There may be no large arena Stanley Cup viewing parties in downtown Vancouver this spring, the first playoffs since the 2011 finals ended with a Vancouver Canucks’ home loss and riot.
Rogers Arena and BC Place Stadium require, but do not yet have, temporary provincial liquor licences to sell alcohol while showing games. Rogers Arena showed away games during the 2011 playoffs.
The renovated BC Place, which reopened last September, boasts the biggest centre-hung video board north of Dallas and is hoped by many to be planning to host Stanley Cup game viewings.
A Liquor Licensing and Control Branch (LCLB) representative, who declined to be named, told BIV that Rogers Arena has applied for a licence and that input regarding the application from city staff and the Vancouver Police is being evaluated.
“That request is under consideration. We're assessing the file, including comments, and will be making a decision in the next couple of weeks.
“We have not received a similar request from BC Place Stadium.”
Monday requests to interview LCLB general manager Karen Ayers and deputy general manager Cheryl Caldwell were not fulfilled.
BC Place spokesman Duncan Blomfield said there are no plans yet for playoff viewing events.
“We are very busy during that time period,’ he said. “However, preparations for any playoff viewing event would involve the appropriate event planning, including liquor licensing as required.”
The stadium is available only two days between May 18 and June 16 because of a Roger Waters concert (May 26), the Eat! Vancouver food festival (June 1-3) and games by the Vancouver Whitecaps (May 19 and June 10) and the BC Lions (June 13). The remaining days are reserved for move-in, move-out and conversion.
The police board discussed plans for family-targeted gatherings to be held at community centres elsewhere in the city. The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association has already stated it opposes another outdoor live site so soon after last June’s riot, which caused an estimated $5 million damage.
The City of Vancouver offered vague plans Tuesday for family-targeted, no alcohol parties at community centres and encouraged neighbourhoods to hold booze-free block parties. There will be no city-sponsored outdoor viewing party downtown.
Mayor Gregor Robertson pegged the cost of the community centre events at $100,000, but declined to offer any budget estimate for keeping downtown safe should there be a spontaneous gathering.
“Everything will hinge on how long each series goes, how long the playoffs last,” Robertson said. “This is a scaleable plan.
During the March 21 police board meeting, Chief Jim Chu said the message to all was “don’t come downtown.” He issued a Saturday clarification that he meant only those who might cause trouble would be unwelcome downtown.
Any plans for Stanley Cup final parties in 2012 may ultimately be moot. The Canucks lead the weak Northwest Division, but have played 15 tiebreakers in 33 games since beating the reigning champion Boston Bruins on January 7. Star forward Daniel Sedin is out indefinitely with a concussion.
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