell]] in nearby [[Laval, Quebec]]}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Bell Centre
| native_name = {{nowrap|{{big|{{native name|fr|Centre Bell}}}}}}
| logo_image = [[File:Bell Center.svg|100px]]
| image = CentreBell.jpg
| caption = Bell Centre in 2013
| address = {{nowrap|1909 Canadiens-de-Montréal Avenue}}
| location = [[Montreal]], Quebec, Canada
| coordinates = {{Coord|45|29|46|N|73|34|10|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Canada Montreal#Canada Quebec#Canada
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Montreal##Location in Quebec##Location in Canada
| publictransit = {{rint|montreal|metro|}} {{rint|montreal|metro|2}} [[Lucien-L'Allier (Montreal Metro)|Lucien-L'Allier (Metro)]], <br> {{rint|montreal|metro|2}} [[Bonaventure (Montreal Metro)|Bonaventure]] <br /> {{rint|montreal|rail}} {{rint|montreal|rail|Vaudreuil-Hudson}} {{rint|montreal|rail|Saint-Jérôme}} {{rint|montreal|rail|Candiac}} [[Lucien-L'Allier station (Exo)| Lucien-L'Allier (Exo)]] <br> {{rint|bus|1}} [[Terminus Centre-Ville (AMT)|Terminus Centre-Ville]] <br>{{rint|montreal|rem}} {{rint|montreal|rail}} {{rint|ca|via}} {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Montreal Central Station|Gare Centrale]]
| broke_ground = June 22, 1993
| opened = March 16, 1996
| owner = Groupe CH <br /> ([[Molson family]])
| operator = [[Evenko]]
| construction_cost = [[Canadian dollar|{{dollarsign|CAD}}]]270 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|270000000|1996}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars{{inflation-fn|CA}})
| architect = LeMay & Associate, LLC.<ref name="habscomm">[http://www.habsworld.net/LegendsB_01.php Chronology - HW: World Wide Habs Fans Community] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531005024/http://www.habsworld.net/LegendsB_01.php |date=May 31, 2013 }}</ref><br />LeMoyne Lapointe Magne<ref name="habscomm"/>
| project_manager = IBI/DAA Group<ref>{{cite web|title=Bell Centre|url=http://www.arbour.ca/daa/fr/projets.php?ida=23|publisher=IBI/DAA Group|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728024751/http://www.arbour.ca/daa/fr/projets.php?ida=23|archive-date=July 28, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| structural engineer = [[Dessau (engineering)|Dessau]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bell Centre|url=http://www.dessau.com/en/projects/bell-centre|publisher=Dessau|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402161656/http://www.dessau.com/en/projects/bell-centre|archive-date=April 2, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| services engineer = [[SNC-Lavalin]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Buildings|url=http://www.snclavalin.com/expertise.php?lang=en&id=11|publisher=SNC-Lavalin|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322014724/http://www.snclavalin.com/expertise.php?lang=en&id=11|archive-date=March 22, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| general_contractor = [[Magil Construction]]<ref name="magil.com">{{cite web |title=Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec|url=http://www.magil.com/en/projects/bell-center|publisher=magil.com|access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref>
| former_names = New Montreal Forum (pre-construction–1996)<br />Molson Centre (1996–2002)
| tenants = [[Montreal Canadiens]] ([[National Hockey League|NHL]]) (1996–present)<br />[[Montreal Roadrunners]] ([[Roller Hockey International|RHI]]) (1996&ndash;1997)<br />[[Montreal Rocket]] ([[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League|QMJHL]]) (2001–2003)<br />[[Montreal Express]] ([[National Lacrosse League|NLL]]) (2002)<br />[[Laval Rocket]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) (2021)
| seating_capacity = [[Basketball]]: 22,114 <br />[[Ice hockey]]: 21,273 (1996–2014) <br />21,287 (2014–2015) <br />21,288 (2015–2017) <br />21,302 (2017–2021) <br />21,105 (2021–2025) <br />20,962 (2025–present) <br />[[Concert]]s: 15,000–19,200<br />[[Amphitheatre]]: 10,000–14,000<br />[[Theatre]]: 5,000–9,000
| dimensions = {{convert|200|ft|m}} x {{convert|85|ft|m}}
}}

