Montreal Forum

Montreal Forum. The Montreal Forum was a historic indoor arena located in the Montreal neighborhood of Saint-Henri. For most of the 20th century, it was the premier venue for ice hockey in the world, famously serving as the home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens from 1926 until 1996. Its storied history is deeply intertwined with the Stanley Cup, hosting a record number of championship victories and becoming an iconic symbol of Quebec and Canada's sporting culture. The arena also hosted a wide variety of other events, from professional wrestling and boxing to concerts by major artists like The Beatles and Queen.

History

The arena was constructed in 1924 at a cost of $1.5 million by the Canadian Arena Company, with its official opening on November 29 of that year. It was originally built to house the Montreal Maroons, a team in the National Hockey League intended to appeal to Montreal's English-speaking community. The Montreal Canadiens, then playing at the Mount Royal Arena, moved into the building in 1926 after a fire damaged their previous home. Under the ownership of the Molson brewing family, who purchased the Forum in 1972, the venue underwent several major renovations, including a significant expansion in 1968 that increased its capacity and added modern amenities. For over seven decades, it was the epicenter of professional hockey, witnessing the league's evolution through the Original Six era and beyond.

Architecture and features

Designed by architects John S. Archibald and Charles J. Saxe, the original structure was a utilitarian Beaux-Arts building with a distinctive red-brick exterior. The interior was famously intimate, with steeply pitched seating that brought spectators close to the action. A major renovation in 1968, overseen by architect Philippe Drolet, added a second balcony and expanded the seating capacity to over 18,000, while encasing the original brick facade in a modern concrete shell. Notable interior features included the famed "Forum ghosts" legend, perpetuated by players like Dickie Moore and Ken Dryden, and the iconic center-hung scoreboard. The building's location at the corner of Atwater Avenue and Saint Catherine Street made it a landmark in the city's urban fabric.

Notable events

Beyond the 22 Stanley Cup championships won there by the Montreal Canadiens, the Forum hosted countless historic moments. In sports, it was the site of the 1972 Summit Series game where Team Canada defeated the Soviet Union, and the 1976 NHL All-Star Game. The venue also held major boxing matches, including the 1957 world middleweight title fight between Sugar Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio. In entertainment, it welcomed The Beatles during their 1964 North American tour, Elvis Presley in 1957, and Led Zeppelin on multiple occasions. It also served as a venue for political rallies, including a 1967 address by French President Charles de Gaulle where he uttered his controversial "Vive le Québec libre" phrase.

Tenants and usage

The primary and most famous tenant was the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League, who called it home for 70 seasons. The original tenants, the Montreal Maroons, also played there until the franchise folded in 1938. The arena was the home court for the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey League and briefly hosted the Montreal Roadrunners of the World Hockey Association. From 1946 to 1996, it was the venue for the annual Circus hosted by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Forum also regularly hosted games for the Montreal Canadiens of the World Hockey Association, concerts, political conventions, and other large-scale public gatherings, making it a true multi-purpose civic institution.

Legacy and closure

The final NHL game was played on March 11, 1996, a victory over the Dallas Stars, followed by a elaborate closing ceremony that honored legends like Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, and Guy Lafleur. The team then moved to the new Molson Centre (now Bell Centre). The building was demolished in 1998, with parts of the original center-hung scoreboard and sections of the famous red seats preserved. The site was redeveloped into the "Forum de Montréal" entertainment and retail complex, which incorporates the preserved facade of the 1968 addition. The Forum's legacy endures as a sacred site in hockey history, commemorated in the Hockey Hall of Fame and remembered as the stage for some of the sport's greatest players, including Howie Morenz, Doug Harvey, and Patrick Roy. Category:Defunct ice hockey venues in Montreal Category:National Hockey League venues Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1998