Place Bell

Place Bell is a multi-purpose indoor arena and sports complex located in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The venue serves as a major site for professional ice hockey, community sport, cultural events, and commercial exhibitions, and it anchors a development corridor north of the Rivière des Mille Îles and near the A15 autoroute. The complex is managed through municipal partnership and private operators and hosts teams affiliated with the National Hockey League and other leagues.

History

Construction of the arena began after agreements between the City of Laval administration and private partners to expand sporting infrastructure in the region. The project followed municipal debates similar to those involving the Bell Centre and drew attention from provincial officials in Quebec City and the Government of Quebec. Financing arrangements referenced municipal bonds and contributions from stakeholders including media conglomerates and developers tied to the Evenko portfolio and entities associated with the Montreal Canadiens. Groundbreaking occurred amid discussion in local media outlets such as the Montreal Gazette and the La Presse. The venue opened with inaugural events that attracted figures from the American Hockey League and representatives of the National Basketball Association scouting offices, alongside appearances by executives from major promoters like Live Nation.

Architecture and Design

The arena’s architectural concept was delivered by firms with portfolios including work on venues like the Scotiabank Arena and projects in the Quartier des Spectacles. The design emphasizes a bowl configuration and practice rinks modeled on standards used by the International Ice Hockey Federation and the National Hockey League. Exterior cladding and public plaza treatments reference Montreal-era modernist projects and integrate transit-oriented design principles similar to developments around Station Centrale and the Montreal International Airport. Structural engineering firms involved had experience with stadiums such as Rogers Centre and retrofit projects for venues like the Olympic Stadium (Montreal). Sustainability features were informed by guidelines from organizations such as the Canada Green Building Council and provincial energy codes administered by the Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec.

Facilities and Usage

The complex includes a main arena with seating configurations suited to hockey, concerts, and trade shows, plus two NHL-sized practice rinks used for development programs affiliated with organizations like the Hockey Canada system and junior clubs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Ancillary facilities house training rooms, offices for franchise front offices comparable to those of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and community spaces utilized by amateur associations and school boards. Event infrastructure supports broadcast operations for networks such as TSN, RDS, and national streaming partners tied to professional sports properties including the American Hockey League and the Canadian Football League for occasional events. Concession and retail partnerships have been negotiated with brands that operate in venues like the Bell Centre and arenas owned by municipal authorities including the City of Gatineau.

Events and Tenants

Primary sports tenancy includes an American Hockey League franchise affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens, serving as a development affiliate similar to other AHL/NHL relationships such as Henderson Silver Knights and the Toronto Marlies. The venue also hosts exhibition matches, junior tournaments drawing teams from the Quebec Junior Hockey League and regional circuits, and community tournaments that engage clubs connected to Hockey Québec. Beyond hockey, the arena has accommodated concerts by touring acts promoted by companies like Evenko and Live Nation, trade shows that mirror events held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, and cultural festivals referencing performers from venues such as the Place des Arts. Notable events have included pre-season games against franchises from the American Hockey League and appearances by athletes and dignitaries associated with the Montreal Canadiens organization.

Transportation and Access

Access to the site is provided by major roadways including the Autoroute 15 (Quebec) corridor and municipal arterials linking to Laval’s downtown and the Pont Viau. Public transit connections include bus links operated by the Société de transport de Laval with transfers to the Société de transport de Montréal network and nearby commuter rail options analogous to service patterns found at Gare Centrale (Montreal). Parking facilities were planned in coordination with city mobility strategies and incorporate drop-off zones used for event staging similar to arrangements at the Bell Centre and regional arenas. The complex also benefits from proximity to regional airports such as the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport for visiting teams and touring productions.

Category:Sports venues in Laval, Quebec Category:Indoor ice hockey venues in Canada