'''Bell Centre''' (French: ''Centre Bell)'', formerly known as '''Molson Centre''', is a multi-purpose arena located in [[Montreal]], Quebec, Canada. Opened on March 16, 1996, it is the home arena of the [[Montreal Canadiens]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL), replacing [[Montreal Forum]] and it is the largest indoor arena in Canada. It is owned by the [[Molson family]] via the team's ownership group Groupe CH, and managed via Groupe CH subsidiary [[Evenko]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|date=2019-12-20|title=Evenko, Live Nation Ditch Rivalry, Announce Partnership|url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2019/12/20/evenko-live-nation-ditch-rivalry-announce-partnership|access-date=2020-01-27|website=FYIMusicNews|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Bruemmer|first1=René|date=2017-10-27|title=Habs and Evenko owner Groupe CH didn't get special treatment: Coderre|url=https://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/habs-and-evenko-owner-groupe-ch-gets-no-special-treatment-coderre|access-date=2020-01-27|work=Montreal Gazette|language=en}}</ref>

With a seating capacity of 20,962 in its hockey configuration, Bell Centre is the [[List of ice hockey arenas by capacity|second largest ice hockey arena in the world]] after the [[SKA Arena]] in St. Petersburg, Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montréal Canadiens - Seattle Kraken - Oct 14, 2025 {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-sea/2025/10/14/2025020050 |access-date=2025-10-15 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref> Alongside hockey, Bell Centre has hosted major concerts, and occasional [[mixed martial arts]] and [[professional wrestling]] events. Since it opened in 1996, it has consistently been listed as one of the world's busiest arenas, usually receiving the highest attendance of any arena in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bouchard|first=Dany|date=January 11, 2006|title=The best Bell Centre|url=http://www.canoe.com/divertissement/arts-scene/nouvelles/2006/11/01/2197151-ca.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526092151/http://fr.canoe.ca/divertissement/arts-scene/nouvelles/2006/11/01/2197151-ca.html|archive-date=May 26, 2012|access-date=February 1, 2013|work=Canoë|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2012, it was the fifth-busiest arena in the world based on ticket sales for non-sporting events.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Year End Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Arena Venues|url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2012/2012YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop100ArenaVenues.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075537/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2012/2012YearEndWorldwideTicketSalesTop100ArenaVenues.pdf|archive-date=September 24, 2015|access-date=February 1, 2013|publisher=Pollstar}}</ref>

==History==
Construction began on the site on June 22, 1993, almost two weeks after the Canadiens defeated the [[Los Angeles Kings]] at the [[Montreal Forum|Forum]] for their 24th and most recent [[Stanley Cup]]. When the arena officially opened in 1996, its name initially reflected [[Molson Brewery|Molson, Inc.]], a [[beer|brewing]] company which was owner of the Canadiens at the time. Molson elected not to keep the [[naming rights]] when they sold the team and the name was officially changed on September 1, 2002, after [[Bell Canada]] acquired the naming rights.

On October 14, 2015, it was announced that Bell Centre would undergo renovations, including the replacement of all the seats, renovated hallways and concessions, new restaurants, public [[Wi-Fi]], and the planned conversion of Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal (the section of [[De la Gauchetière Street]] on which the arena is situated) into a pedestrian-only street. The renovations, which were not expected to interfere with normal operations, have a budget of $100 million.<ref name="ctv-cbrenovation">{{cite news|title=Bell Centre to undergo $100 million renovation|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/bell-centre-to-undergo-100-million-renovation/|access-date=14 October 2015|work=[[CFCF-DT|CTV News Montreal]]|publisher=[[Bell Media]]|date=14 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Centre Bell">{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.centrebell.ca/en/page/our_history |website=Centre Bell |access-date=6 January 2020 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002145835/http://www.centrebell.ca/en/page/our_history |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Location==
Bell Centre is located in [[downtown Montreal]] in the borough of [[Ville-Marie, Montreal|Ville-Marie]], near the corner of [[:fr:Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal|Canadiens-de-Montréal Avenue]] (formerly [[De la Gauchetière Street|De la Gauchetière west]]) and de la Montagne Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Directions and Parking|url=http://www.centrebell.ca/en/page/directions_parking|publisher=Bell Centre|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524075206/http://www.centrebell.ca/en/page/directions_parking|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Lucien-L'Allier station (RTM)|Lucien L'Allier]] commuter rail terminal, to which it is connected, is next door on that corner. In addition it is located across the street from the [[1250 René-Lévesque]] skyscraper. It is easily accessible by public transportation, as it is linked to both [[Lucien-L'Allier station (Montreal Metro)|Lucien-L'Allier]] and [[Bonaventure station|Bonaventure]] Metro stations. It is also connected to the [[Underground City, Montreal|underground city]] and [[Montreal Central Station|Central Station]].

