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

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

There's parking behind the venue outside.
Parking Indigo Moncton - 1234 Main St.
If not there, the closest would be trying to find street parking on Gordon Street. But if you get to the venue early enough, I've never had issues parking in the lot there for concerts or wildcat games.

The show itself doesn't seem to be heavily sold (the other 4 shows have a lot less availability) so we should be good for Avenir adjacent parking. I was just a bit concerned with it being mid-afternoon on a Thursday, and the parking being in use for office/other downtown uses.

Weather is looking decent so we should be good in any case.

Thanks for the feedback.

[MonctonRad]

Looking forward to your review of the Avenir Centre.

[benvui]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

The show itself doesn't seem to be heavily sold (the other 4 shows have a lot less availability) so we should be good for Avenir adjacent parking. I was just a bit concerned with it being mid-afternoon on a Thursday, and the parking being in use for office/other downtown uses.

Weather is looking decent so we should be good in any case.

Thanks for the feedback.

I work at 1234 Main which uses that parking lot during the days, the parking lot is very rarely 25% full during the day. Also employees are aware when there are events going on during the day at the Avenir center and more tend to work from home on those days. You should be fine to get parking there as long as you get there a little bit early.

[habs33]

Q Finals start Saturday at 5pm & Sunday 7pm. The finals will be broadcasted on RDS with TSN showing game 1

https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/the-road-to-the-2025-memorial-cup-begins-tomorrow-night-on-chl-tv/

[lirette]

Originally Posted by habs33

Q Finals start Saturday at 5pm & Sunday 7pm. The finals will be broadcasted on RDS with TSN showing game 1

https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/the-road-to-the-2025-memorial-cup-begins-tomorrow-night-on-chl-tv/

I'm sure Mr Irving would love a full building on national TV after being snubbed and asked not to bid on the memorial cup, and it went to a rink with less than half the capacity.

[MonctonRad]

Rimouski wins over Shawinigan in Double OT 4-3.

The Wildcats are officially going to the Memorial Cup!!!

[lirette]

I hope that Avenir puts on some watch parties for the Memorial cup games in the Oval. Seems like a no brainer since they've done it for world juniors and that was in freezing temps!

[felip_ars]

They'll probably do it during the games in Rimouski for sure, and wait to see if Games 1 and 2 are sold out.

While we wait for Saturday, here's some Memorial Cup stats before the CHL finals starts

Since the current format (3 champions + host) in 1983:

WHL: 16 times
OHL: 13 times
QMJHL: 11 times

Half of the last 10 year's winner were from the Q

In 40 years, the host team managed to get to the finals 23 times, winning it 11 times.

The only time a non host and non champion won the Cup, sadly we all remember it: The Quebec Remparts in 2006.

It happened 3 times where the host didnt participate in the Memorial Cup:

1988: The Chicoutimi Saguenéens were eliminated in the first round

1990: For some reason they decided to give the tournament to an expansion team. The Dukes of Hamilton only won 11 games that year, and declined to participate. They move to Guelph in 91, and are still the Storms.

1991: Tournament was held in Quebec City, but the host team, Beauport Harfangs (before the Remparts came back), didnt even made the playoff


Tickets for Game 1 and 2 seems to be going well. I just wish that most of the sales are from Wildcats fans, as I wouldnt be surprised if bunch of Rimouski fans decide to make the trip (its only a 6h drive). Unless theres already a section strictly for them.

[Sandbagger]

Ticketmaster is showing the top half dozen rows of the Avenir Centre as unavailable. I can't imagine these are sold out yet as there's still plenty of other tickets available, so they are likely releasing blocks at a time.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by Sandbagger

Ticketmaster is showing the top half dozen rows of the Avenir Centre as unavailable. I can't imagine these are sold out yet as there's still plenty of other tickets available, so they are likely releasing blocks at a time.

All remaining tickets have now been released and we are tracking towards the game selling out by saturday, potentially even by tomorrow night.

First playoff sell out in Avenir history and will be easily the biggest playoff crowd in Wildcats history. Should be wild!

[SevenSquared]

Originally Posted by lirette

All remaining tickets have now been released and we are tracking towards the game selling out by saturday, potentially even by tomorrow night.

First playoff sell out in Avenir history and will be easily the biggest playoff crowd in Wildcats history. Should be wild!

The place has looked great during the playoffs, a lot less empty seats down low and in the club seats than at any regular season "sellout".

I wouldn't be surprised if Saturday will be the biggest turnout ever, in terms of people through the doors rather than tickets distributed for a hockey game in the city's history?

[lirette]

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

The place has looked great during the playoffs, a lot less empty seats down low and in the club seats than at any regular season "sellout".

I wouldn't be surprised if Saturday will be the biggest turnout ever, in terms of people through the doors rather than tickets distributed for a hockey game in the city's history?

Thats probably true. You aren't dropping $35 (or $50+ on club seats) just to not show up. Even in the sellouts we've had on NYE there was small clusters of seats not occupied because they were likely bought in bulk/comped and the people didnt use them. The people who are buying these tickets want to be there for playoff hockey and not for a "family event" on a discounted ticket.

I'm really curious about the people who buy club seats during the season and never use them. I'd love to understand it better. I don't get how it would be worth it just for ticket priority for other events. It looks like an entirely different building with the ends out and club seats occupied, a true miniature NHL rink.

[Taeolas]

Mid afternoon Thursday show of "Come from Away" was great. Not quite sold out but quite full.

I ended up getting us nosebleed section seats (I cheaped out) so we were up in Row 31 at the back of the seating. The Stage was the size of two postage stamps so a bit hard to see but acoustics was fine.

