Rogers Arena is a multi-purpose arena at 800 Griffiths Way in the downtown areaofVancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1995, the arena was known as General Motors Place (GM Place) from its opening until July 6, 2010, when General Motors Canada ended its naming rights sponsorship and a new agreement for those rights was reached with Rogers Communications. Rogers Arena was built to replace Pacific Coliseum as Vancouver's primary indoor sports facility and in part due to the National Basketball Association (NBA) 1995 expansion into Canada, when Vancouver and Toronto were given expansion teams.
The Garage
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Rogers Arena in August 2011
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| Address | 800 Griffiths Way |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 49°16′40″N 123°6′32″W / 49.27778°N 123.10889°W / 49.27778; -123.10889 |
| Public transit |  Stadium–Chinatown |
| Owner | Aquilini Investment Group |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 18,422 (1995–2002) 18,514 (2002–2003) 18,630 (2003–2009) 18,810 (2009–2010) 18,860 (2010–2011) 18,890 (2011–2012) 18,910 (2012–present) Basketball: 19,193 (1995–2003) 19,700 (2003–present) Concert: 19,000 |
| Field size | 44,100 m2 (475,000 sq ft) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 13, 1993[1] |
| Opened | September 21, 1995 |
| Construction cost | CA$160 million ($294 million in 2023 dollars)[2] |
| Architect | Brisbin, Brook and Beynon |
| Structural engineer | Stuart Olson Dominion[3] |
| Services engineer | The Mitchell Partnership Inc.[4] |
| General contractor |
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| Website | |
| rogersarena | |
It is home to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League, and the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League. The arena also hosted the ice hockey events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The name of the arena temporarily became Canada Hockey Place during the Olympics. It was previously home to the Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA from 1995 to 2001. The Grizzlies spent six seasons in Vancouver before relocating to Memphis for the 2001–02 season.
Prior to the start of the 2022/23 NHL season the arena underwent one of three phases. Phase one consisted of a complete renovation of the players dressing room and team staff area. Phase two being completed prior to the start of the 2023/24 NHL season[needs update] will consist of a new centre-hung video board and a new ribbon board going around the arena above the lower bowl. A new VIP restaurant is being added in between the two tunnels that lead out to the home and away team benches. Prior to the start of the 2024/25 season the third and final phase of the arena upgrades will be completed which will replace all the seats in the upper and lower bowl of the arena.
The arena was completed in 1995 at a cost of C$160 million in private financing to replace the aging Pacific Coliseum as the main venue for events in Vancouver and to serve as the home arena to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association.[6] It was originally named General Motors Place as part of a sponsorship arrangement with General Motors Canada, and was commonly known as "GM Place" or "The Garage".[7] The arena was also briefly home to the Vancouver Ravens of the National Lacrosse League from 2002to2004.[8] The operations of the team have since been suspended although attempts were made to revive the team in 2007 and again in 2008.
The employees of the arena belong to a trade union. In 2007, they chose to change their union affiliation from UNITE HERE – Local 40 to the Christian Labour Association of Canada. After many months of struggle, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board declared the employees choice of a new union. The employee group includes hosts, housekeeping, security and various event staff at the venue.[citation needed] UNITE-HERE local 40 still represented food service workers in the arena, employed by Aramark. Another union protest began in 2009 when GM Place concession workers, cooks and event staff protested their payment.[9] The arena's event technical employees are provided through Riggit Services Inc. In the same year, the arena also received a new suspended scoreboard, which at the time was the largest in the NHL.[10][11]
In February 2010, the arena was used for the ice hockey tournaments at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Canada won both gold medals.[12] The arena was temporarily renamed "Canada Hockey Place" during the Olympics due to regulations regarding corporate sponsorship of event sites.[13][14]
On July 6, 2010, it was announced that GM had declined to renew the naming rights, and that Rogers Communications had acquired the naming rights under a 10-year deal, under which it was renamed Rogers Arena.[15] The following year, the arena reached a five-year sponsorship deal with PepsiCo, under which it became the exclusive provider of beverages and snacks at Rogers Arena, and gained sponsorship placements.[16] In addition, all concerts held at Rogers Arena promote the venue as Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena.
In October 2010, prior to the 2010–11 Vancouver Canucks season. Canucks Sports & Entertainment installed four-storey high theatrical scrims, and 16 projectors were installed. It was the first setup of its kind in North American sports.[17] Last time they were used was during the 2015–16 Vancouver Canucks season. They are still present inside the Arena; however, it is unknown when they will be ever used again.
In July 2012, Aquilini Investment Group had originally planned to build the towers with condo units. The switch to rental units provides the city with much-needed rental space. However, the city lost about $35 million in developer contributions to community facilities in the Northeast False Creek area that would have been collected if the buildings had been condos.[18] As of June 2016, the first tower is completed, with the second tower nearing completion.[19]
The Ravens played out of the rink, then known as GM Place, from 2002-04 before folding due to money troubles. They weren't owned by the Canucks.
28. Arena Renovations https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/08/24/vancouver-canucks-rogers-arena-upgrades/amp/
