Halifax Metro Centre

Halifax Metro Centre
Location	1800 Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia
Opened	February 1978
Owner	Trade Centre Limited
Capacity	Hockey: 10,595 Basketball: 11,093 Concerts: up to 13,000
Tenants
Nova Scotia Voyageurs (AHL) (1978–1984) Nova Scotia Oilers (AHL) (1984–1988) Halifax Citadels (AHL) (1988–1993) Halifax Windjammers (WBL) (1991–1992) Halifax Windjammers (NBL) (1993–1994) Men's Basketball Championship (CIS) (1984–2007, 2011-2012) Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) (1994–present) Halifax Rainmen (NBL) (2007–present)

The Halifax Metro Centre was built in 1978, in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The building is next to the World Trade and Convention Centre, at the foot of Citadel Hill. It is the largest arena in Halifax. It originally featured a full ring of bright orange seats around the playing surface, which is known as the "lower bowl". It also has an incomplete "upper bowl" on each side of the arena facing rink-side (court-side) with seats of the same colour. In the mid to late 1990s, there were numerous renovations to the arena, including the addition of forty-three SkyBoxes and eleven "Executive Suites". The addition of the SkyBoxes has since partially obscured views for people sitting high up in the upper bowl. These boxes do not cut off views of the events, but more cut off views of the rest of the seating area. Before the 2002–03 ice hockey season, in preparation for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, a new scoreboard and "SilverVision" LED screens were added. The arena concourses feature photographs of the various events that have taken place at the Metro Centre, with one side featuring entertainment events and the other featuring sporting events (including professional wrestling). It currently has a seating capacity of 10,595 for ice hockey. The building is connected to the Downtown Halifax Link system.

The arena is built into the ground to compensate for the steep elevation of the land it occupies. One can see cars at street level, outside, while watching an event. It is sometimes referred to as the "MC".^{[citation needed]}

In recent years there has been some talk of a possible new, larger arena to be built sometime in the next few years. It would likely have a seating capacity of over 15,000 for hockey games.^{[citation needed]} In December 2007, an Ozzy Osbourne concert sold out in nine minutes, setting a box office ticket record for the Metro Centre. In July 2008, the Metro Centre also set a record sell-out (25,000 tickets sold in forty minutes), for two back-to-back Elton John concerts held in late September 2008.

Notable events

• 1978 – Gordon Lightfoot, first opening concert.
• 1979 – Billy Graham Crusade.
• 1979 – The first ever Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.
• 1984 – Twisted Sister/Iron Maiden
• 1988 – Guns N' Roses/ Iron Maiden
• 1989 – Motorhead/ Alice Cooper
• 1981, 1995, 2003 Briers Canadian Men's Curling Championship.
• 1990 – World Figure Skating Championships.
• 1992 – Scott Tournament of Hearts.
• 1992 – WBL World Basketball League All-Star game.
• 1993 – WWE Wrestling Superstars television taping.
• 1993 – NHL regular season, neutral site game. New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils.
• 1994 – NHL regular season, neutral site game. New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals.
• 1995 – 21st G7 Summit (media centre).
• 1995 – 1995 NBA Basketball Exhibition (first Toronto Raptors game in Canada vs. Philadelphia 76ers).
• 1996 – Garth Brooks (three sold out shows)
• 1997 – Live WWE Wrestling Raw (television taping).
• 2000 – CHL Memorial Cup.
• 2003 – IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
• 2003 – Live WWE Wrestling Raw and Smackdown (television tapings).

The Metro Centre prior to a Mooseheads game against Lewiston on December 27, 2005

Large portions of the seating can be removed in order to accommodate trade shows and conventions.

• 2004 – Franklin Graham East Coast Festival
• 2004 – IIHF Women's World Ice Hockey Championships.
• 2004 – FIBA Under 21 Tournament of the Americas.
• 2005 – Canadian Olympic Curling Trials ("Roar of the Rings").
• 2006 – Juno Awards
• 2006 – Bill Clinton
• 2007 – American Basketball Association All-Star game.
• 2007 – World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
• 2007 – CIS University Men's Basketball Championship (last time after a twenty-four year run at Metro Centre).
• 2008 – Ozzy Osbourne (two sold out shows)
• 2008 – IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.
• 2008 – Elton John (two sold out shows)

2009 WWE RAW non televised event 2010 WWE SMACKDOWN non televised event 2011 WWE SMACKDOWN live event non televised

• 2010 Tim Hortons Brier Canadian Men's Curling Championships.
• 2011 Canada Winter Games
• annual Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (since 1979).
• numerous AUAA / AUS Men's Basketball Tournaments.
• numerous AUAA Men's Hockey All-Star Games (mid 1990s).
• numerous boxing cards.
• numerous Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
• numerous CIAU / CIS Men's Basketball Tournaments.
• numerous Harlem Globetrotter games.
• numerous NBA and NHL preseason games, including the first Toronto Raptors preseason game in their history.
• numerous NHL old-timers games.
• numerous Skate Canada events.
• numerous Team Canada basketball and hockey games.
• numerous World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events, including television programming tapings.
• numerous East Coast Music Awards
• some scenes from the Trailer Park Boys episode "Closer to the Heart", were shot here.
• The Metro Centre has hosted concerts with many world-class performers.

External links

• Official web site
• Halifax Mooseheads Official Site
• Halifax Rainmen Official Site
• Arena review
• Halifax Metro Centre at Hockeyarenas.net