Bell Centre

Bell Centre
Centre Bell (French)
Bell Centre in 2013
Bell Centre
Location in Montreal
Bell Centre
Location in Quebec
Bell Centre
Location in Canada
Former namesNouveau forum de Montréal/New Montreal Forum (pre-construction–1996)
Centre Molson/Molson Centre (1996–2002)
Address1909 Canadiens-de-Montréal Avenue
LocationMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates45°29′46″N 73°34′10″W / 45.49611°N 73.56944°W / 45.49611; -73.56944
OwnerGroupe CH
(Molson family)
OperatorEvenko
CapacityAmphitheatre: 10,000–14,000
Concerts: 15,000
Ice hockey: 21,273 (1996–2014)
21,287 (2014–2015)
21,288 (2015–2017)
21,302 (2017–2021)
21,105 (2021–2025)
20,962 (2025–present)
Theatre: 5,000–9,000
Field size61 metres (200 ft) x 26 metres (85 ft)
Public transit Lucien-L'Allier (Metro)
Lucien-L'Allier (Exo)
Terminus Centre-Ville
Gare Centrale
Construction
Broke groundJune 22, 1993
OpenedMarch 16, 1996
Construction costC$270 million
($499 million in 2025 dollars)
ArchitectLeMay & Associate, LLC.
LeMoyne Lapointe Magne
Project managerIBI/DAA Group
Structural engineerDessau
Services engineerSNC-Lavalin
General contractorMagil Construction
Tenants
Montreal Canadiens (NHL) (1996–present)
Montreal Roadrunners (RHI) (1996–1997)
Montreal Rocket (QMJHL) (2001–2003)
Montreal Express (NLL) (2002)
Laval Rocket (AHL) (2021)

Bell Centre (French: Centre Bell), formerly known as Molson Centre (French: Centre Molson), 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.

With a seating capacity of 20,962 in its hockey configuration, Bell Centre is the second largest ice hockey arena in the world after the SKA Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia. 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. In 2012, it was the fifth-busiest arena in the world based on ticket sales for non-sporting events.