Rogers Arena is a downtown Vancouver, British Columbia indoor arena that opened on September 21, 1995, as General Motors Place, taking on its current sponsor name in 2010. Built to replace the aging Pacific Coliseum as the city’s premier indoor venue, it was constructed at a cost of roughly CA$160 million and designed by the architecture firm Brisbin, Brook and Beynon.
The arena has served as the home of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks for its entire existence and briefly hosted the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies in the late 1990s. It gained international attention when it staged the ice hockey tournament of the 2010 Winter Olympics under the temporary name Canada Hockey Place, an event where the Canadian men’s team won gold on home ice.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Opened: September 21, 1995
- Capacity: About 18,900 for hockey; up to around 19,700 for concerts and basketball
- Primary Tenant: Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
- Other Tenants: Vancouver Warriors (NLL)
- Former Name: General Motors Place (1995–2010)
- Owner: Aquilini Investment Group
- Notable Fact: Hosted ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics as Canada Hockey Place
From General Motors Place to Rogers Arena
When it opened in 1995, the building was known as General Motors Place under a naming-rights deal with the automaker. That arrangement lasted 15 years before telecommunications company Rogers Communications acquired the naming rights in 2010, renaming the venue Rogers Arena, the name it has carried ever since. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, sponsorship-free Olympic rules required the building to be temporarily rebranded as Canada Hockey Place for the duration of the Games.
Olympic Hockey and Ongoing Renovations
Rogers Arena’s biggest moment on the world stage came during the 2010 Winter Olympics, when it hosted the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments, culminating in Canada winning gold in both events. More recently, the arena owner, Aquilini Investment Group, has undertaken a multi-phase renovation beginning in 2022 that has brought new video boards and upgraded seating to keep the nearly 30-year-old venue current for Canucks fans and touring concerts alike.
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Rogers Arena FAQs
Who plays at Rogers Arena?
The Vancouver Canucks of the NHL have called Rogers Arena home since it opened in 1995. The Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League have also played there since 2018.
What was Rogers Arena originally called?
It opened in 1995 as General Motors Place and was renamed Rogers Arena in 2010 after Rogers Communications acquired the naming rights.
How many people can Rogers Arena hold?
Rogers Arena seats about 18,900 for hockey games, with capacity rising to roughly 19,700 for concerts and basketball configurations.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.