Are saturday night Canadians tickets hard to come by?

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

So, it looks like I am going to be in montreal for my birthday weekend (the big 30).

The sabres are in town the day after my birthday, so we are looking to get tickets for it (oct 20th).

Will they be like gold dust?

I don't care about ticketbastard fees, if I can get them. I know tickets go on sale on the 15th of september, so I will be on early.

But in canada, for the habs, are they a constant sellout, or do they release tickets to ticketmaster, and if so, do they release good seats.

I may not get to an NHL game in canada again, so have no problem paying for the lower level seats and the ticketmaster prices.

Cheers.

I'm giddy already and it's 2 months away

[RadioGaGa 162]

Yes, the Habs are on a 2 or 3 year string of sellouts.

I don't know if Ticketmaster carries their tickets or not.

Here is the ticket info from the site:

All tickets may be purchased through the Admission Network:

(514) 790-1245 | 1-800-361-4595 (CAN) | 1-800-678-5440 (USA)

or at the Bell Centre ticket office in person.

No games came up when I searched TM's site...only the Bell Centre's upcoming concert sched.

There are usually "venders" outside Bell Centre for most of the day on game day (at least there were the 3 times I've been there) if you wanna wait take a chance.

[mrusse01 0]

You'll likely have to go with scalpers.

[DarkStar50 679]

I used to buy tickets from scalpers outside the Forum. Its part of the Montreal experience!! Just try to have a good idea in your head how the Bell Center sections work out. This way when the guy hears your Irish accent, knows you aren't local, and says the tickets are downstairs when really they are in the last row(which is in Vermont at the Bell Center), you'll know where the seats really are. PS, pay in Canadian money.

[RadioGaGa 162]

C'mon DS...it's Bell Centre up here!

[DarkStar50 679]

Thanks. I am so out of it I still think Molson Centre!

[jjtt99 0]

It's extremely unlikely you'll get something through TicketMaster. No harm in trying though.

If that doesn't work you can try getting tickets directly through the Habs closer to game day because player holds and wheelchair seats are released 24-48 hours before game time.

I went to a Leafs game and sat in the wheelchair section. It was actually pretty good beacuse they plunk a folding chair down and tell you to sit it in it. The view was great, the entire left side of the area was for wheelchair users and the right side was people sitting in folding chairs. The sightline was great so I was a happy camper.

If that doesn't work, buying from scalpers will always be an option if you're willing to pay.

Good luck.

[D3nZ 0]

And I do believe they sometimes release tickets 48h before games to give a better opportunity for out of region people to maybe catch a game.

[sabre09923 0]

I feel your pain, Allsmoke. I'm going down to DC for Christmas (as usual), looked at the schedule, and saw Caps vs. Penguins on Dec. 27. I nearly jumped out of my seat... and then I realized that they're playing at Pittsburgh :(

[GH_ID 0]

I'm pretty sure if you buy them by the 15th of september you'll be ok. I mean yes there sold out but not 1 year in advance. Maybe just games against teams like pitsburgh will be sold out really early, but you'll be ok if you buy them as soon as possible. I always manage to see 3-4 games per season buying my tickets 1-2 months in advance.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Sorry to bump this, but it's hard to get an idea from the seating charts.

After 2 hours of trying to log on to admission.com, I was able to get 4 tickets in section 328, row FF.

Do I need an oxygen tank for those seats, are they as high as it goes pretty much, or are they ok?

Just wondering. Man, comparing getting tickets to the Bell Center on a saturday night, to the Verizon Center is some difference :)

[Gongshow11 1]

you can sit anywhere in the bell centre and you'' like it. the higher you go, the drunker they are making the atmosphere that much better

[GoHabsGo24 1]

The nosebleeds are fun. Make sure you drink alot before the game. and cheer for the home team! there are plenty of good pre/post game water holes around town!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

So we leave on thursday. What is there to do on game day. Is there something to do round the arena or whas the story?

Any tips?

In montreal until sunday, quebec city sunday/monday, back to montreal tuesday, then back to DC Wednesday.

So, what to do?

[RadioGaGa 162]

So we leave on thursday. What is there to do on game day. Is there something to do round the arena or whas the story?

