Here's some news that will make Vancouver Canucks fans stand up and take notice — or, rather, sit down and take notice: the Canucks will finally be replacing the seats in Rogers Arena.
It's just that they won't be replaced until next year.
The old, maroon seats have been in place since the arena opened in 1995. At 29-years-old, the seats have seen a lot — nine general managers, 11 head coaches, four Stanley Cup Final games, and an Olympic gold medal for Team Canada — but have never seen a cupholder.
Replacing the seats is part of the Canucks' third phase of renovations to Rogers Arena and that phase was meant to begin this summer. So far, the only part of phase three that has been completed is the redesign of the North Plaza — a fresh coat of paint and new graphics on the walls.
The seats will have to wait until 2025, according to a press release by the Canucks. It shouldn't affect the seating chart, as the seats should be the same size as those they're replacing.
When the new "premium" seats do arrive, they will feature a higher backrest, a sleek black look, and — most importantly — cupholders. The photographs released by the team show cupholders that fold out from the back of the seats, meaning they'll be tucked away when not in use, which will, in theory, prevent them from getting broken too easily.
One section of the arena already features the new seats — new seats were installed in the VIP section in the lower bowl ahead of last season.
The seats will be provided by Irwin Seating Company, which supplies seats for 23 of the NHL's 32 arenas, as well as "56 other sports and entertainment venues across North America."
According to the Canucks, the seats will be fully installed before the start of the 2024-25 season. It shouldn't affect the
The new seats are part of several other arena upgrades trumpeted by the Canucks' press release, the most pertinent for fans being the installation of 725 new TVs around the concourse so fans can keep an eye on the game while grabbing a snack or visiting the restroom.
The other major upgrades primarily affect the Canucks players: a new entryway, a dedicated film room, and a new recovery centre featuring a sauna, cold tub, and sensory deprivation chamber.