==Arena information==
[[File:Montreal-CH-CentreBell.jpg|thumb|Inside the arena during a hockey game between the [[Montreal Canadiens]] and the [[Buffalo Sabres]]]][[File:Intérieur du Centre Bell Center Inside.JPG|The 2008 electronic scoreboard|right|thumb]]
The building covers an area of {{convert|1.568|ha}} ({{convert|15,680|m2|sqft}}). It has a [[seating capacity]] of 20,962,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=NHL.com - Teams|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/m_teaminfo.htm?team=MTL|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=www.nhl.com}}</ref> making it the [[List of ice hockey arenas by capacity|second largest hockey arena]] in the world. It also holds six restaurants.

Capacities of the arena from highest to lowest are:<ref name="BellCentre-venueSpecs">{{cite web |title=Bell Centre - Venue Specifications|author=Bell Centre|url=http://www.centrebell.ca/en/page/venue_specifications|publisher=Bell Centre|year=2009|access-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623025214/http://www.centrebell.ca/en/page/venue_specifications|archive-date=June 23, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Montréal Canadiens - Seattle Kraken - Oct 14, 2025 {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-sea/2025/10/14/2025020050 |access-date=2025-10-15 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref>

* [[Basketball]]: 22,114

* [[Ice hockey|Hockey]]: 20,962
* [[Concert]]s: 15,000-19,200
* [[Amphitheatre]]: 10,000–14,000
* [[Theatre]]: 5,000–9,000

A new scoreboard was installed prior of the 2008–09 season. This scoreboard consisted of four {{convert|510|sqfoot}} video panels. It was the biggest in the NHL until 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tbo.com/sports/lightning/tampa-forum-adding-record-size-high-def-video-board-399775 |title=Tampa Forum adding record-size high-def video board {{!}} TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune |website=tbo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508085700/http://tbo.com/sports/lightning/tampa-forum-adding-record-size-high-def-video-board-399775 |archive-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>

It is one of only two NHL arenas that uses an old-style [[Siren (alarm)|siren]] to mark the end of periods instead of a horn; the other being the [[TD Garden]] in [[Boston Bruins|Boston]]. The sirens were inherited from the arenas' predecessor facilities, coming from the disused [[Montreal Forum]] and the [[Boston Garden]] respectively.

===Seating===
Unlike most North American arenas, which have generally been designed by [[Populous (company)|Populous]] and its predecessors, the Bell Centre was designed by a local consortium, and has many unique design features. The grandstands are sloped steeply to improve sight lines. Washrooms on the 100 level are centralized on a specific lower level located at each end.

Bell Centre is arranged in a three-tier layout: The lower 100 section, commonly referred to as "the reds" since these seats are coloured red; the 200 section situated between the two levels of private and corporate boxes, known as "Club [[Desjardins Group|Desjardins]]" (which features premium amenities such as larger seats and free food and non-alcoholic drinks), and the upper 300–400 section.

The 300–400 section is divided into three zones by seat colour: white section rows AA–FF, the grey section rows A–D, and the blue section, labelled "400," and consisting of rows A–D. The ends of the 400 section are further divided into two more groups. At the end where the Canadiens shoot towards twice is the [[Coors Light]] Zone, featuring section cheerleaders and a band playing in the hallway. At the opposite end is the Family Zone, which features child-specific ticket prices and limited alcohol.

Seats behind the press gondola, in Sections 318, 319, and 320, feature their own scoreboards on the back of the gondola due to the normal scoreboard being blocked.

===Interior===
[[File:MCLockerRoom.jpg|The Canadiens' locker room prior to being renovated.|right|thumb]]
After some early complaints of a generic feel, especially compared to the Forum, the Canadiens started to incrementally decorate the building with celebrations of the team's history, including a ring of players around the top level of seating.  The Molson Ex Zone features a live band stage and its own red theme.

