Founded in 1909, the Montreal Canadiens are older than the NHL itself, and they have played in five arenas. Two of their early rinks burned down within a year of each other, the Montreal Forum was home for seven decades, and since 1996 they have played at the Bell Centre.
Here is every home in order, with the years the Canadiens played there, what made each one matter and what stands on the site today. Each arena with a ThrillZing guide links to it.
Every Canadiens Arena, 1909 to Today
- Montreal
- 1909–1910
Jubilee Arena
The first home, a small rink on rue Sainte-Catherine Est, used in the club's first NHA season after it was founded in December 1909.
Today: Burned down in 1919; the site is now a parking lot
- Westmount
- 1911–1918
Montreal Arena
Also called the Westmount Arena, it was considered the first arena designed for hockey. The Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup here in 1916. A fire on January 2, 1918, destroyed it and the teams' gear.
Today: Burned down in 1918; a condominium building now stands on the site
- Montreal
- 1918–1919
Jubilee Arena
After the Montreal Arena fire, the Canadiens moved back to Jubilee full time. It burned down on April 23, 1919, forcing the club to build a new rink.
Today: Burned down in 1919; the site is now a parking lot
- 1920–1926
Mount Royal Arena
Built quickly after the Jubilee fire and opened, partly unfinished, on January 10, 1920. Its natural ice was uneven, and the Canadiens left for the Forum after six seasons.
Today: Converted to an auditorium and then a commercial building; destroyed by fire in 2000. A Maxi supermarket now stands on the site
1926–1996Built for the Montreal Maroons in 1924 and shared with them until 1938. The Canadiens won 22 Stanley Cups in their Forum years and played their last game here on March 11, 1996.
Today: Gutted and converted to an entertainment complex with a Cineplex multiplex; a National Historic Site of Canada
Stadium history →- 1996–presentCurrent home
Opened March 16, 1996, as the Molson Centre and renamed in 2002. It is the largest indoor arena in Canada and the second-largest hockey arena in the world.
Visiting guide →
Canadiens Arena FAQ
Where did the Canadiens play before the Bell Centre?
At the Montreal Forum, from 1926 until March 11, 1996. Before that they played at the Jubilee Arena (1909–1910), the Montreal Arena in Westmount (1911–1918), the Jubilee again (1918–1919) and the Mount Royal Arena (1920–1926).
How many arenas have the Canadiens had?
Five: the Jubilee Arena, the Montreal Arena, the Mount Royal Arena, the Montreal Forum and the Bell Centre. Counting their return to the Jubilee after the 1918 fire, that is six stints.
Why did the Canadiens keep moving in their early years?
Fire. The Montreal Arena burned down on January 2, 1918, sending the team back to the Jubilee, which burned on April 23, 1919. The club then built the Mount Royal Arena, but its uneven natural ice led to the move to the Forum in 1926.
Is the Montreal Forum still standing?
Yes, in altered form. The building was gutted and turned into an entertainment complex with a Cineplex multiplex, shops and restaurants, and it was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997. None of the three earlier rinks survive.
Where do the Canadiens play now?
At the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal. It opened in 1996 as the Molson Centre, seats 20,962 for hockey and is the largest indoor arena in Canada.