Ice Hockey is one of the most popular sports in North America, so it’s no surprise that the biggest arenas are located in Canada and the United States.
These stadiums can’t be too big because the black puck is pretty small so the games would be hard to follow otherwise.
Commonly referred to as “Hockey,” this game is believed to have originated in Britain, more specifically, from the ball and sticks games played in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Polo and hurling are also contenders for being the original games from which Ice Hockey was derived.
The modern-day game was developed in Canada and the first official indoor game was played in 1875 in Montreal. It remains the most popular sport in the country today.
So what are the biggest ice hockey arenas in the world? Let’s check them out!
Bell Centre or, “Centre Bell” as it’s locally known, is a huge arena in Montreal, Quebec, the second-most populous city in Canada. It’s a multi-purpose arena that mainly serves as the home stadium of the Montreal Canadiens of the North American National Hockey League (NHL).
It was constructed between 1993 and 1996 and cost a whopping C$270 million to build, the equivalent of over $430 million today. The result is a pretty stunning ice hockey stadium that remains the largest ice hockey arena in the world today.
Bell Centre in Montreal / Fleurdelisé / Wiki Commons
2. United Center
Location: Chicago, United States
Capacity: 19,717
United Center is a fantastic indoor arena that is situated in the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It’s most famously known as the home of the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) but also serves as the home venue of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Named after its sponsor United Airlines, this arena was originally constructed between 1992 and 1994 but has been expanded and renovated a couple of times in its history. The addition of the atrium between 2016 and 2017 arguably makes it one of the most beautiful ice hockey arenas in the world.
United Center in Chicago / Hendrik Seis / Wiki Commons
3. Wells Fargo Center
Location: Philadelphia, United States
Capacity: 19,537
Wells Fargo Center is another multi-purpose indoor arena in the United States that is used by two major sports franchises that compete at the highest level. It’s the home of both the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
It’s one of the amazing stadiums that make up the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Other venues in this amazing complex are a baseball stadium called Citizens Bank Park and one of the biggest stadiums in the US called Lincoln Financial Field. It’s another 1990s arena as it was completed between 1994 and 1996.
Wells Fargo Center / Wildcat7176 / Wiki Commons
4. Little Caesars Arena
Location: Detroit, United States
Capacity: 19,515
Little Caesars Arena is located in Midtown Detroit and is both the most recent and the most expensive ice hockey arena on this list. This stunning arena opened its doors in 2017 and cost a staggering $862.9 million to construct.
As you surely guessed, it also has two tenants that compete at the highest level, the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. What’s remarkable about this arena is that it is part of a large commercial complex. Its roof is interconnected with the shops and offices nearby. All of this is part of an even larger $2.1 billion complex called “District Detroit.”
Little Caesars Arena / Coreyfein01 / Wiki Commons
5. Scotiabank Saddledome
Location: Calgary, Canada
Capacity: 19,289
The Scotiabank Saddledome is one of the most amazing landmarks in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Situated on the grounds of Stampede Park, it was constructed to serve as the ice hockey and figure skating venue of the 1988 Winter Olympics which were held in the city that year.
It already opened its doors in the year 1983 and that’s because the main purpose it was built was to replace the outdated Stampede Corral, the former home arena of the Calgary Flames. The reason why it’s referred to as the “Saddledome” is because of its roof which resembles a horse saddle.
Scotiabank Saddledome / Daniel / Wiki Commons
6. FLA Live Arena
Location: Sunrise, United States
Capacity: 19,250
FLA Live Arena is a major indoor arena that is located in Sunrise, Florida It stands right next to Sawgrass Mills, a huge shopping mall that is located within the Fort Lauderdale-Miami metropolitan area that is the largest single-story outlet mall in the country.
The arena was constructed between 1996 and 1998 and has served as the home venue of the NFL’s Florida Panthers ever since. Apart from the regular ice hockey games that take place here, it’s also one of the most popular concert venues in Florida and it’s easy to understand why.
FLA Live Arena / Wiki Commons
7. Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, United States
Capacity: 19,092
Amalie Arena is another ice hockey arena in Florida which is located in Tampa, a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States. Although it’s a multi-purpose arena, its main tenant is the Tampa Bay Lightning ice hockey team that competes in the NFL.
The arena was constructed between 1994 and 1996 and was originally known as the “Ice Palace.” Its naming rights have changed hands a couple of times over the years and they are currently owned by the Amalie Oil Company.
Amalie Arena in Tampa / Wknight94 / Wiki Commons
8. KeyBank Center
Location: Buffalo, United States
Capacity: 19,070
KeyBank Center is an indoor arena in Buffalo, New York, and it is another palce that has been referred to by a couple of different names over the years. Originally known as Crossroads Arena and Marine Midland Arena, it was formerly known as HSBC Arena and First Niagara Center as well.
It was constructed between 1994 and 1996 and has been the amazing home of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. It’s another arena that was constructed to replace an outdated indoor arena, in this case, the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium,
KeyBank Center in Buffalo / Doug Kerr / Wiki Commons
9. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Location: Cleveland, United States
Capacity: 18;924
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is an ice hockey arena that doesn’t serve as the main venue of an NFL team. It’s the home of the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), the development league of the NFL.
The Cleveland Monsters aren’t the only tenants, though, because it’s also the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Opened in 1994, it’s one of the main arenas of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex and is situated right next to Progressive Field, a baseball park used by the Cleveland Guardians.
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field / Jon Dawson / Wiki Commons
10. Rogers Arena
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Capacity: 18,910
Rogers Arena is a splendid indoor arena in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The arena opened its doors in 1995 and was known as General Motors Place until 2010, the year that Rogers Communications took over the naming rights.
The arena has 3 tenants, the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League and the Vancouver Titans of the Overwatch League. The main tenants are the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League and they have been ever since the arena opened its doors in the mid-1990s.