==Entertainment==
{{See also|List of entertainment events held at the Bell Centre}}

Bell Centre is the main venue in Montreal for large-scale entertainment events. Many artists have performed at the arena, like [[Beyoncé]], [[Destiny's Child]], [[Olivia Rodrigo]], [[Céline Dion]], [[Les Cowboys Fringants]], [[Gloria Estefan]], [[Stromae]], [[Twenty One Pilots]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], [[Shakira]], [[Elton John]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Shania Twain]], [[Cher]], [[Bon Jovi]], [[Van Halen]], [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Coldplay]], [[Rihanna]], [[Guns N' Roses]], [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]], [[U2]], [[Nicki Minaj]], [[Ariana Grande]], [[Taylor Swift]], [[Demi Lovato]], [[Katy Perry]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lady Gaga]], [[Janet Jackson]], [[Roger Waters]], [[Spice Girls]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Metallica]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Aerosmith]], [[Imagine Dragons]], [[Dua Lipa]], [[Sabrina Carpenter]] and [[Kylie Minogue]].

The singer who has performed the most times at the Bell Centre is [[Céline Dion]] with 50 performances between 1996 and 2020 from her [[Falling into You: Around the World]] tour in 1996 and 1997, [[Let's Talk About Love World Tour]] in 1998 and 1999, [[Taking Chances World Tour]] in 2008 and 2009, [[Summer Tour 2016]] in 2016 and [[Courage World Tour]] in 2019 and 2020. On December 31, 1999, she performed the final show of the [[Let's Talk About Love World Tour]], which was her last performance before a three-year hiatus from the music industry.

In August 1999, the third national tour of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' visited for a 12-day run. [[Robert Marien]], who originated the role of [[Jean Valjean]] in Paris in 1980, as well as in the bilingual Canadian tour which started in Montreal in 1991, joined the cast exclusively for the Montreal stop.

==Sports==

===Ice hockey===
The final two games of the three-game [[1996 World Cup of Hockey]] championship series were held at Bell Centre (the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States]] won both games, defeating [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]] in the series 2–1). Bell Centre was also host to two pool games in the [[2004 World Cup of Hockey]]. The Bell Centre was the host of the [[2009 NHL All-Star Game]] and hosted the [[2009 NHL Entry Draft|2009]] and [[2022 NHL Entry Draft|2022]] [[NHL Entry Draft]]s, the latter of which saw the Canadiens take [[Juraj Slafkovský]] first overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slafkovsky confident he'll win support of Canadiens fans over time |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/slafkovsky-confident-hell-win-support-of-canadiens-fans-over-time/sn-amp/ |last=Engels |first=Eric |date=July 28, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=[[Sportsnet]].ca}}</ref>

Montreal Canadiens home games have been almost consistently sold out since October 2005.<ref name="test">{{cite web |title=Season Ticket Waiting List|url=http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=53057|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|access-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> Additionally, the Canadiens have one of the top attendance figures in the NHL. For the 2009–2010 season, the Habs had the highest attendance played at their home arena.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nhl/ NHL attendance]</ref>

On December 9, 2014, the Canadiens hosted the [[Vancouver Canucks]], the first home game since the death of [[Jean Béliveau]]. The game was preceded by a memorial tribute to him. Bell Centre remained sold-out that night with 21,286 fans in attendance and one empty seat left for Béliveau, with the official attendance shortened by one to honour him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesportmarket.biz/charts/sellout%20streaks/ranktop.html |title=The Sport Market |website=www.thesportmarket.biz |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201100544/http://www.thesportmarket.biz/charts/sellout%20streaks/ranktop.html |archive-date=1 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Bell Centre hosted its first Stanley Cup Finals in 2021, with Game 3 and 4 against the defending champion [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] played inside the arena.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 26, 2021|title=Stanley Cup finals coming to the Bell Centre on July 2 and 5|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/stanley-cup-finals-coming-to-the-bell-centre-on-july-2-and-5/|access-date=2021-06-28|website=Montreal|language=en}}</ref> The Canadiens were allowed to have 2,500 people during the first and second round, then 3,500 for the semifinals and the Stanley Cup Finals due to Quebec's public health restrictions in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec|COVID-19 pandemic]], although multiple fans stated that the limit was exceded.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Serebrin|first=Jacob|date=June 15, 2021|title=Quebec to increase arena capacity before 1st home game in Habs semifinal playoff series|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-allows-3500-crowds-larger-1.6067123|url-status=live|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=CBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616001550/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-allows-3500-crowds-larger-1.6067123 |archive-date=June 16, 2021 }}</ref> The Canadiens had hoped to further increase their capacity limit to 10,500 fans for the Stanley Cup Finals, however that request was denied by the Quebec government.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 30, 2021|title=Quebec public health denies Canadiens' request to increase capacity at Bell Centre|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/habs-decision-home-game-capacity-1.6086080|url-status=live|access-date=November 17, 2021|website=CBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630174125/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/habs-decision-home-game-capacity-1.6086080 |archive-date=2021-06-30 }}</ref> While the arena's capacity was limited during the playoffs, thousands more fans gathered outside the arena to watch the games on a TV screen outside of the La Cage sports bar situated adjacent to the Bell Centre.

