Abbotsford Centre
The Abbotsford Centre is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The arena was expected to cost $64.7-million.[4] Construction began on September 24, 2007.[5] From 2009 to 2014, it was the home of the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League.[6]
 | |
| Location | 33800 King Road Abbotsford, British Columbia V2S 8H8 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 49.030665°N 122.287145°W |
| Owner | City of Abbotsford |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| 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 ($77.2 million in 2018 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | PBK Architects |
| Project manager | MHPM Project Managers Inc.[2] |
| Structural engineer | Cochrane Engineering[2] |
| General contractor | PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Abbotsford Heat (AHL) (2009–2014) BC Angels (LFL Canada) (2012) Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (BCMML) (2018–present) Fraser Valley Bandits (CEBL) (2019–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.[7] The arena was approved by Abbotsford voters on November 25, 2006 with a 54.8% majority.[8]
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.[9] It is unknown if there will be paid admission for each game.
On May 2, 2018, the Canadian Elite Basketball League announced that a professional basketball team called the Fraser Valley Bandits will be coming to the Abbotsford Centre in 2019, with the basketball season to be from May to August.[10]
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.[11]
References
- 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. January 18, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019. and 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 March 6, 2019.
- 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.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2014-08-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- CEBL to bring a Pro Basketball Team to the Abbotsford Centre
- City of Abbotsford (March 29, 2007). Award Construction Contract for Plan "A" Projects. Retrieved on April 11, 2007.