Grading the overall arena experience at Bell Centre
I just want to warn Golden Knights fans who are budget-conscious, pure English/Spanish speakers, or a hybrid right now. This might not be the trip to take on your first foray, especially if you don't have the funds or if you don't speak French. While Montreal natives are more than willing to communicate in English, it's recommended that you learn French on Duolingo, Babble, or Rosetta Stone out of respect.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
When I walked into Bell Centre, it felt like a wave of history and nostalgia hit me. I felt like I was seeing the ghosts of Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, and Guy Lafleur all out on the ice. In fact, the Canadiens do an excellent job of leaning into that history.
I was talking with my friend, Adam, who happened to be a Canadiens fan. He talked about how he went on a Bell Centre tour ($25 again, by the way) and it had the team's comprehensive history during the tour. You'd learn about the men who led the dynastic Canadiens teams of the past, seeing how they shaped hockey into the modern behemoth it is today.
On top of that, Canadiens fans were into the game the entire time. I'm talking about singing along to the Canadian national anthem, chanting "Ole" while Montreal was on the power play, and everyone standing on their feet when the Canadiens enter the ice. Personally, that was an experience that not many people can beat (even in Las Vegas, admittedly).
With that, I will give Bell Centre a perfect 10 out of 10. You'll get your money's worth when watching the Golden Knights play the Canadiens, whether it's the enthusiastic crowd or seeing the legion of banners hanging from the rafters. Of course, this grade hinges on the aforementioned factors of speaking French and getting a good plane ticket. Still, it's worth every dollar to see this historic Original Six team take the ice against the Golden Knights.