Any tips?

In montreal until sunday, quebec city sunday/monday, back to montreal tuesday, then back to DC Wednesday.

So, what to do?

Lots of bars on Crescent St....and lots of shopping on Ste. Catherine. Old Montreal is very nice (I'm told...I've never been). It's not exactly high class...but the Barbie Barn is great for lunch. Peel Pub is a good game day place. Cage Au Sport at the Bell Centre is good too.

If you want to go high end...Montreal has some world class dining...although, I've never done a "high end" trip to Montreal *L*, so you'd need someone elses input for those.

Make sure to report back on the experience.

[Hidious 0]

Check this out: http://english.montrealplus.ca/

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Well, I leave tonight.

If any of you montrealers see a big guy in an Irish hockey jersey at the bell center, that will be me saturday night.

328, row ff, seats 5-8.

And since they are playing the sabres, I will be rooting for the canadiens all the way, I hate the sabres

[Juice_Slowjamz 0]

seats 5-8.

Dayummmm, you must be big guy.

[sabre09923 0]

Well, I leave tonight.

If any of you montrealers see a big guy in an Irish hockey jersey at the bell center, that will be me saturday night.

328, row ff, seats 5-8.

And since they are playing the sabres, I will be rooting for the canadiens all the way, I hate the sabres

Jee, thanks, smoke.

Enjoy the game though! Surely will be better than any Caps game you (or I, for that matter) have been to!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Jee, thanks, smoke.

Sorry man, couple of bad experiences with sabres fans at the MCI center. Made them easy to hate. Then with the Ovey/Briere crap last season, made it easier :lol:

Anyone know if the Canadiens have anything special planned for Saturday night?

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the Rocket's 500th goal?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Hey 'smoke...

How was it? I'm a big Canadiens fan (obv!)...so the experience is always awesome when I get to go to Montreal ...looking forward to your "report"

What did you end up doing besides the game?

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Hey 'smoke...

How was it? I'm a big Canadiens fan (obv!)...so the experience is always awesome when I get to go to Montreal ...looking forward to your "report"

What did you end up doing besides the game?

Here's what I wrote over on the caps board, I really couldn't have been more impressed with both cities, seriously, I'm learning french and moving :lol:

So, back to work after getting home from our mini trip this past week.

I've got a lot to say, but a board meeting at 11.30, so I'll say this in summary for now...

1. Montreal is a fantastic city

2. Immigration officials going into Canada, ask the exact same questions as the US officials, but the US officials sound more accusatory, as if they assume your are coming in to do badness.

3. The people in Montreal couldn't have been nicer.

4. Holy schneikey, the game was fantastic, the atmosphere was electric. Will discuss a bit more below.

5. There were quite a few bars with a good selection of microbrews, so I had a vast array of beer samplings, which was good

6. Thought the plane up was going to fall out of the sky. It never instills me with confidence when they announce before takeoff "there will be no inflight service today due to the turbulence, which would make it unsafe" It was hairy

7. We went to a bar after the game, and met a couple of the people who were sitting right behind us at the game, had a couple of pints with them. Nice folks all around.

8. Underground city, what a great idea!!!!

9. Quebec City is possibly the most picturesque city I've ever been to

10. People were equally friendly

11. Montreal had signs in French and English, Quebec was French only, understandable, but to an idiot like me, confusing

12. We left the steakhouse in quebec city about 10ish, and as we were walking back to the hotel we passed by an artifical ice rink with people playing. We decided to sit and watch for a bit, more people started turning up with skates gloves and a stick. At about 10.30, they all tossed their sticks into the middle, and one of the kids started throwing them out, one left, one right to pick teams. And then they played in the semi-dark. I got a couple of vids of it on my cell phone, so will be dark and blurry, but still cool, will get them loaded somewhere soon

13. Theres more, but I forget for now

THE GAME

OK, so I wanted to get the whole game experience, so we got to the stadium early.

The first thing I noticed was the crowd. The place was packed by 6.30pm. The teams came out for warmups, and were greeted by hearty cheers for the habs, boos for the sabres. It was a very very friendly, family friendly atmosphere. They honored some lady who had season tickets since 1967, 40 years a fan.

