Time is running out on the Vancouver Canucks to replace the remainder of their old maroon seats at Rogers Arena before opening night.
They’ve installed over 18,000 new, comfy black seats with cupholders, but there’s still a bit of maroon visible inside the 30-year-old home of the Canucks.
Hundreds of seats on the west side of Rogers Arena, near the Zamboni entrance, are still maroon in colour. The first 10 rows of seats, stretching from the middle of section 120 to the middle of section 103, have yet to be replaced. These are retractable seats, which can be removed for different events.
Almost there (Trevor Beggs/Daily Hive)
The offseason makeover was a long time coming, as former Canucks COO Jeff Stipec first brought up the topic seven years ago. The Canucks began by replacing the seats behind the players’ benches in May 2023.
It’s been a quicker process than building a new practice facility, but otherwise it has gone slower than you’d expect.
The Canucks didn’t make much progress in the summer of 2024, after saying they would. They then promised the installation of the new seats would be “fully completed” ahead of the 2025-26 season.
They appeared to be on track. Hype videos were dropped.
And yet, it looks like the remaining seats may not be replaced until February. That’s what some season ticket members were told by the Canucks, per Patrick Johnston of Postmedia.
Fans will get over the temporary eyesore if the team improves its play on the ice, of course. Maroon and black will look as good as gold if the Canucks return to the playoffs.
It all gets going Thursday with a home game against the Calgary Flames in the season opener.
