The new Anfield and the Bell Centre

I live in Montreal and have watched ice hockey at the Montreal Canadiens' Bell Centre twice in the last 12 months. The first time was a playoff match (the equivalent of a cup tie) and last month I went to a regular season game with my 3 year-old son. Due to in-law connections, I've also seen behind the scenes a few times.

A bit of context: the similarity between Liverpool and the Canadiens is striking in almost every respect, not only the fact that the locals speak a foreign language.

Compared to the old Montreal Forum, the Bell Centre (which was built under the owner prior to Gillett: Molson Brewery) is modern, easy-to-access and safe, while retaining a great deal of the tradition and atmosphere of its predecessor.

Yes, the NHL is a North American league, with its commercials and ra-ra music (no cheerleaders - sorry lads), but the Montreal Canadiens is a true club, like the Reds (the word club is in its official name) and when you walk the corridors there are reminders of their glorious history at every turn. In January I was in the former players' lounge and the hockey equivalents of Ron Yeats, John Toshack and Roger Hunt were having a drink before the game. There are plaques, memorabilia and photos all around the corridors – you walk around steeped in the club’s history more than at Anfield (unless you visit the museum).

So what could be 'imported' from the Bell Centre to Anfield?

The pre-game video. The excitement provided by a well-edited montage of highlights from years gone by is electric. The only thing is that in Montreal the video is projected onto the ice. So the new Anfield needs a big screen or two.

Video monitors in the corridors. When you leave your seat for a wee or a snack/beer during the match, you can watch the match live on TV sets all around the 'concessionary area'.

Beer. But it always tastes more watered-down than in the pub, even in Montreal.

Restaurants. Not haute cuisine, but still real restaurants where you can sit down before or after the game (what a concept – after the game!!!) and have beer and cheapish food.

Sponsored sections. If you buy a ticket in the Bell Centre 'Air Canada Zone' you get free food (pizza, crisps, hot dogs, etc) throughout the match. But you buy plenty of beer to go with it, so the club makes money from the sponsorship and the beer sales.

Half-time video ads and games. These must bring in a fair bit of money for the Canadiens and help pass the time.

Ushers. You can't return to your seat until there's a break in play.

Video replays for referees!!! We can only hope...

So there are plenty of areas where the new Anfield experience can improve over the old one for fans.

But don't worry about losing the Kop, the intimidating atmosphere or the club's history: the Canadiens haven't lost them [though they never had a Kop ;-)]

Oh, and by the way, nobody in Montreal seems to mind that the naming rights to the new stadium were sold when it was built.

What’s for sure, as others have said, is that the fans have to be as close to the pitch as possible.

posted by John