Parking, bag policy, transit and history are on the main Bell Centre guide.
Reading the Bell Centre seating chart
The Bell Centre seating chart (the Centre Bell seating chart, in French usage) has four public seating levels stacked over the ice: the 100 level (sections 101–124, the reds), the 200 level (Club Desjardins, a narrow ring of about six rows), the 300 level (sections 301–336) and the 400 rows above it, which carry the same numbers in the 400s. Center ice sits at sections 101 and 113 on the lower level, 201 and 213 in the club and 301 and 319 upstairs, per RateYourSeats. For a Canadiens game, the best seats are the middle rows of 101–103 and 111–115; the best value is the double-letter front rows of the 300 level along the sides.
If you have a Molson Centre seating chart from before 2002, it still works. The arena opened under that name in 1996 and took the Bell name in 2002 without a new section plan, so old maps, seat photos and ticket stubs describe the same seats. The French name, Centre Bell, is the same building as well.
Section ranges and the direction numbers run
No official section map could be read for this guide, so the ranges below come from RateYourSeats' section pages and the r/Habs community's fan guide, which agree on them. Check the map on your ticket listing for any one event.
100 level: sections 101–124
Section 101 sits at center ice on the bench side. The Canadiens' bench is in front of 101 and 102 and the visitors' bench in front of 124, per RateYourSeats. Numbers run around the bowl from there: 102–106 toward one end, 107 behind that net, 108–112 back toward center, 113 at center ice across from 101, 114–118 toward the other end, 119 behind the second net (RateYourSeats labels 119 as the end the Canadiens attack twice), and 120–124 back to the bench side. The fan guide adds that the visitors' tunnel is at 114.
200 level: Club Desjardins
RateYourSeats lists club sections 201–205 and 209–224, with 201 and 213 between the blue lines, mirroring the lower level. Both guides describe the rows as A through F, no more than six per section. The Air Canada Signature Club and the VIP Space are separate premium areas on this level.
300 and 400 level: sections 301–336
The upper ring has 36 sections. RateYourSeats puts 301 and 319 on the center line, above 101 and 113, so the ends fall around 310 and 328; RateYourSeats confirms 328 as a behind-the-net section. The fan guide numbers the top rows 401 through 436, directly above the matching 300 section. Fans still call the upper rows by seat color: the whites at the front, the greys in the middle and the blues at the top.
Rows, letters and where seat 1 sits
100 level. RateYourSeats and the r/Habs guide agree that lower-level rows start with double letters, AA through FF, nearest the ice, and then switch to single letters, A through W. Row A is therefore the seventh row, not the first, and row AA is on the glass. The section entrance is at row N, per RateYourSeats, about halfway up. RateYourSeats also describes three price tiers by depth: Platinum at the front, Prestige in the middle and Red at the back.
200 level. Rows A–F. Every club seat is within six rows of the rail.
300 and 400 level. The sources do not line up here. RateYourSeats lists center section 319 as rows A–O with the entrance at row CC. The r/Habs guide describes the whites as rows AA–FF and the greys as rows A–D, with the 400-numbered blues above them lettered A–D. The safe reading: double-letter upper rows are the low ones, single letters climb from there, and a 400 section number on a ticket means the top of the building.
Seat numbers. RateYourSeats says that, facing the ice, the lower seat numbers are on your right. A second independent source for seat direction was not found, so confirm with the seat map when you buy if an aisle seat matters.
Best seats for Canadiens games
- Center ice, 100 level: 101 and 113, with 102–103 and 111–112 and 114–115 as the near sides. Single-letter rows from about A to M clear the glass and keep the whole rink in view.
- Across from the benches: 112–114 face both benches, which helps if you want to watch line changes.
- Club Desjardins: 201 and 213 at center. RateYourSeats calls the 200 level some of the best overall views in the arena, with little obstruction, and notes that food and non-alcoholic drinks are included for Canadiens games.
- Upstairs value: the double-letter rows of 301 and 319 and the sections beside them. The bowl is steep, so these rows are closer to the ice than upper decks in most NHL arenas.
- The attack end: the r/Habs guide places the end the Canadiens shoot at twice on 115–123, 215–223 and 320–336, and RateYourSeats calls section 107 the end where the visitors shoot twice. Ends are set before each game, so confirm on the night.
