Ranking the 10 Best Arenas in the NHL 

You are right

GO HABS GO!

I agree

Been there, Maple Leaf Gardens and The Boston Gaahden from the Original 6.

Tellement vrai !

I live in St Paul and LOVE the city AND the arena. Allianz Field is pretty sick, too.

Actually for me a trip to New York would be more about following the route of The Warriors from The Bronx to Coney Island, an NHL game would be like a side-quest but one worth doing.

Being from Buffalo people often think of NYC as this distant magical place. It's a 7 hour drive and I have inlaws there. The drive and the city are never fun anymore. I call it returning from the concrete jungle when I get home to Buffalo. MSG is kind of odd. The ice is on the 5th floor and it is conveniently located above a subway stop. I have been to a game anytime the Sabres are playing when I am in town. As much as I don't like the Leafs getting to go to the old Maple Leaf Gardens was a treat as an 8 year old. Looking up and seeing the super old retired years played etc.

@@ll7868 haha!

Bell corporate sponsor name but on the streets Beliveau Centre.

No

Just no

Loved the old St. Louis checkerdome! Thanks for mentioning

You can still go watch Hockey at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Now home of the Metropolitan University Natanay Lions.

@@patrickcruz2628 Hi Patrick. I grew up in STL, and for most of its life it was simply the St. Louis Arena. When Ralston Purina bought the team and the arena in 1977, they renamed it the Checkerdome to mimic Ralston Purina’s red & white checkered logo. In 1983 when Harry Ornest bought the Blues and the building, they reverted the name back to the St. Louis Arena. So the Checkerdome handle was only for a 5 or 6 year period of The Arena’s 65 year history.

@@ariea.devalois1564 Unfortunately, I never got to see MLG in person during its heyday. I’ve seen numerous photos before and after the renovation into a supermarket and hockey rink. It must be odd to see the truncated seating area for the current rink compared to the much deeper/higher seating area before the renovation. Visiting MLG is on my bucket list, plus a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Been years since I was there - do they still stuff away fans down in the far corner? Absolutely terrible place for viewing... at least the facility is decent though! More screens would definitely be a big add for experience.

Definitely something ever sports fan must do

Definitely! Vegas did right by knowing who they are!

I'm an out of town 11 game ice pack holder of the Knights up in Vancouver Canada. Been on board since they came into the league in 2017. Saw them play their first ever preseason game here in Vancouver. Love the team, personally know a few of their players. Sometimes have a tough time selling remaining tickets to games I can't make.

💯 accurate

As a fellow Vegas native I agree. Was able to go to a few games each season so far and the openings never get old. Sure it's cheesy and can push the strmarr if a game back but it's wort it. I mean you get a show and a hockey game, what more can u ask for? Best bang for your buck and gotta say, it's awesome how, during even preseason, each game is sold out and you would SWEAR you were at a playoff game as it gets THAT CRAZY,!! Major thanks to the NHL FOR TAKING A CHANCE IN OUR LITTLE CITY and be the FIRST major sports league to have a team here!! This city will be forever greatful!!

@@anthonys3631 hey, of you need to sell some games this year let me know ow. I'd love e to take them off your hands!!!

Thanks for the insight. What we've heard from Panthers fans is a lot of complaints about the location of the arena. However, they did a fantastic job with the ASG!

Thanks

Been there from Montreal. Best part of that arena is that you can get good tickets anywhere in the arena anytime since there's an avergae of 75 people in the stands lolll

Been there from Montreal. Best part of that arena is that you can get good tickets anywhere in the arena anytime since there's an avergae of 75 people in the stands lolll

I had a blast there last time I was in South Florida.

Maybe not the best design or aesthetics, but the atmosphere (and hot dogs) make it special!

Th’ opposition locker rooms are across the rink at the tank in San Jose as well

@@idiotcow3721 Oh really? Thanks for watching and contributing to the discussion!

LGRW!!

​@@efogg3 👏 👏 👏👏👏

What’s bad about that?

Too bad no good games will be played there any time soon cause you guys love invading other countries so much😂

@@onnih899 SKA Arena is located in Russia, not in the USA

@@vitmor4653 i am aware. Im not talking about usa im talking about russi like you said.

@@onnih899 So, who love to invade other countries?

Maybe we need to do another video about other arenas around the world!

Thanks for your comment and viewing of the video, Ron! Always great to continue the discussion. We felt that Scotiabank Arena has too much of a corporate feel because of the excessive ticket prices. As you said, it seems the fan presence for the Leafs is actually better at away arenas where tickets are more affordable.

@@vagabondhockey6761 Agreed! Ticket prices to go to a leafs game are absurd!

