[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed

[MonctonRad]

The scoreboard is amazing, and they can project images and moving pictures on the ice surface just like in NHL arenas.

I agree that they need to work on the sound system a bit. It's very good quality, but they had the bass ramped up a little bit too far. At times the scoreboard was vibrating due to the intensity of the bass.

[MonctonRad]

A few pictures from tonight:







The official QMJHL game report states that attendance was 8,800. This makes the game officially the most attended hockey game in NB history.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by J81

There is zero reason to have people attending a Q league game pass through metal detectors. What in the world is going on in Moncton.? I get having to do it at the ACC or Rogers center here in Toronto but in Moncton??? Really?

Why are you under the impression that violence can only happen in a massive city? I don't get that.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by Ammn_guy

i was sitting top row.. it was very hot...sweaty stinky hot. the ice looked wet.. they need to work that out i am sure they will.

It could have been my location but i found the sound a bit too loud.. like .. painfuly load at times.. my kids were even annoyed and they like it loud.

8,800 people is probably why it seemed hot. The ice was only wet after the Zamboni passed over it which is normal. I'm sure they'll get the sound lower for the hockey games. The sound system was probably tuned a little high for the concerts and they probably never lowered it enough. Glad to hear you had a good time, my family and I did too .

[Philbilly]

My thoughts on the first games tonight Was mix for me . Getting in the doors was very smooth , got there around 6 15 waited only 5 to get in .

Pre show was just meh but ok , it seems kind of all over not on cue.

Very hot in the building but figured a sold out crowded did not help in that situation . Also the ice seemed soft or something , reminds me of the coliseum.

All the concession were easy access not to long of a wait for a sold out crowds . Only thing dropping the price of beer from 10 & to 9 .75 made laughs

Maybe is just were I was sitting but felt like the light was burning my retinas lol

But on the end it the first game , problem will arise and will fix them I’m the future

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by J81

There is zero reason to have people attending a Q league game pass through metal detectors. What in the world is going on in Moncton.? I get having to do it at the ACC or Rogers center here in Toronto but in Moncton??? Really?

Welcome to the big leagues.

[BlackYear]

Game 1 successfully in the books...with a few minor hickups. Some lighting, video, sound issues that needs minor adjustments.

I walked from home to the game around 18:50ish and basically waited a couple of minutes to get in from one of the side entrances. Metal detector scanners, no problem. Once people get used to the 'what to do', it won't be a problem.

Even though tickets may have been sold out, there were plenty of missing spectators that didn't show up. Only wish they could have given their tickets away to family/friends.

All of the concessions were pretty busy. I noticed they dropped the beer prices from $10 to $9.75. LOL.

It was kind cool to see some concourse entertainment. Cirque du Soleil type of thing. Couple were on spring loaded stilts.

My only complaint, or rather feedback is, whomever was running the video board should have showed up for rehearsal. They need to work on this.

I took the long way out after the game ended, it was a steady slow pace out, surprisingly not that bad.

The outdoor concert before and after the game was a nice added attraction.

All round, pretty good. I'm back there for Sunday's game!

[MonctonRad]

Although "technically" a sellout at 8,800, as Budyser said, there were empty seats around the arena. The actual ass-in-the-seat attendance was 8,488 - still the most attended hockey game in NB history.

[David_99]

That was a very fun evening! Earlier in the day, my boss had come up to me as I had finished numbering the game day programs and was sending them to the printers, he passed me tickets to Friday and Sunday's games. I was shocked! Great seats behind the visitors bench.

My thoughts on the night:

We parked then walked 5 minutes up Main St, along with a large crowd.
The feeling was a lot more "big city" then my initially anticipated "little city can't afford next door parking structure".

You could feel the excitement in the air, while smelling the foods from Main St establishments. For once Moncton actually felt a little bit urban (until I noticed multiple, large, empty buses running up and down Main, lol). We'll get there. The thought of doing the same in winter gave me flashbacks of walking blocks from Hotel Room to the Bell Centre in February weather, not being thwarted by the conditions, but the goal of walking through anything to get to the prize.

Entrance Security was quick and no big deal.

Seats were easily accessible, even though we entered on the opposite side of the building from our seats.

The "Opening Ceremonies" admittedly could have been cut in half with more efficiency. I caught myself rolling my eyes a few times at the repetitiveness, only in the end to be struck by tears when Becca Schofield's photo was put on the large screen.

The atmosphere was great (could have lowered the volume down from 11 to 10) but I noticed so many kids having a great time.

The whole spectator experience felt midway between the old Coliseum days and an NHL game experience, so it was pretty right one.

All in all, the quality of the new building along with it's new location gives me great hope that the Wildcats will thrive downtown.

Edit: My 6' 5" friend got into it with one of the stilt walkers for "being in her way". He didn't realize she was just being in-character and he shouted a few french obscenities to her before I explained to him that she was an actress lol.

[SevenSquared]

Definitely a million steps up from the Coliseum in every way possible. I was expecting to wait in a lineup outside for an hour, not 2 minutes!