Seats to think twice about
- Upper rows of 318–320 and 418–420: the press box drops in front of the higher rows and blocks the main scoreboard. Wikipedia notes the arena added small screens for these seats.
- Row AA–CC behind the nets (107 and 119): glass, the net and the stanchions get in the way, and the far end looks flat.
- 300 level: RateYourSeats notes a metal bar behind each row that can slightly cut into the view of the fan behind it.
Themed sections change. Wikipedia places the Ford Zone at the Canadiens' shoot-twice end and the Family Zone opposite; the r/Habs guide puts the Family Zone at 426–430, behind the shoot-twice net; and RateYourSeats lists a Molson Export Zone with live music at 307–313. Check the current season's map before you buy for those sections.
Concert and event layouts
For most end-stage concerts, RateYourSeats lists section 107 as beside or behind the stage, and lists 119 and 328 as head-on views, which places the stage at the 107 end. All floor seats then sit in one block in front of the stage, reserved or standing depending on the show, and the Ticketmaster venue guide notes that extra floor seating is added for concerts.
- Close without a bad angle: RateYourSeats names 101, 102, 112 and 113, the sideline sections at center.
- Full-production view: the sections around 119 and, upstairs, around 328, which face the stage directly.
- Club Desjardins: elevated and close; RateYourSeats singles out 203 as fine for hockey but a poor concert choice, being near the stage end.
- Avoid for end stage: the sections around 107 and 310 behind the stage, which are usually closed or sold as limited view.
For boxing, UFC and wrestling, the ring sits at center floor with ringside sections around it, so 101, 113, 201, 213, 301 and 319 are the safest picks. Wikipedia lists about 15,000 for concerts, 10,000–14,000 in an amphitheater layout and 5,000–9,000 in a curtained theater setup, which closes upper and end sections.
Views from each level
- 100 level, double-letter rows (AA–FF): on or near the glass. Speed and noise, but the glass distorts and the far end flattens.
- 100 level, rows A–M: the classic hockey view, high enough to see plays form and still close.
- 100 level, rows N–W: above the entrance, with the full rink and both nets in view.
- Club Desjardins: elevated and close, with only six rows and wide seats.
- 300 level, double-letter rows: steep and surprisingly close, the classic value seat in Montreal.
- 400 rows (the blues): the top of the building, under the banners. RateYourSeats calls these the only seats with a truly distant view.
Accessible seating
The Ticketmaster venue guide says wheelchair-accessible seating, with one companion seat per wheelchair user, is on the 100 level in row N, with direct access to the street-level doors. That matches RateYourSeats' note that 100-level sections are entered at row N, so the accessible positions sit on the cross aisle with no stairs. Buyers with limited mobility can call Centre Bell customer service at 1-877-668-8269 for help, and accessible seats can sell out early for Canadiens games. See the Bell Centre FAQ for current details.
Frequently asked questions
How are seats and rows numbered at the Bell Centre?
On the 100 level, rows run AA–FF at the front and then A–W, so row A is the seventh row. RateYourSeats says lower seat numbers are on your right as you face the ice.
What is the view from the Bell Centre 300 level?
Steep and close for an upper deck. The double-letter rows of 301 and 319 at center ice are the classic value seats; the upper rows of 318–320 lose part of the scoreboard behind the press box.
Is the Bell Centre seating chart the same as the Molson Centre?
Yes. The arena opened as the Molson Centre in 1996 and became the Bell Centre, or Centre Bell, in 2002 with the same section numbers.
Where is center ice at the Bell Centre?
Sections 101 and 113 on the lower level, 201 and 213 in Club Desjardins and 301 and 319 upstairs, per RateYourSeats. The Canadiens' bench is in front of 101 and 102.
How many rows does Club Desjardins have?
About six, lettered A through F, per RateYourSeats and the r/Habs fan guide. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are included for Canadiens games.
Which end do the Canadiens shoot at twice?
The r/Habs fan guide places it at sections 115–123 and 320–336, and RateYourSeats calls 107 the visitors' shoot-twice end. Teams can change ends, so confirm on game night.