Same when Boston goes to Tampa

Same when Montreal visits. I’ve been there and more people cheered for the Habs then the home team

Just outside our top 10, but a great arena!

Funny because a different viewer comment it should be one of the worst 🤔

@@vagabondhockey6761 thst viewer never saw a game there. I’ve been to ALL the arenas. All 32

Downtown Winnipeg is a dump. The arena is small, concourses are small, seats are horrible and going to a game in -35🥴

@@peterframpton2175 you should’ve been there when it was the original Jets in the old Arena. THAT was a dump

A lot of Sabres fans actually complain about the arena because it hasn't been updated in so long.

It's a great arena! What do you think makes it #1?

@@vagabondhockey6761 everything except for prices

Have you ever been to the Bell Center?

@@Stephan428 Have seen the outside of the buildings

Or Dallas. Ridiculous list.

Certainly not the Mecca of hockey

The Mecca of hockey is Montreal ... always has been, always will be.

Yes, its a great arena! What do you like most about it?

America has the best of everything, including hockey arenas. Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto is horrible for design and atmosphere. I as a kid have attended games at Maple Leaf Gardens, now that would have made the top ten list.

@@gracedagostino5231 America has the best of everything ?!?! Spoken like a true American, legends in their own minds. Scotiabank Arena has horrible design ? What do you do for a living, are you an Architect 😳 Scotiabank Arena is great fan experience, it just got awarded one of the grandest arenas in the world for the amount and variety of events it hosts. Really think Americans should get educated before running their mouth 🙄

@@ronshuster3781 The fans at Scotiabank suck big time. A lot of them are corporate types who get the tickets for free, and aren’t really fans of the team. They sit on their fat asses most of the game, talking business, and certainly are not into the game as most American hockey fans are. I love going into Philly, Nashville, Tampa, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Washington etc for a great hockey environment. As for the design of Scotiabank, it has an odd shape to it. I think they tried to recreate Maple Leaf Gardens, but failed miserably.. I heard the Leafs were thinking of moving to a new building, as the Blue Jays would also like a new stadium, and demolish that other monstrosity the Roger Centre aka The Sky Dome.

@@gracedagostino5231 so you’re bothered that they get free tickets and you don’t ? 😂 You do realize that the leafs are by far the largest contributor to revenue sharing so pathetic American teams like Arizona, Carolina that couldn’t sell their seats if they were giving them for free can stay afloat. Scotiabank Arena has an odd shape to it ? Again I ask the question, what do you do for a living, are you an architect??? The leafs arnt moving to a new building, Scotiabank Arena is going will be undergoing a major reno and the skydome is already begun undergoing a major reno over the next two off seasons to give it a great fan experience while jays owners work on a new ballpark.

@@ronshuster3781A Canadian based NHL team has not won the Stanley Cup in 30 years. The USA based teams will always win the Cup!

Our pleasure!

long overdue that they got a team. This coming from a Canucks ice pack holder up the I-5.

Bonsoir, Sylvain! I grew up in St. Louis. Love my Blues, and the old St. Louis Arena. However, I was also a Blackhawk fan, since I'm old enough to have followed hockey since 1965 when St. Louis had the St. Louis Braves, a Blackhawk farm club, before the 1967 NHL expansion. Years later, I left STL and took a job in the Chicago area. Got a part share of season tickets to Hawk games at Chicago Stadium. You are exactly right. There was nowhere better on earth to watch a game than at Chicago Stadium. Even my wife, who really isn't a big sports fan, said that watching a game at Chicago Stadium was electrifying! I've been to several of the newer arenas since 1994, but to me, none have the atmosphere of the Montreal Forum, Chicago Stadium, St. Louis Arena, or Boston Garden. Cheers, Old Rusty

LCA is outstanding

Nationwide is a beauty. Go Jackets!

Nationwide is so underrated

Great feedback, Anton! Agree that some of the newer arenas have a better viewing experience.

Sight lines to the ice are not blocked. Just to the scoreboard. They have screens in those sections that show what’s on the scoreboard. I go to watch the game, not the screens.

I agree as a Devils fan. The lighting is weird too.

Same. The view is a kinda crap in areas & the lighting is awkward.

@@ricktryder787fellow devils fan. I’ll say the balcony seats are better than the rock (yes I said that) only in terms of view and sound. You really feel closer somehow and the lower ceiling helps the noise of the ice travel up. That being said Fuck the rags and LETS GO DEVILS!!

UBS is better

It’s the same with every sport. In baseball you have Wrigley Field and Fenway which are highly overrated just because they’re old. I can’t stand how people rate arenas on how historic they are instead of how nice they are and the amenities.

