What's Your Favourite Arena?

[RGM81]

The access thing is a huge point - the Senators arena is way out in Kanata and not very convenient at all. It was like a 30 minute trip from downtown to the venue for a Metallica show I did back in '04, I can't fathom it being fun for Sens fans to have to make that voyage regularly.

[30ranfordfan]

Yep.

I've never been there, but heard those complaints.

Even if it's a really nice place inside, people are already put off by what a pain it is to get there - and their impression of the place will be bad because of it.

The access thing is a huge point - the Senators arena is way out in Kanata and not very convenient at all. It was like a 30 minute trip from downtown to the venue for a Metallica show I did back in '04, I can't fathom it being fun for Sens fans to have to make that voyage regularly.

[RGM81]

I think it's kinda funny that I've been in more hockey arenas for non-hockey events than actual hockey games.

GM Place - 1 hockey game, 3 WWF events (yes, F, that's how old-school I am), and one Metallica concert.
Pacific Coliseum - 1 hockey game and 1 WWF event.
Saddledome - 1 WWF event and 1 Metallica concert.
Scotiabank Place - 1 Metallica concert.
ACC - 1 Paul Martin coronation and 1 Metallica concert.
Bell Centre - 2 hockey games.

On the junior level....
Prospera Place (used to be Skyreach) in Kelowna - more Rockets games & concerts than I can count.
What's the arena in Kamloops called? 1 WWF event and 1 Def Leppard concert.
Metro Centre - 2 Habs pre-season games, a couple Mooseheads games, a Bryan Adams concert, a Backstreet Boys concert (yeah), and a couple other concerts.

My favourite of all of these would have to be the Bell Centre. It is truly a fantastic building with incredible energy. 21,273 people having a blast watching their beloved Habs.

Least favourite would probably be the Metro Centre. It's old, the seats are a ghastly orange, not very comfortable, and it's usually pretty dead. Granted the Mooseheads aren't the best and don't give the people much to cheer for, but still...

[mugatu471]

The Joe!

[Prime B]

I think it's kinda funny that I've been in more hockey arenas for non-hockey events than actual hockey games.

GM Place - 1 hockey game, 3 WWF events (yes, F, that's how old-school I am), and one Metallica concert.
Pacific Coliseum - 1 hockey game and 1 WWF event.
Saddledome - 1 WWF event and 1 Metallica concert.
Scotiabank Place - 1 Metallica concert.
ACC - 1 Paul Martin coronation and 1 Metallica concert.
Bell Centre - 2 hockey games.

On the junior level....
Prospera Place (used to be Skyreach) in Kelowna - more Rockets games & concerts than I can count.
What's the arena in Kamloops called? 1 WWF event and 1 Def Leppard concert.
Metro Centre - 2 Habs pre-season games, a couple Mooseheads games, a Bryan Adams concert, a Backstreet Boys concert (yeah), and a couple other concerts.

My favourite of all of these would have to be the Bell Centre. It is truly a fantastic building with incredible energy. 21,273 people having a blast watching their beloved Habs.

Least favourite would probably be the Metro Centre. It's old, the seats are a ghastly orange, not very comfortable, and it's usually pretty dead. Granted the Mooseheads aren't the best and don't give the people much to cheer for, but still...

Ever visit the US Richard?

[Prime B]

My favorite that I have been to?

Tough, but likely Staples or ACC.

The hometown Pepsi Center is set up pretty darn sweet I must say. I always enjoy games at the can.

Worst? Ponda.

[CSSports]

Staples Center has MANY things around it....They have LA Live....hold many restraunts (including ESPN Zone), Nokia center (Concerts, awards, etc), Starbucks, Lucky Strike (More of an adult bowling center), Ritz Carlton, Marriott hotels, HUGE Movie Theater and best part is as a season ticket holder, we get coupons, gift cards, etc for events and restraunt/bars around Staples Center. The center also hold Kings/Lakers/Clippers/etc events outside since it is a pretty big space - Multiple big screens outside - Every game is a HUGE thing outside....

Also - The LA Convention Center is right next door....so when LA had the All-Star Game in 2002, they used the Convention Center for the FAN FEST.....

Easy access with the train station a block away....and BEST part is if I get there the right time, parking is FREE (pay street parking meters only until 6pm) :)

Here you can only see 4 of the 6 structures that hold the Big Screens....ESPN Zone is tot he right off the picture...Staple Center is to the Left out of the picture....

[RGM81]

Ever visit the US Richard?

Did Seahawks Stadium for my first Metallica show. Was invited to do the Key Arena in Seattle the next year but couldn't do it.

It's been a good 7 years since I last crossed the border. Depressing, really.

[thesnake87]

I went to the Joe for my birthday last February (they lost in a shootout to the Sharks... :( Oh well) but still had a blast!

At the Joe, there seems to be no bad seats at all. I sat behind one net a few rows up in the upper bowl and could see fine. The concourse is small... and the seats are very low and need redone, but it was still a blast. I loved the atmosphere there. We were walking distance from the hotel we stayed at and Hard Rock Cafe.

I will have to include a minor league arena though. The Van Andel Arena is my favorite. I've been to countless Grand Rapids Griffins games and the Van Andel is nicer than the Joe. It's a newer arena but large for an AHL team (over 13,300 can be packed in there.) When the Griffins were good, sellouts were very common and it seemed louder than the Mad House on Madison... very good atmosphere there. Though the Griffins are "re-building" it's still nice to go there. Perfect placement in downtown Grand Rapids. Very large concourse, it's a very, very nice arena.

[guy3050]

MONTREAL FORUM (TOO MANY MEMORIES IN THIS PLACE NOT TO RANK IT NUMBER 1) , LAFLEUR , DRYDEN , ,THE NEW YEAR EVE GAME AGAINST THE RUSSIANS , MY FIRST ROCK SHOW IN 1977 (KISS WITH CHEAP TRICK AS OPENING ACT) THE WHO , QUEEN , DEEP PURPLE , BLACK SABBATH ,PAGE/PLANTetc etc etc...