Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
48°25′53″N 123°21′38″W / 48.43139°N 123.36056°W
 The Front of the SOFMC | |
 | |
| Location | 1925 Blanshard Street Victoria, British Columbia V8T 4J2 |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Victoria |
| Operator | RG Properties Ltd. |
| Capacity | 7,006 (Hockey) 9,000 (Concerts) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 6, 2003[1] |
| Opened | March 26, 2005 |
| Construction cost | C$30-million ($39.7 million in 2021 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | ICR Projects Inc. John Neilson Architects Inc.[3] |
| Structural engineer | Pomeroy Engineering Ltd.[3] |
| Services engineer | Keen Engineering[3] |
| General contractor | RG Construction, Ltd.[4] |
| Tenants | |
| Victoria Royals (WHL) (2011–present) Victoria Salmon Kings (ECHL) (2005–2011) | |
| Website | |
| http://sofmc.com/ | |
The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC) is an indoor arena located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and is the largest arena in British Columbia outside of Vancouver. It is primarily used for ice hockey, previously the home arena of the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL, and currently the home of the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League. It is also used for concerts and other special events such as figure skating, curling, plays, trade shows and conferences. It is also opened for public ice skating on special occasions; the public skated with the former Victoria Salmon Kings players after some of the games. The building also features a fine dining restaurant (Lion's Den Restaurant), retail & meeting space. Shaw Communications has a TV studio on the main floor and itgroove Professional Services shares office space with the arena and Victoria Royals personnel. It occupies the site of the former Victoria Memorial Arena as its successor facility. It is located within 10–15 minutes walking distance from the other Downtown Victoria landmarks such as: Chinatown, the Bay Centre shopping centre and Market Square.
It was completed in 2005 and has a maximum seating capacity of 7,400. It replaced the aging and outdated Memorial Arena, also known as the "Barn on Blanshard" (rectangular with a curved roof, resembled a barn or aircraft hangar) which had been constructed in 1949. The first event to be held at the new arena was a Rod Stewart concert, one in which Rod and his performers came out on stage in hardhats and orange safety vests, poking fun at the fact the arena wasn't totally completed at the time.
The SOFMC was developed and is operated by RG Properties Ltd., a Vancouver-based development/entertainment company with commercial, recreational and entertainment facilities throughout BC. RG Properties Ltd. was the corporate owner of the former Victoria Salmon Kings hockey team and owns the Victoria Royals. There are 26 luxury suites at the arena.
Notable concerts & events held
The arena has hosted many musical and performance acts, as well as guest speakers, sporting tournaments, trade shows and other events. The following is a partial list of some of the more well-known guests and events to appear during the first decade of the arena's existence:
Select Your Tickets
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has its own in-house ticketing company called "Select Your Tickets", which is also owned by RG Properties Ltd. "Select Your Tickets" has been operating inside the building since it opened in 2005.
References
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2008) |
- ^ "City "Joins Hands" with Partners to Announce Next Phase of Arena Project" (Press release). City of Victoria. June 6, 2003. Archived from the original on November 23, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Arena Update - Vol. 3 No. 3". City of Victoria. April 14, 2003. Archived from the original on December 3, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "Arena Showcases Strength and Speed". Concrete Construction. January 17, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2013.