Abbotsford Centre
The Abbotsford Centre, formerly Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The arena was expected to cost $64.7 million.[5] Construction began on September 24, 2007.[6] As of 2023, it is the home of the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) after previously hosting AHL's Abbotsford Heat from 2009 to 2014.[7]
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.jpg.webp) Abbotsford Centre in 2013 | |
  Abbotsford Centre Location within British Columbia  Abbotsford Centre Location within Canada | |
| Address | 33800 King Road |
|---|---|
| Location | Abbotsford, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49.030665°N 122.287145°W |
| Owner | City of Abbotsford |
| Operator | Abbotsford Canucks Limited Partnership[1] |
| Capacity | Hockey: 7,000 Basketball: 7,046 Concerts: 8,500 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 24, 2007 |
| Opened | May 10, 2009 |
| Construction cost | C$66.2 million ($81.9 million in 2021 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | PBK Architects |
| Project manager | MHPM Project Managers Inc.[3] |
| Structural engineer | Cochrane Engineering[3] |
| General contractor | PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.[4] |
| Tenants | |
| Abbotsford Heat (AHL) (2009–2014) BC Angels (LFL Canada) (2012) Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (BCMML) (2018–present) Fraser Valley Bandits (CEBL) (2019–2021) Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) (2021–present) | |
History
On September 25, 2006, Abbotsford council voted unanimously to hold a referendum asking voters to borrow $85 million to fund three community projects, including a new entertainment and sports centre.[8] The arena was approved by Abbotsford voters on November 25, 2006, with a 54.8% majority.[9]
With the loss of the Heat, Abbotsford Centre announced it would start a recreational ice hockey league to help fill open dates left at the arena. Each team in the Abbotsford Centre Hockey League is to play 20 games per team during the 2014-15 hockey season.[10]
On May 2, 2018, the Canadian Elite Basketball League announced that the Fraser Valley Bandits would be coming to the Abbotsford Centre in 2019, with the basketball season to be from May to August.[11] On September 23, 2021 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced that the club has chosen the Langley Events Centre (LEC) in Langley, BC as its home for the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, which begins May 2022.[12]
On May 6, 2021, the Vancouver Canucks were approved to relocate their AHL affiliate to the Abbotsford Centre for the 2021–22 season,[13] where the team became the Abbotsford Canucks.
Arena amenities
The arena has a capacity of 7,000 seats for hockey with room for expansion to 8,500. There are 300 club seats, 15 boxes, 20 private suites, and 2 party suites.[14]
References
- "Arena Info - Abbotsford Centre - Abbotsford Centre".
- 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- City of Abbotsford, B.C. bundles projects to get them done Archived April 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- PCL: Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
- City of Abbotsford (March 29, 2007). Plan A Financial Summary. Retrieved on April 11, 2007.
- "Abbotsford Gets Lowdown on Entertainment and Sports Centre". Abbotsford Times. February 15, 2008.
- "The HEAT is on for 2009-10 AHL season" (PDF). Fraser Valley Sports & Entertainment Ltd. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
- City of Abbotsford (February 12, 2007). Regular Update - Plan A: Week of February 12, 2007. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- "Plan A". City of Abbotsford. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
- "Abbotsford Centre | New Hockey League at the Abbotsford Centre! | Pointstreak Sites". Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
- CEBL to bring a Pro Basketball Team to the Abbotsford Centre
- Fraser Valley Bandits
- "Board of Governors Approves Franchise Relocations". AHL. May 6, 2021.
- City of Abbotsford (March 29, 2007). Award Construction Contract for Plan "A" Projects. Retrieved on April 11, 2007.