Hi Cal, Livelong STL Blues fan since 1968 here. My brother-in-law lives in Minnetonka, so I hope to go to a game at Xcel some day. I love the Minnesota tradition of having all the high school hockey jerseys there. That's way cool. The old St. Louis Arena (temporarily called Checkerdome when Ralston Purina owned the team) was a hoot. It was old and falling apart, but loud and fun. I lived in suburban Chicago in the late '80s and early '90's and had a part share of season tix to Blackhawk games at Chicago Stadium. Wow, what a place! Outstanding old school hockey barn. I wish I had been able to go to a North Stars game at the old Met Center. That would have been a treat, too! Good luck to the Wild this year in the playoffs. Looks like my Blues have folded their cards and are gonna "suck hard for Bedard" now!!

@@OldRustySteele You'll probably enjoy Xcel and St. Paul. You can find a bar/club away from the arena for pizza and beer etc. with free parking and they will have a shuttle bus to take you to the arena and back. Fun experience. The old Met Center in Bloomington was more spartan but the lighting, ice and seats were great. Evidently had very fast ice because the players loved it.

They're not on that list because it's a list of current arenas loll Born and raised in Montreal, I can tell you that no matter how beautiful are today,s arenas, nothing will ever beat the Montreal Forum in my heart!

@@albiman68 The pre renovated Montreal Forum (between 1949-68) was a fantastic hockey venue which stank of stale cigarette smoke and was cramped. Madison Square Garden III (demolished in 1968) was an odd venue with a lousy irregular ice surface but similar seating to the Boston Garden. The Chicago Stadium had a giant organ which took up one end zone, but the rafter standing room and nose bleed seats had terrible sight lines. Of the original six venues, Maple Leaf Gardens always lacked any character to me. Interesting point, of the final nine teams pre 1967 expansion, the New York Americans played in Madison Square Garden III, the Montreal Maroons played in the pre 1948 renovated Montreal Forum, and the St. Louis Eagles played in the St. Louis Checkerdome which would become home to the St. Louis Blues -- all before my time although I did see the Blues at the Checkerdome. I saw all the mentioned venues as a very young child with my dad before he ditched my mom for a much younger woman. Hey -- it was the 1960's.

@@TotoFrancey Hi Toto! One note - the St. Louis Eagles played in the St. Louis Arena. And so did the Blues from their start in 1967 until Ralston Purina bought the team and the Arena. During their ownership from 1977-1983, they renamed it the Checkerdome (to mimic their checkerboard logo). After Ralston gave up ownership, the name reverted back to the St. Louis Arena. (I never liked the name Checkerdome, anyway). One other note: Only the organ console was above the east end zone at Chicago Stadium. The organ pipes were in huge boxes suspended from the roof! There were seats below and above the organ loft. Thanks for the details about all these good old barns!

At the old Olympia, the seats were really close to the ice so that when you sat in the end zone balcony, you could hear Gump Worsley cuss out his D to get the &*%$'n puck outta here. Small number of seats until they added to the end mezzanine in the 1960's or early 1970s. Went to the old Chicago Stadium around early 1980s when Denny Savard would take off from the blue line around the net just before the anthem ended. The rabid fans and Barton organ made it truly a special hockey barn. Great for the home team, tough for the opposition.

@@sawchucksaves1867 Hi Terry! Loved your comment about The Pudgy Gumper. I was at a pre-season game at St. Louis Arena around 1970, before Eddie Giacomin started wearing his mask. During a somewhat-quiet time you could easily hear Eddie yelling to his D, things like “man on ya”, “hard around”, etc., all standard stuff a goalie yells to help his D’s who have their back to the onrushing forwards. I was a beer league goalie, so I often had some of those same “get it the *^#% outta here” yells to some of my slow-skating D-men too!! 🤣

Todd, I agree. I’m a Blues fan and went to Amalie Arena for a Sens-Bolts game while on business in Tampa. The staff at the arena were some of the nicest and friendliest people I’ve ever seen in a sporting venue!

@@OldRustySteele you're awesome man thank you it doesn't matter what event you're going to over there they treat you like your family once you're in that Arena I have to take some medications one time I want to see a Bruno Mars concert there I was so excited but I stayed up all night now is dead tired and those people took care of me

Wing Wheel Nation #lgrw

LGRW!!

JOE LEWIS ARENA! LGRW!

Mine was based off of the way people treat you and that Arena not just during a game but during concerts I went to a Bruno Mars concert one time and I was dead tired and I sit down I had to take something and one of the ushers got something to drink for me and she didn't have to