From September 26th to October 8th, 2021, 7,500 fans were allowed at Bell Centre for the pre-season games, and for the opening night on October 16, the Quebec government made new rules and stated that the Canadiens could return to its full capacity of 21,105 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bell Centre, other large events in Quebec now allowed to welcome up to 3,500 people|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/bell-centre-other-large-events-in-quebec-now-allowed-to-welcome-up-to-3500-people/|last=Lofaro|first=Joe|website=[[CTV News]]|date=June 15, 2021|access-date=April 20, 2024|language=en}}</ref>

On April 20, 2024, the Bell Centre hosted its first home game for the new club named [[Montreal Victoire]] of the [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] (PWHL), a match against the [[Toronto Sceptres]] that was marketed as the "Duel at the Top", reflecting the two teams' position atop the league standings at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nurse OT winner breaks Montreal hearts as Toronto wins PWHL 'Duel at the Top'|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/nurse-ot-winner-breaks-montreal-hearts-as-toronto-wins-pwhl-duel-at-the-top/ |last=Rowe |first=Daniel J. |date=April 20, 2024 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=[[CTV News]]}}</ref> The sellout crowd of 21,105 set a new attendance record for a women's hockey game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PWHL-leading Toronto clinches playoff berth, wins in OT before record crowd in Montreal|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-recap-april-20-toronto-montreal-bell-centre-1.7180146 |last=Rainbird |first=Daniel |date=April 20, 2024 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=[[CBC Sports]]}}</ref> The PWHL returned to the Bell Centre on March 1, 2025 between the Montreal Victoire and the [[Boston Fleet]].

The Bell Centre was one of two host venues for the [[NHL 4 Nations Face-Off]] in February 2025, alongside [[TD Garden]] in [[Boston]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal, Boston to host 4 Nations Face-off in 2025 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/montreal-boston-to-host-4-nations-face-off-in-2025 |work=NHL.com |date=June 8, 2024 |access-date=June 9, 2024 }}</ref> The first four [[Round-robin tournament|round robin]] games were played at the Bell Centre, featuring national teams representing the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fans, former legends descend on Montreal’s Bell Centre for 4 Nations Face-Off |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/fans-former-legends-descend-on-montreals-bell-centre-for-4-nations-face-off/ |last=Gilmour |first=Matt |work=[[CTV News]] |date=February 12, 2025 |access-date=February 18, 2025 }}</ref>

===Basketball===
[[File:Bell Centre Basketball Game.JPG|thumb|Bell Centre in a basketball configuration.]]
Since October 2010, Bell Centre has hosted selected [[NBA]] [[preseason]] games, primarily featuring the [[Toronto Raptors]]; the first was held on  October 22, 2010, with the Raptors hosting the [[New York Knicks]]. It has since hosted preseason games as part of the [[NBA Canada Series]], which have also included all-U.S. games.

