Thunderbird Sports Centre
Home of UBC Thunderbirds hockey and Canucks practice facility.
The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, formerly known as the UBC Winter Sports Centre and also called UBC Thunderbird Arena, is a LEED Silver certified indoor arena located on the Point Grey campus of the University of British Columbia, just outside the city limits of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is notable as the home of the UBC Thunderbirds men's and women's ice hockey teams and as the practice facility for Vancouver's NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- The Doug, UBC Thunderbird Arena
- Location
- UBC Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Groundbreaking
- April 2006
- Opened
- 7 July 2008
- Architect
- Kasian Architecture
- Cost
- C$47.8 million
- Former Names
- UBC Winter Sports Centre
- Capacity
- Ice hockey: 7,500 / Concerts: 8,000
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The facility was built around the historic Father Bauer Arena, which opened in October 1963 and was named after Father David Bauer, who with Bob Hindmarch established Canada's first national hockey team at UBC in 1963 for the 1964 Winter Olympics. Construction began in April 2006 with the refurbishment of Father Bauer Arena and the addition of a new practice arena. The new stadium arena opened on 7 July 2008, and on 21 August 2009 it was renamed the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in honour of UBC alumnus, lawyer, and sports leader Doug Mitchell.
Reader's Guide
The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre served as a venue for men's and women's ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics and for sledge hockey at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. It also hosted Canada's first round Davis Cup draw against France in February 2012, and matches against Spain in February 2013 and Italy in April 2013. In July 2014, it was the host venue for the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which featured athletes with an intellectual disability competing in eleven sports, ten of which were qualifiers for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The arena has also hosted numerous concerts and events, including performances by Fall Out Boy, The Wiggles, Sesame Street Live, Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, and many others.
Did You Know?
- The arena contains one international-size ice rink measuring 61 m × 30 m.
- The venue was used for sledge hockey in the 2010 Winter Paralympics.
- It was renamed on 21 August 2009 after UBC alumnus Doug Mitchell.
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