From what I saw, I'd say they might be better off closing off the upper rows for visibility for shows like this; but that may just be my old eyes speaking.

Parking was easy enough, parked at 1234 Main as suggested. They had lot attendents at the entrance with the card readers so we paid and got the mirror hanger with ease.

One thing I noticed, going from that lot to the centre, there are some goat trails heading to Main street and around the front. They should probably look to make those trails more official, since people are wearing hte grass down to walk them anyways. A cobblestone path from the 1234 lot up to Main would be nicer than the rocky dirt path people have blazed.

[felip_ars]

Attendance numbers for the weekend (according the Q website)

Game 1: 8512
Game 2: 6729

Saturday's game is the highest attendance of the whole Q playoff this year, beating Game 4 of the Moncton/Quebec series at Centre Videotron (8444). Game 2 is #8.

Of the Top 15 attendance of the playoff, only one is not from Moncton(7)/Quebec(2)/Halifax(5), and it's Chicoutimi with 4573.

I understand the competitiveness side of it, but at this point, I think Rimouski should try to make it quick, and get as most days off as possible to recuperate, before the start of the Memorial Cup (May 23rd).

Even there, Moncton will have an extra day off, as their first game will be on the 24th against the OHL winner.

[Sandbagger]

Originally Posted by felip_ars

Attendance numbers for the weekend (according the Q website)

Game 1: 8512
Game 2: 6729

Saturday's game is the highest attendance of the whole Q playoff this year, beating Game 4 of the Moncton/Quebec series at Centre Videotron (8444). Game 2 is #8.

Of the Top 15 attendance of the playoff, only one is not from Moncton(7)/Quebec(2)/Halifax(5), and it's Chicoutimi with 4573.

I understand the competitiveness side of it, but at this point, I think Rimouski should try to make it quick, and get as most days off as possible to recuperate, before the start of the Memorial Cup (May 23rd).

Even there, Moncton will have an extra day off, as their first game will be on the 24th against the OHL winner.

The series is by no means over. Rimouski has not lost at home yet either, and despite Moncton controlling most of the play in the first 2 games, game 2 double OT could have easily the other way. Goaltending has been off the charts good so far.

The crowds at Avenir have been electric. Good to see.

[bridgeoftea]

I can see Rimouski taking this to 6 games, but Moncton does look the more dominant team.
Also when did Moncton start using the slasher blacks as primary uniforms? Reminds me of a fun 90s inspired 3rd jersey.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

I can see Rimouski taking this to 6 games, but Moncton does look the more dominant team.
Also when did Moncton start using the slasher blacks as primary uniforms? Reminds me of a fun 90s inspired 3rd jersey.

It's really their third (alternate) jersey, but, they have been using it more and more all year. Y think they consider it a good luck charm.

The fans like it.

Great atmosphere at both weekend games BTW. The players loved the atmosphere, you could tell. Lots of noise, fireworks and lots of "whoooo's"

I hope the series goes at least five games just to experience this one more time this year, but I understand the smart thing to do is to finish this off quickly and not give Rimouski any oxygen.

[Colouratura]

Come From Away was extremely successful with its run in the city. Moncton was actually had the priviledge of having the closing performance for the Come From Away tour. Rather fitting since Moncton was one of the cities where planes were directed to land on 9/11, just not as many as Gander of course. I remember my mom being taken off her Codiac Transit run to go pick up passengers at the airport and unable to tell the people what was going on. She would escort the group into the hotel lobby and their jaws would drop as they caught sight of TVs showing the news.

Avenir Centre put up additional sections of seats that were restricted view up the week of the performances and those sold. They then added the next section over that was even more restricted (but still not horrible) and those sold very well too.

It looks this is quite the year for Come From Away in the Atlantic Provinces.
We had the tour in Moncton.
Gander will have their own production.
Saint John and St. Stephen are having a co-production that will play both areas.
Halifax and Charlottetown are also doing a co-production for those two cities.
New Glasgow has also receive the rights to do their own production.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by Colouratura

Come From Away was extremely successful with its run in the city. Moncton was actually had the priviledge of having the closing performance for the Come From Away tour. Rather fitting since Moncton was one of the cities where planes were directed to land on 9/11, just not as many as Gander of course. I remember my mom being taken off her Codiac Transit run to go pick up passengers at the airport and unable to tell the people what was going on. She would escort the group into the hotel lobby and their jaws would drop as they caught sight of TVs showing the news.

Avenir Centre put up additional sections of seats that were restricted view up the week of the performances and those sold. They then added the next section over that was even more restricted (but still not horrible) and those sold very well too.

It looks this is quite the year for Come From Away in the Atlantic Provinces.
We had the tour in Moncton.
Gander will have their own production.
Saint John and St. Stephen are having a co-production that will play both areas.
Halifax and Charlottetown are also doing a co-production for those two cities.
New Glasgow has also receive the rights to do their own production.

The Saint John performance has now been cast and I believe rehearsals are starting soon. It'll have a mix of cast members from Saint John and Fredericton.

Interestingly enough, Bangor also had a run of shows at the Cross Insurance Arena.

[felip_ars]

Congrats to the Moncton Wildcats for winning the President Cup!!

Now they can become the 3rd non host team(in the modern format)to win their league championship AND the Memorial Cup in the same arena.

1984: Ottawa won both the OHL and Memorial Cup in Kitchener
2019: Rouyn-Noranda won both Cup in Halifax

Coincidentally, both team won the Memorial Cup against the team they previously beaten in their league's finals.