===Mixed martial arts===
Bell Centre hosted ''[[UFC 83|UFC 83: Serra vs. St-Pierre 2]]'' in April 2008, marking the first [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] [[mixed martial arts]] event to take place in Canada. The main event was a rematch between Welterweight champion [[Matt Serra]] and Montreal native [[Georges St-Pierre]].<ref name="date">{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/3451/matt-serra-is-willing-to-fight-georges-st-pierre-in-canada.mma|title=Matt Serra Is Willing to Fight Georges St-Pierre in Canada|last=Stupp|first=Dann|publisher=MMAJunkie.com|date=January 4, 2008|access-date=January 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725054139/http://mmajunkie.com/news/3451/matt-serra-is-willing-to-fight-georges-st-pierre-in-canada.mma|archive-date=July 25, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tickets available to the public sold out in under one minute, and the event set the all time UFC attendance record, at that time (since surpassed by ''[[UFC 129|UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields]]'' in [[Toronto]]).<ref>{{cite web |last=Stupp |first=Dan |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/3699/ufc-83-creates-record-sellout.mma |title=UFC 83 Creates Record Sellout |date=February 8, 2008 |work=MMAjunkie.com |access-date=February 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012003500/http://mmajunkie.com/news/3699/ufc-83-creates-record-sellout.mma |archive-date=2008-10-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other UFC events have subsequently been held at Bell Centre, including ''[[UFC 97|UFC 97: Redemption]]'', ''[[UFC 113|UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun 2]]'', ''[[UFC 124|UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck 2]]'', ''[[UFC 154|UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. Condit]]'', ''[[UFC 158|UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz]]'' and ''[[UFC 186|UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi]]'', the most recent three of which were headlined by St-Pierre.<ref>{{cite web |last=Holland |first=Jesse |url=http://mmamania.com/2009/02/18/ufc-97-to-remain-in-montreal-after-compromise-with-quebec-athletic-commission/|title=UFC 97 to remain in Montreal on April 18 |date=February 18, 2009 |work=MMAmania.com |access-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz official for UFC 158 in Montreal|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2012/12/georges-st-pierre-vs-nick-diaz-official-for-ufc-158-in-montreal|publisher=MMAjunkie.com|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 18, 2012|last=Morgan|first=John|archive-date=December 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218135452/http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2012/12/georges-st-pierre-vs-nick-diaz-official-for-ufc-158-in-montreal|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MMA Crossfire&nbsp;– St-Pierre vs Nick Diaz highlights UFC 158 welterweight trilogy in Montreal |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/mma/Crossfire+Pierre+Nick+Diaz+highlights+welterweight+trilogy/7705969/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128233406/http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/mma/Crossfire+Pierre+Nick+Diaz+highlights+welterweight+trilogy/7705969/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 28, 2013 |last=Andrews |first=Kenai |date=December 17, 2012 |publisher=The Gazette |access-date=December 18, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=St-Pierre vs. Diaz, MacDonald vs. Condit targeted for UFC 158 in Montreal|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/Pierre+Diaz+MacDonald+Condit+targeted+Montreal/7690362/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204112214/http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/Pierre+Diaz+MacDonald+Condit+targeted+Montreal/7690362/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2013|publisher=The Star Phoenix|date=December 12, 2012|access-date=December 18, 2012|last=Deibert|first=Dave}}</ref> The UFC returned to the arena a decade later for ''[[UFC 315|UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena]]'' on May 10, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wells |first=Matthew |title=UFC 315 results: Jack Della Maddalena wins title, welcomes Islam Makhachev challenge |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/05/11/ufc-315-results-jack-della-maddalena-wins-welterweight-title-belal-muhammad-islam-makhachev/83566025007/ |work=[[MMA Junkie]] |date=May 11, 2025 |access-date=May 11, 2025}}</ref>

=== Professional wrestling ===
Bell Centre has occasionally hosted [[WWE]] [[professional wrestling]] events, including four [[pay-per-view]]s ([[Survivor Series]] in [[Survivor Series (1997)|1997]], [[WWE No Way Out|No Way Out]] in [[No Way Out (2003)|2003]], [[WWE Breaking Point|Breaking Point]] in 2009 and [[WWE Elimination Chamber|Elimination Chamber]] in [[Elimination Chamber (2023)|2023]]), as well as 12 broadcasts of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'', 9 (1 upcoming) broadcasts of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'', and will also host [[Saturday Night's Main Event XLIII]] on January 24, 2026. Elimination Chamber 2023 marked the first time that the Chamber structure was on Canadian soil and only the second time in history that the structure was outside of the United States, following the [[Elimination Chamber (2022)|2022 event]] that was held in [[Jeddah|Jeddah, Saudi Arabia]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=WWE Elimination Chamber headed to Montreal on February 18, 2023 {{!}} WWE |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/eliminationchamber/article/elimination-chamber-montreal-february-18-2023 |access-date=December 8, 2022 |work=[[WWE]]}}</ref> and featured [[Laval, Quebec|Laval]] native [[Sami Zayn]] competing in the event's main event match for the [[WWE Universal Championship|Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]] against [[Roman Reigns]]. In April 2019, Bell Centre hosted both ''Raw'' and ''SmackDown'' on consecutive nights for the [[2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up|2019 Superstar Shake-up]], the first time in WWE history that the event was held at an arena outside of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2019/04/16/22796350.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421030412/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2019/04/16/22796350.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2019|title=Smackdown: The Big Dog claims a new yard during the Superstar Shake-up|website=Canoe.com|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref> On August 19, 2022, Bell Centre hosted the 1,200th episode of ''SmackDown''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bath |first=Dave |date=2022-08-19 |title=WWE SmackDown live results: Roman Reigns & Drew McIntyre face-to-face |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/results/wwe-smackdown-live-results-roman-reigns-drew-mcintyre-face-to-face |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=WON/F4W |language=en}}</ref>

