Halifax Mooseheads
Rink: Scotiabank Centre
Capacity: 10,500
Built: 1978
League: QMJHL
City: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Home Of: Halifax Mooseheads
Games Attended: 8
First Game: May 17, 2019 vs Prince Albert
Most Recent Game: May 26, 2019 vs Rouyn-Noranda
Unique Arena: #46
QMJHL Arena: #5
The formerly named Metro Centre in downtown Halifax is the main hub arena for shows in the Maritimes, and of course the home of the Mooseheads of the QMJHL. The Arena sits on the side of a hill and is attached to several buildings, so it’s possible to park a couple blocks away and not have to go outside to get inside the building, as I found out during the 2019 Memorial Cup thanks to my local hosts. You actually walk from a parking garage and through a mall much like in Guelph; this is not the main entrance to the building but it is one of the ways you can use as I did for that whole tournament. As with most downtown buildings be prepared to pay for parking.
The Scotiabank Centre is an impressive building that feels mostly modern, which is great considering it was built in the 1970s. The rink has a main lower bowl now much better than your typical CHL clone building. However, on the sides the seats extend far up to the top of the building giving it a capacity north of 10,000 people. Unfortunately for the people in those high up seats, the Metro Centre installed rows of suites on both sides which gives most of the upper bowl seating an obstructed view, totally cut off from the scoreboard. If you are in the back row you can pretty much only as far as the first row of seats on the opposite side of the ice. The seats themselves are all new from a 2015 renovation and are quite comfortable. If you are in the lower bowl with an unobstructed view, then your view for the game is a great one.
Despite many seats holding an obstructed view the atmosphere in Halifax is fantastic. Mind you my only games here were during the 2019 Memorial Cup tournament, but I have heard that the Mooseheads fans can bring the noise at any time of year.
The photo above was taken from an overflow press area, so fans won’t get to usually have this view of a game. The QMJHL took a huge risk going to Halifax in 1994 when all of their previous teams were in Quebec, but it paid off big time and the Mooseheads today are one of the most respected franchises in the CHL. They have hosted two Memorial Cups, have won a league title and Memorial Cup crown for themselves, and have a long list of successful alumni.
Despite some of the flaws, going to a Mooseheads game in Halifax is enjoyable and most CHL fans should try to get there if they are crazy like me and get the chance.
Games Attended
May 17, 2019: Halifax 4 – Prince Albert 1
May 18, 2019: Guelph 5 – Rouyn Noranda 2
May 19, 2019: Halifax 4 – Guelph 2
May 20, 2019: Rouyn Noranda 6 – Prince Albert 3
May 21, 2019: Guelph 5 – Prince Albert 2
May 22, 2019: Rouyn Noranda 4 – Halifax 3
May 24, 2019: Rouyn Noranda 6 – Guelph 4
May 26, 2019: Rouyn Noranda 4 – Halifax 2