Pacific Coliseum opened on January 8, 1968, at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, built at a cost of roughly C$6 million. Designed by W. K. Noppe along with Phillips, Barratt, Hillier, Jones and Partners, the arena quickly became the city’s premier venue for major-league hockey and large-scale entertainment.
The building is best remembered as the original home of the Vancouver Canucks, who played there in the WHL before joining the NHL in 1970 and remaining until 1995. Decades later, the Coliseum still hosts live sports and concerts, carrying forward a legacy that stretches from Cold War-era hockey diplomacy to Olympic competition.
- Vancouver Canucks played here 1970–1995. See every Canucks arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Vancouver Canucks (NHL, 1970–1995); Vancouver Giants (WHL, 2001–2016); Vancouver Goldeneyes (PWHL, 2025–present)
- Location: Hastings Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Opened: January 8, 1968
- Capacity: About 15,041 for hockey; up to 17,500 for concerts
- Construction cost: About C$6 million
- Notable fact: Hosted figure skating and short-track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
From Hockey Nights to Olympic Ice
Pacific Coliseum served as the Vancouver Canucks’ home rink for the franchise’s first NHL decades, and it hosted Game 4 of the 1972 Summit Series, the famed Canada-Soviet Union hockey showdown. After the Canucks moved on, the arena stayed in the hockey business, hosting the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and, decades later, the PWHL’s Vancouver Goldeneyes.
In 2010, the building took on a very different role when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics: Pacific Coliseum was converted into the figure skating and short-track speed skating venue, putting the aging arena back in the global spotlight.
A Stage for Music History
Beyond sports, Pacific Coliseum built a reputation as one of Western Canada’s top concert halls, having hosted the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors among many other major touring acts over the decades.
That dual identity as both arena and concert hall has kept Pacific Coliseum relevant well past its original era, a rare feat for a venue built in the late 1960s.
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Pacific Coliseum FAQs
When did Pacific Coliseum open?
Pacific Coliseum opened on January 8, 1968, at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia.
What is the seating capacity of Pacific Coliseum?
The arena seats about 15,041 for hockey and can hold up to roughly 17,500 for concerts.
Did the Vancouver Canucks play at Pacific Coliseum?
Yes, the Vancouver Canucks played there in the WHL before joining the NHL in 1970, and remained until 1995.
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Photo: Canmenwalker / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.