The players cleared the ice, the zams came out, done their job.

Then they were presenting Koivu with the Masterton (sp) trophy. There were two kids, big fans, both with cancer to present it. The one little kid who had lost his hair, seemed completely star struck. Koivu was very attentive to him, for the photo op, the presentation and made sure he got off the ice ok. It was a kleenex moment Must have been that onion pizza!!!.

Then the lights went down, it was completely dark, and the music started playing. Then bit by bit they put names on the ice, from the old to the new, Koivu, Richard, Beliveau, Geoffrion etc etc.

This went on for about 5 minutes, then the lights completely cut out again. And a black and white photo of all the montreal greats was transposed to take up the full surface of the ice. The cheer was deafening (it was the 50th anniversary of Rocket Richard's 500th goal for the habs)

Then they sung the anthems. The canadian one was primarily french, with just the last part in English. And this is the part that surprised me most, because I'd heard reports of the US anthem being booed etc. There were quite a number of people who sang along, and it got a great cheer at the end (no OHHHH thankfully).

And then the game began. They also have the "lean forward" problem solved there, which I think has more to do with the steepness of the stadium than solving the problem of people leaning, but it works. They have a railing in front of everyones seats, therefore, everyone leans, problem solved!!!

All in all, the game was absolutely everything I had hoped for in terms of atmosphere, and outcome. Also, Huet and Higgins are far and away the most popular Habs players if the cheers they got were any indication.

And, unless it has a bearing on the caps, I will root for the Canadiens now. The city, and the people easily won my heart.

Their slogan is "the city is hockey" and yes it certainly was.

Great cities, great hockey, great food, great beer, great people.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Wow...cool. Glad you enjoyed it. That game day experience is AWESOME. The pre-game...music, the images on the ice...it's pretty amazing.

I'm going this weekend for Leafs-Habs with some guys from work. Taking the train up early Sat morning...Game Saturday night...home Sunday.

[bubber27 0]

Radio,

How much is that running you? We haven't done that road trip in a few years. I remember it cost us $250 a head for the bus.

And I love Montreal. 'Smoke, did you hit Crescent St.? Gotta love any street lined block upon block with bars!!!!

[Hidious 0]

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay too. Many people only have good words to say about our province and i always feel an hint of proudness when i hear so, like anybody in the world who loves his place i guess. I mean, the Rogers Cup players, F1 Grand Prix people, President Cup this year, etc. are often talking like Montreal is a nice stay and is usually an occasion to have a good time and party a little.

12. We left the steakhouse in quebec city about 10ish, and as we were walking back to the hotel we passed by an artifical ice rink with people playing. We decided to sit and watch for a bit, more people started turning up with skates gloves and a stick. At about 10.30, they all tossed their sticks into the middle, and one of the kids started throwing them out, one left, one right to pick teams. And then they played in the semi-dark. I got a couple of vids of it on my cell phone, so will be dark and blurry, but still cool, will get them loaded somewhere soon

Haha, wow, great image. About anywhere in the world, kids would start soccer games. I think in the US, most kids would rather start basketball games. In Canada, it's hockey.

Their slogan is "the city is hockey" and yes it certainly was.

I think the city "is a lot too much hockey" sometimes. Habs, habs, habs and habs, that's what they all talk about. The sports bulletin will first talk about the Canadiens' pre-season rookie practice even if Tiger Woods just won a major or if Redsox won the title. Experts argue on TV and in the papers every day for a week even if the team has not played in 10 days. When not doing well, fans have no mercy. It's the goalie's fault, the coach, the captain, Gainey, they will hate and boo their heros. Fortunatly, they have such a short memory, they will cheer for them after the next win. Look at Kovalev this year, people like him even after all the trouble he gave us last year. Theodore who went from hero (hart + vezina trophy) to zero in such a short time. I know any big sport city is probably the same, that's just my 2cents on Montréal.

13. Theres more, but I forget for now

Women? Ladies? Chickas? Québec city has so many beautiful womens, they're everywhere. Montréal too but Québec is something to see.