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The Verdun Auditorium (French: Auditorium de Verdun) is an arena located in the borough of Verdun, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The building was constructed in 1938 and holds 4,114 seats. The largest arena in the west end of Montreal, the complex is also home to Arena Denis Savard, a small minor-hockey rink, attached to its side. The Auditorium has hosted various Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) teams, including the Verdun Juniors, Verdun Éperviers, and Verdun Collège Français. In 1993, it hosted the Montreal Dragons for their lone season in the short-lived National Basketball League. Since 2022, it has been the home to the Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Auditorium was slated to become the home arena of Les Canadiennes de Montréal in 2019; however, the CWHL folded in May of that year.[1] In November 2023, it was announced that Verdun Auditorium would become the new home of Montréal Victoire of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) starting in 2024.[2]
Auditorium de Verdun | |
 | |
 | |
| Address | 4110, boulevard LaSalle Montreal, Quebec H4G 2A5 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°27′45″N 73°33′43″W / 45.462448°N 73.561878°W |
| Public transit |   De L’Église |
| Owner | City of Montreal |
| Capacity | Hockey: 3,795 seated (4,114 total) |
| Opened | November 28, 1939 |
| Tenants | |
| Montreal Alliance (CEBL) 2022–present Montréal Victoire (PWHL) 2024 Montreal Force (PHF) 2022–2023 Montreal Junior Hockey Club (QMJHL) 2008–2011 Verdun Dragons (LNAH) 2001–2006 Montreal Dragons (NBL) 1993 Verdun Collège Français (QMJHL) 1991–1994 Verdun Juniors (QMJHL) 1982–1984 Verdun Éperviers (QMJHL) 1977–1981 Verdun Maple Leafs (QMJHL) 1920s–1972 | |
On January 25, 2008, the QMJHL approved the sale of the St. John's Fog Devils to Montreal businessman Farrel Miller,[3] who relocated the team to Montreal, where it was known as the Montreal Junior Hockey Club. In Summer 2011, the team moved to Boisbriand to become the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
The auditorium also hosted a concert by Nirvana on November 2, 1993. This was the band's last show in Montreal before frontman Kurt Cobain died five months later.[4]
The Verdun Auditorium has hosted professional wrestling events,[5] including shows promoted by Johnny Rougeau's All Star Wrestling, the Vachon Brothers' Grand Prix Wrestling and Lutte Internationale, and was the location of the first World Wrestling Federation event to be held in Montreal, though that event drew poorly against the better-established Lutte Internationale.[6]
Major upgrades of the arena were undertaken in 2018 with plans for completion in 2020.[7] These $42 million renovations made upgrades to the safety of the facility, as well as a restoration of the brick façade.
In May 2022, the arena hosted the first home game of the CEBL's Montreal Alliance. The Alliance won 80-70 over the Scarborough Shooting Stars in front of a near-sell out crowd.[8]
On July 20, 2024, TNA Wrestling held their 2024 edition of their annual Slammiversary pay-per-view at the Verdun Auditorium followed by tapings for their Impact! and Xplosion weekly shows the following day.[9]
References
edit- ^ Kelly, Brendan (September 19, 2017). "Les Canadiennes to move into the Verdun Auditorium in 2019". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ Kennedy, Ian (November 28, 2023). "PWHL Officially Announces Venues". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "QMJHL set to return to Montreal next season". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. January 25, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ "Live Nirvana | Live Nirvana DVD Guide | 11/02/93 - Auditorium de Verdun, Verdun, Montreal, QC, CA". LiveNirvana.com. 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Wrestling Events by Venue". WrestlingData.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ "International Wrestling - Montreal". Kayfabe Memories. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Carpenter, Phil (April 20, 2018). "Verdun auditorium to be renovated". Global News. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ Hickey, Pat (May 29, 2022). "Alliance draws noisy, near-sellout crowd in its Verdun debut". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ "Slammiversary & TNA iMPACT! Come to Montreal, Quebec This July". tnawrestling.com. April 21, 2024.