During Survivor Series 1997, Bell Centre was the site of the infamous "[[Montreal Screwjob]]"—a match where [[Calgary]]-native [[Bret Hart]] controversially lost the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] to his rival [[Shawn Michaels]]. Hart had signed a contract to leave WWF for the rival [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) the following month, and did not want to lose a championship match to Michaels in his own country. The original plan was for the match to end by [[Disqualification (professional wrestling)|disqualification]] after a brawl between the wrestlers' allies, which would have allowed Hart to lose or vacate the championship at a later date before leaving the promotion. However, WWF owner [[Vince McMahon]] [[Screwjob|intervened without Hart's knowledge]], and had the referee declare a Michaels victory by [[Submission (professional wrestling)|submission]] after performing a [[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|Sharpshooter]] on Hart, even though he had not actually submitted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/21353608|title=Shawn Michaels on the Montreal Screwjob: The worst day I can recall in the entire 25 years I was in the wrestling business|date=2017-11-09|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref><ref name="MF3">{{cite book|author=Mick Foley|author-link=Mick Foley|title=Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks|page=626|year=2000|publisher=Regan Books|isbn=978-0-06-103101-4}}</ref> Wrestling writer Mike Johnson considered the match to be "arguably the most talked-about match in the history of professional wrestling".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/97719/119-this-day-in-history-bret-hart-vs-shawn-michaels-in-montreal.html|title=11/9 This Day in History: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in Montreal|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=November 9, 2015|website=PWInsider|access-date=November 9, 2015}}</ref> Eight years later, in the same venue, Michaels cut his infamous "Who's your daddy, Montreal?" heel promo in the lead-up to his impending match with [[Hulk Hogan]] at [[SummerSlam (2005)|SummerSlam 2005]], where he referenced the Screwjob during his promo, receiving plenty of [[Heat (professional wrestling)|heat]] from the Montreal fans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=mahmood |first=Malik umar Khalid |date=September 19, 2021 |title=Why Shawn Michaels' Heel Promo In Montreal Is The Best In WWE History |url=https://www.thesportster.com/shawn-michaels-heel-promo-montreal-wwe/ |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=TheSportster |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=February 2024}}

[[Brock Lesnar]] made his televised WWE debut at Bell Centre on the March 18, 2002 ''Raw'' after [[WrestleMania X8]] in Toronto, interfering in the [[Hardcore match]] that was taking place between [[Maven (wrestler)|Maven]] and [[Al Snow]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-18|title=On This Day In Wrestling History… March 18th|url=https://www.hookedonwrestling.co.uk/features/on-this-day-in-wrestling-history-march-18th/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Hooked On Wrestling|language=en-GB}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=February 2024}} A wall on the concourse of the arena depicting iconic events that took place inside the arena includes Lesnar's debut among others.{{Cn|date=February 2024}}

In December 2023, [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) made its Montreal debut, with broadcasts of ''[[AEW Collision|Collision]]'' and ''[[AEW Dynamite|Dynamite]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Updated Ticket Sale Numbers For Upcoming AEW Events, Including Full Gear |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/updated-ticket-sale-numbers-aew-11/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=411MANIA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nason |first=Josh |date=2023-09-14 |title=AEW announces Montreal & Memphis debut dates |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-montreal-memphis-debut-dates |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=WON/F4W |language=en}}</ref>