It was a great time hanging around downtown from 5pm onward. We had a meal on Main near the rink, watching all the fans walk by. Great energy outside the building before/after the game.

Talked to a few Saint John fans during one of the intermissions who were beyond impressed and a bit jealous of the building. We were joking about how Wildcat fans have felt the same way about their building for the longest time.

The only negative that really stood out was the crowd during the game itself. Maybe it was just the area I was in (top of the section behind SJ bench), but it just felt like 20 years ago when they'd give entire schools free tickets and you'd end up with a Coliseum full of people who are doing anything but watching the game. No energy, no psychology, no situational reactions, no chants, just a jumbled mess of inflatable sticks banged together with no rhythm at the most random times.

Other than that it was a great time. Nice seeing so many people in Wildcats jerseys walking around downtown.

[J81]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Welcome to the big leagues.

It isnt the big leagues at all though! Its junior hockey. Teenagers!

[J81]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

Why are you under the impression that violence can only happen in a massive city? I don't get that.

Numbers! I shouldnt have to explain that to you.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by J81

Numbers! I shouldnt have to explain that to you.

[SevenSquared]

Originally Posted by J81

It isnt the big leagues at all though! Its junior hockey. Teenagers!

So what? It's the biggest show in the maritimes in terms of sports. The fact is junior hockey brings in big crowds around here, and there's no less violence on a per capita basis here than in big cities. SMG has every reason to take the same precautions as they would in southern Ontario or anywhere else.

Curious what numbers you've seen to support your point of view.

[L'homard]

I'm glad everyone had a good time and it all went well. My impressions were much the same as the good and not so good comments above, especially the semi-dead crowd randomly smacking their thunder sticks for no apparent reason LOL. I often find Moncton hockey fans to be a pretty quiet bunch though, so I kinda expected that.
We parked behind the Capitol at 18:00 hours and were shocked to see a lot of empty spots. This was our first time visiting the centre, and we anticipated more trouble parking but we glided in with ease, $3 to park - a bargain.
From there it was an easy 5 minute saunter to the centre and we were shocked yet again at the lack of lineup. We entered at 19:00 and the line stretched from the front doors to Highfield St. We used this entrance on purpose as it was by far the longest line and we wanted to time how long it would take to get in. We were in so quickly and efficiently we forgot to check the time! We got our pop and munchies with considerable ease inside as well.
Did not like the opening show at all but that's a matter of taste. Poor Alex Madsen trying to sing The Good Ol' Hockey Game but couldn't hear the orchestra playing with him, but four stories away. Not his fault they were out of synch. It threw him off and he got the words mixed up LOL. Again, not his fault. But no biggie. I thought it was great when he laughed our loud into the mic.
It was the same story upon exiting, pretty easy going and the traffic getting out of the downtown was easy peasy, if one knows how to avoid where the obvious snarls are going to occur.
I won't bother repeating what has already been said. All in all it was a great night, an impressive building, great staff and pretty good organizing that will only get better with time.

[lirette]

Building wise I think the biggest shock to me was the building temperature being so hot. I wonder if thats something that can be fixed or just to be expected with a sell out crowd. I would think with their expensive air system it wouldnt feel like the coliseum

Other than that it was a surreal experience. They have some fantastic camera angles to use for replays & other in game shots. The overhead camera that sits above the blue line in particular. The crew seemed to get better as the game went on with the replays.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by J81

It isnt the big leagues at all though! Its junior hockey. Teenagers!

It's a new arena in the 21st century. If you want to go to games without metal detectors i'd recommend Jr. A or literally any other smaller arena playing host to local hockey.

If you don't think junior hockey is big leagues i'd recommend visiting some CHL games across Canada. It's certainly big leagues for a lot of towns, Moncton included.

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

Other than that it was a great time. Nice seeing so many people in Wildcats jerseys walking around downtown.

The upside of an urban, downtown arena is that it's much easier for the local sport tenants to get exposure during gamedays. In a suburban arena everybody wearing their jerseys are in cars until they're physically at the arena.

[PEI highway guy]

It will be interesting to see how large the crowd is today and going forward through the season.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by PEI highway guy

It will be interesting to see how large the crowd is today and going forward through the season.

Looking at ticketmaster and adding in some walkups I'm guessing around 6000 today. That might still be a Cats record for 2nd home game of the season. Looking at the 05-06 attendance the 2nd home game of the season at 5300.

The ice level bar should be setup today as well so we'll get a look at that.

I believe that the season ticket base is just under 3000 based on the numbers we've been hearing about. That should help keep the attendance over 4000 for most games.

Of course you have a few novelty games that will get their usual bump. 2 timbits games, the NYE game which may be a different attraction being downtown and the first ever family day game.

[lirette]

Building temperature was much cooler today, had to put my coat back on. Which I'd much prefer!

For all the nightmare scenarios about gridlocked traffic after events there was 5800 at todays game and I was in my car and home faster than any game I'd been to at the coliseum. Dispersal parking at its finest.