Centre 200
is the main sports and entertainment arena located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, home to the QMJHL's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the Cape Breton Tradesmen (NSMMHL). Besides ice hockey, the arena holds other events, such as rock concerts, figure skating shows, and other entertainment. The arena has a seating capacity of 4,670 for ice hockey.
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CENTRE 200 TICKETS
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History
Notable Events
Centre 200 was the primary sporting venue for the 1987
Canada Winter Games, which first landed the arena on the map.
From 1988 to 1996, the arena housed the
American Hockey League's
Cape Breton Oilers, until the team moved to
Hamilton, Ontario. In 1993, the Oilers won the AHL's
Calder Cup.
In 1993 and 1994, the arena was home to the
Cape Breton Breakers of the
NBL. The NBL folded on July 9, 1994.
The arena hosted the
MJAHL's Cape Breton Islanders for the 1996-97 season.
Prior to the
1997-98 QMJHL season, the
Granby Prédateurs, winners of the
1996 Memorial Cup, relocated from
Granby, Quebec to
Sydney, Nova Scotia and were renamed the
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. The team, which won a division title in
2003-04, still plays at Centre 200 today.
In March 2000, Centre 200 hosted the 2000 Esso Canadian National Championship for women's ice hockey, during which Ontario defeated Quebec to win the gold medal. Centre 200 hosted the
2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with the
Halifax Metro Centre in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. The arena is very popular for community ice hockey, annually hosting both the Sydney Academy Blue and White Pepsi Challenge Cup and the Royal Canadian Legion Bantam AAA Challenge Cup. The tournaments and games provide hospitality for teams from all over Nova Scotia and generally draw large crowds. The arena is also home to the Cape Breton Tradesmen of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.
Centre 200 hosted the 2008 QMJHL Entry Draft, which was projected to put over $2 million into the Sydney economy. The arena is also being considered to host the
ADT Canada-Russia Challenge with the
Saint John Sea Dogs of
Saint John, New Brunswick.
Aside from ice hockey, Centre 200 has also hosted performances by popular acts such as
Bryan Adams,
Celine Dion,
Rod Stewart,
Charlie Pride,
Sum 41,
Nickelback,
Rita MacNeil,
The Rankin Family and
World Wrestling Entertainment events.
Naming
Centre 200 is named in honour of the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of Sydney, which took place in 1785. The arena was constructed as a bicentennial project of the municipality, and took the place of the old Sydney Forum.
Location
Centre 200 is located on George Street, which lies in the heart of Sydney. The arena is connected to a
Casino Nova Scotia and hosts a
Tim Hortons in the middle of its parking lot, generally bringing good business to both venues during a night of hockey. However, the frequent traffic congestion and lack of convenient parking spaces usually draws criticism from the spectators.