There’s life at the Bell Centre.
Pulsating with cheers, jeers, booing and singing, roughly 2,500 fans were allowed inside to watch the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs play Game 6 of their first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — the first time since March 2020 that the building has had spectators.
Chills.
Fans sing O’Canada in the stands at the Bell Centre ahead of Game 6. #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/SaJFrbTmrl
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 29, 2021
Quel plaisir de voir ça.
What a sight. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/XXBYg6wsak
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 29, 2021
Difficile de croire que vous n’êtes que 2 500 ici.
2,500 loudest fans on the planet.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4Q0YFaVBWk
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 29, 2021
The game was on way before puck drop. From outside the Canadiens’ arena, fans from both teams gathered to share the high of being part of the NHL again. An elimination game in one of the fiercest rivalries in hockey was the perfect framework for the homecoming.
Leafs fans happily taking some verbal Jabs in front of the Bell Centre. pic.twitter.com/0XwmEmYq0S
— Shawn McKenzie (@ShawnMcKenzieSN) May 29, 2021
These two Leafs fans got their tickets after Game 5, cost them just under $5K for the pair, at centre ice. They got in today. “This is part of history,” said one of the guys. pic.twitter.com/VsJrMQlAdl
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 29, 2021
It was neither cheap nor easy for Canadiens and Maple Leafs fans to secure their spot in the arena. The Canadiens gave priority to season-ticket holders, luxury-suite holders, and corporate partners to purchase tickets in pods of two or four. The cheapest seats available hovered around $1,500.
Sign outside the Bell Centre: “Sorry mom, I sold my little brother to be here.”
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 29, 2021
It’s not too late to follow this guy’s lead: https://t.co/mGaEUopnmj https://t.co/JrAEwH4wfz
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 29, 2021
The closest seats to the ice are seven rows up and fans must social distance while in the arena.
White markers are where fans can sit at the Bell Centre tonight. Closest seats are seven rows up from the ice on the penalty box side. #Leafs #Habs pic.twitter.com/fzi35ngEM6
— Joshua Clipperton (@JClipperton_CP) May 29, 2021
But the mandate apparently hasn’t stopped things from getting weird.
Are those… squirrel stuffed animals? #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/h9IspYIc4I
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 29, 2021
Things are getting going. pic.twitter.com/KmeDDm5bKi
— Shawn McKenzie (@ShawnMcKenzieSN) May 29, 2021
All of it for a chance to be part of history.
Home sweet home #GoHabsGo #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/MdjVRVQUF7
— Christina Marie (@ChristinaS_40) May 29, 2021
Made it in 1 piece! Let’s win and get outta here in 1 piece lol #LeafsForever #habs pic.twitter.com/NMB293lHNK
— Mr. Vieira (@Bootsnv) May 29, 2021
J’ai des frissons. Et je ne suis pas un émotif pic.twitter.com/kasx9Cnjak
— Marc-André Perreault (@MA_PerreaultTVA) May 29, 2021
#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/199H2LF1Wt
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 30, 2021
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens meet up for a decisive Game 7 on Monday in Toronto.
