Harbour Station
Encyclopedia
Harbour Station is an arena located in the uptown area of Saint John, New Brunswick
.
It was the home of the American Hockey League
's Saint John Flames
from 1993 until their demise in 2003.
As of the 2005-06 hockey season, it is the home of the Saint John Sea Dogs
, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
.
In 2010, it became the home of the Saint John Mill Rats of the National Basketball League of Canada
.
The arena sits on land that used to be part of Saint John Harbour
, and partly derives its name from the city's former Union Station passenger railway terminal. The station was located on the site and was used by both CNR
and CPR
trains, until it was demolished to make way for the Saint John Throughway as part of an urban redevelopment scheme in the early 1970s.
The arena opened in October 1993 to a gala and a concert by Aerosmith
which was attended by over 7,000 people, a record that was broken in 2008 by Elton John
who brought in 8,100 fans. Since opening, the arena has hosted concerts, hockey, basketball, figure skating and a number of trade shows each year.
Harbour Station is connected by Saint John's pedway
system — the Inside Connection — to the major uptown malls, hotels, parking garages and offices, allowing patrons to park their vehicles away from the stadium and reach it on foot without stepping outdoors.
Harbour Station has also hosted one NHL
pre-season game featuring the Calgary Flames
, and two NBA pre-season games. The arena stood in for the old Pacific Coliseum
in Vancouver
during filming of the Canada-Russia '72 miniseries.
Seating capacity varies for different events at Harbour Station, with 6,307 seats available for hockey games, and 6,603 seats for basketball games. Seating capacity for concerts may range between 1,400 to just over 7,200.
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
.
It was the home of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
's Saint John Flames
Saint John Flames
The Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate....
from 1993 until their demise in 2003.
As of the 2005-06 hockey season, it is the home of the Saint John Sea Dogs
Saint John Sea Dogs
The Saint John Sea Dogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, entering the league as an expansion team in 2005. The Sea Dogs play at Harbour Station, Saint John, New Brunswick, with a capacity of 6,488...
, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
.
In 2010, it became the home of the Saint John Mill Rats of the National Basketball League of Canada
National Basketball League of Canada
The National Basketball League of Canada is a Canadian professional men's basketball league founded in 2011. For the first season, three teams formerly of the Premier Basketball League have joined, with four expansion teams officially joining to form the NBL's "Original Seven".-Current:These are...
.
The arena sits on land that used to be part of Saint John Harbour
Saint John Harbour
Saint John Harbour is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was represented from its creation for the 1995 election until October 13, 2005 by Elizabeth Weir, the leader of the New Democratic Party of New Brunswick from 1988 to September 25, 2005...
, and partly derives its name from the city's former Union Station passenger railway terminal. The station was located on the site and was used by both CNR
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
and CPR
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
trains, until it was demolished to make way for the Saint John Throughway as part of an urban redevelopment scheme in the early 1970s.
The arena opened in October 1993 to a gala and a concert by Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
which was attended by over 7,000 people, a record that was broken in 2008 by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
who brought in 8,100 fans. Since opening, the arena has hosted concerts, hockey, basketball, figure skating and a number of trade shows each year.
Harbour Station is connected by Saint John's pedway
Pedway
Pedways are elevated or underground walkways, often connecting urban high-rises to each other, other buildings, or the street. They provide quick and comfortable movement from building to building, away from traffic and inclement weather. Two of the largest networks of underground walkways are...
system — the Inside Connection — to the major uptown malls, hotels, parking garages and offices, allowing patrons to park their vehicles away from the stadium and reach it on foot without stepping outdoors.
Past events
In the past, the arena has hosted:- The Skate CanadaSkate Canada InternationalThe Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's...
Championships in 1995. - The 1997 AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
All-Star Game. - The 19981997–98 AHL seasonThe 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
& 20012000–01 AHL seasonThe 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Calder CupCalder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
Finals. - The 1998 World Junior Figure Skating ChampionshipsWorld Junior Figure Skating ChampionshipsThe World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
. - The 1999 men's and women's World Curling ChampionshipsWorld Curling ChampionshipsThe World Curling Championships are annual curling events which showcase the world's best curlers, organized by the World Curling Federation. There are men's, women's and mixed championships. The men's championship started in 1959, while the women's in 1979...
. - The 2002 East Coast Music Awards.
- The 2006 Canadian Country Music Awards.
- 2009 and 2011 Cirque du Soleil
Harbour Station has also hosted one NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
pre-season game featuring the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, and two NBA pre-season games. The arena stood in for the old Pacific Coliseum
Pacific Coliseum
Pacific Coliseum is an indoor arena, at Hastings Park, in Vancouver, British Columbia.Completed in 1968, at the former site of the Pacific National Exhibition, the arena currently holds 16,281, for ice hockey, though capacity at its opening was 15,713....
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
during filming of the Canada-Russia '72 miniseries.
Design
Harbour Station features two levels of seating, an 'upper bowl' and a 'lower bowl'. There are 12 rows of seating in each level, with approximately 16 seats in each section in each level. Harbour Station has 13 luxury sky boxes, which were added before the 2005–2006 season. They also have the Alpine Room, which spans the length of three sections, and features padded seating, a big screen TV and a full service bar, and free buffet. Tickets can be purchased for $1,200 per year. Harbour Station features an open concourse so it enables fans walking around, or in line for concessions to still view the game.Seating capacity varies for different events at Harbour Station, with 6,307 seats available for hockey games, and 6,603 seats for basketball games. Seating capacity for concerts may range between 1,400 to just over 7,200.