Avenir Centre

Avenir Centre Avenir Centre is a multi-purpose arena and exhibition complex in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, serving as a regional venue for hockey and performing arts, and hosting sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, and conventions. Opened in 2018, it replaced the former Colisée de Moncton as the primary indoor facility and has attracted professional and amateur tenants and touring productions from across Canada and internationally. The venue has been central to Moncton’s cultural renewal and regional event strategy, drawing audiences from the Maritime Provinces, Québec, and Nova Scotia.

History

The project was initiated by the City of Moncton and provincial partners to modernize event infrastructure after decades of use of the Colisée de Moncton. Following feasibility studies influenced by examples such as Scotiabank Centre in Halifax and MTS Centre in Winnipeg, the municipal council approved funding and site selection. Construction began in 2017 with contractors and design firms including teams associated with SNC-Lavalin; the venue officially opened in 2018 with inaugural events that included performances linked to touring productions and regional championships. Since opening, the facility has hosted championships connected to organizations like the Canadian Hockey League, Hockey Canada, and various entertainment tours promoted by producers operating in Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver.

Architecture and facilities

The arena’s design integrates contemporary materials and community-oriented spaces, drawing comparison with other modern Canadian arenas such as Scotiabank Saddledome and Rogers Arena. The complex includes a main bowl with approximately 8,800 fixed-seat capacity for ice sports and concert configurations, luxury suites, club seating, hospitality lounges, multi-purpose meeting rooms, and exhibition space adaptable for conventions and trade shows. Back-of-house facilities support touring productions from promoters based in Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, and independent producers from Toronto and Los Angeles. Engineering and acoustical treatments were developed to meet standards often employed in venues like Place Bell and Centre Videotron to accommodate symphony performances, curling rinks, and large-scale theatre productions.

Events and tenants

Avenir Centre is the home arena of the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and has been the venue for former tenants and franchises in professional leagues such as the National Basketball League of Canada where teams like the Moncton Magic played. The arena has hosted national championships associated with Hockey Canada, junior tournaments involving teams from Ontario, Québec, and Prince Edward Island, and international exhibition matches featuring clubs from Sweden and Finland. Cultural events have included touring concerts by artists represented by agencies from Toronto and New York City, comedy tours linked with promoters from Los Angeles, family shows such as productions similar to Disney on Ice, and conventions that draw exhibitors from organizations in Halifax, Charlottetown, and beyond.

Economic and community impact

The centre has been cited by municipal planners and regional economic development agencies as a catalyst for downtown revitalization, contributing to hospitality sector growth including hotels operated under brands like Marriott, Hilton, and independent properties in Moncton’s central business district. Event-driven visitor spending benefits local restaurants, retailers, and transportation services, and partnerships with educational institutions such as campuses of Université de Moncton and workforce programs have supported event staffing and hospitality training. The venue has also enabled community-access programming, youth sports initiatives with ties to provincial sport associations, and fundraising events for charitable organizations headquartered in New Brunswick and the broader Maritime Provinces.

Accessibility and transportation

Situated near major urban thoroughfares, the arena is accessible from provincial highways serving the Greater Moncton area and is integrated into municipal transit routes operated by Codiac Transpo. Parking facilities and drop-off zones accommodate event traffic, and arrangements for shuttle services have been used during major events to connect to nearby hotels and park-and-ride sites. The venue’s design incorporates accessibility features to meet standards similar to those expected by provincial building codes and national guidelines followed by venues such as Rogers Place and Canadian Tire Centre, with seating accommodations, accessible washrooms, and assistive services for patrons with mobility or sensory needs.

Category:Sports venues in New Brunswick Category:Buildings and structures in Moncton