Located in downtown Vancouver, the Canada Hockey Place is synonymous with the city and serves as its ambassador to the world. The Canada Hockey Place is one of the two venues of Winter Olympics 2010, scheduled to host the ice hockey tournaments.
About Canada Hockey Place:
Currently known as the General Motors Place, this popular sports and entertainment facility will be renamed the Canada Hockey Place during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Canada Hockey Place or General Motors Place, also fondly called The Garage or the GM Place, is one of the most popular entertainment venues in the whole of North America and attracts the biggest names in show business.
With a capacity of 18630, this is one of the busiest entertainment sites in North America and certainly in Canada. About a hundred events are held there each year and the Vancouver Canucks hold all their home games at that site. Since its opening back in 1995, it is said to have entertained more than 15 million visitors and attract the biggest names in show biz.
Celebrities who have visited the Canada Hockey Place:
Since its beginning, this 475,000 square foot building has attracted innumerable celebrities and personalities across the world. Some of these include the former US President Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II and the Dalai Lama. Besides ice hockey, other major international sporting events like IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships and World Figure Skating Championships are also played there.
A few facts about the Canada Hockey Place:
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The General Motors Place or the Canada Hockey Place was opened on 21st September, 1995.
- The first event held there was a Bryan Adams concert.
- The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be the first time when Canada will contest for Olympic Gold in Hockey on home ground.
- Instead of converting the ice sheet to meet the larger international size requirements, the ice hockey tournaments in the 2010 Winter Games will be played on the current North American-sized ice surfaces. The decision was taken jointly by the International Ice Hockey Federation and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on 7th June, 2006. This will not only save costs but will also prevent any adverse environmental impact.
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