=== Figure skating ===
The Bell Centre was scheduled to host the [[2020 World Figure Skating Championships]] in March of that year, but these were cancelled as a result of the onset of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figureskating/canada-figure-skating-world-championships-1.5493642 |title= World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal |last=Ewing |first=Lori |publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=March 11, 2020|access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> It was eventually used to host the [[2024 World Figure Skating Championships|2024 edition]], in lieu of the earlier planned event. This was the second time the championship took place in Montreal, the first having been held in the old Forum in [[1932 World Figure Skating Championships|1932]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympic.ca/2024/03/15/what-to-watch-for-as-montreal-hosts-2024-world-figure-skating-championships/ |title= What to watch for as Montreal hosts 2024 World Figure Skating Championships |last=Nichols |first=Paula |publisher=[[Canadian Olympic Committee]]|date=March 15, 2024|access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Retired jerseys==
The following numbers have been retired by the Canadiens and hang from the rafters:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF;border-top:#C41130 5px solid;border-bottom:#001E61 5px solid;" | Montreal Canadiens retired numbers
|-
! width=40px | No.
! width=150px | Player
! width=40px | Position
! width=100px | Tenure
! width=150px | Date of honour
|-
| '''1'''|| {{sortname|Jacques|Plante}} || [[Goaltender|G]]  || 1952–63 || October 7, 1995
|-
| '''2'''|| {{sortname|Doug|Harvey|Doug Harvey (ice hockey)}}|| [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1947–61 || October 26, 1985
|-
| '''3'''|| {{sortname|Émile|Bouchard|Émile Bouchard}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1941–56 || December 4, 2009
|-
| '''4'''|| {{sortname|Jean|Béliveau|Jean Béliveau}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1950–71 || October 9, 1971
|-
| rowspan="2"| '''5'''|| {{sortname|Bernie|Geoffrion}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1950–64 || March 11, 2006
|-
| {{sortname|Guy|Lapointe}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1968–82 || November 8, 2014
|-
| '''7'''|| {{sortname|Howie|Morenz}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1923–37 || November 2, 1937
|-
| '''9'''|| {{sortname|Maurice|Richard}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1942–60 || October 6, 1960
|-
| '''10'''|| {{sortname|Guy|Lafleur}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1971–85 || February 16, 1985
|-
| rowspan="2"| '''12''' || {{sortname|Dickie|Moore|Dickie Moore (ice hockey)}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || 1951–63 || November 12, 2005
|-
| {{sortname|Yvan|Cournoyer}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1963–79 || November 12, 2005
|-
| rowspan="2"| '''16''' || {{sortname|Henri|Richard}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1955–75 || December 10, 1975
|-
| {{sortname|Elmer|Lach}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1940–54 || December 4, 2009
|-
| '''18'''|| {{sortname|Serge|Savard}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1966–81 || November 18, 2006
|-
| '''19'''|| {{sortname|Larry|Robinson}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1972–89 || November 19, 2007
|-
| '''23'''|| {{sortname|Bob|Gainey}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || 1973–89 || February 23, 2008
|-
| '''29'''|| {{sortname|Ken|Dryden}} || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1970–79 || January 29, 2007
|-
| '''33'''|| {{sortname|Patrick|Roy}} || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1984–95 || November 22, 2008
|}

While Elmer Lach and Henri Richard both wore the number 16, they were given separate ceremonies unlike Cournoyer and Moore. All have their own banner.

On October 18, 2005, the Canadiens also raised the following numbers on a single banner in honour of the former MLB team [[Montreal Expos]], who left the city for [[Washington, D.C.]] after the 2004 season:
* 8 [[Gary Carter]]
* 10 [[Andre Dawson]] and [[Rusty Staub]]
* 30 [[Tim Raines]]

The only other banners hanging from the rafters at the arena are those of the Canadiens' [[Stanley Cup]] championship banners. Unlike other NHL arenas, the Canadiens do not display division or conference championship banners.

==See also==
* [[Bonaventure (Montreal Metro)|Bonaventure (metro station)]]
** [[Bonaventure (Montreal Metro)#Connected via the underground city|Connected via the underground city]]
* [[List of indoor arenas in Canada]]
* [[Statue of Guy Lafleur]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Centre Bell}}
* {{Official website}}

{{S-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|et}}}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Montreal Canadiens]]
 | years = 1996–present
 | before = [[Montreal Forum]]
 | after = current
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Host of the <br />[[NHL All-Star Game]]
 | years = 2009
 | before = [[Philips Arena]]
 | after = [[RBC Center]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Bell Canada}}
{{Montreal landmarks}}
<!--{{NBA Arenas}}-->
{{NHL Arenas}}
{{Montreal Canadiens}}
{{Canada Cup World Cup of Hockey Finals venues}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified buildings in Canada]]
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[[Category:Music venues in Montreal]]
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