Montreal's sporting venues
Ice hockey, Soccer, Cycling or just a stroll in the park.
Montreal plays home to many major sporting clubs and events - there generally being something for all ages and tastes.
Olympics
Montreal Olympic Stadium was built on the east side of the city to host the 1976 Summer Olympics costing over $5 billion at that time and have become the most expensive games in the history of the Olympics. The problem lay in bad management and cost control and it is only in the last year or so that Montreal has actually cleared the debt which this built up. In fact the whole fiasco caused many other countries to question the viability of the event. The mid 1970's was an era of 'political statements' and the debt was not helped by the African nations boycotting the 1976 Montreal Olympics as a result of the All Blacks (the New Zealand rugby team) touring Apartheid-controlled South Africa.
Ice Hockey
Montreal's home team is called 'The Canadiens' and they play at the Bell Center. Ice hockey is a popular sport in Montreal and the home team are well supported. Established in 1909, they are also one of the six original NHL (National Hockey League) teams and have won the prestigious Stanley Cup Championship well over 20 times - an unrivalled total.
American Football
Montreal's main team are the Alouettes and they play in the CFL at the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. University football is also well represented with the McGill Redmen, Université de Montréal's Carabins and the Concordia Stingers all playing in the city.
Click pictures to enlarge
Soccer
The Montreal Impact team play at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard and were founded in 1993. Like in most of North America, soccer is gradually increasing in popularity and a second team is due to be formed next year to play in the Can-Am League. Montreal recently hosted the FIFA Under 20 World Cup at the Olympic Stadium.
Baseball
The home of the Montreal Expos team was the Olympic Stadium from 1969 but, in 2005, they relocated to Washington DC and now play under the name of the Washington Nationals.
Basketball
The Montreal Royal play at the Centre Pierre Charbonneau but have only existed since 2005.
Rugby
The Quebec Caribou play at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux and have been around since 1998.
Ringette
Montreal Mission have played in the National Ringette League since 2004.
Nascar
The Canadian Grand Prix and The Molson Indy both take place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the Ile Notre Dame.
Other sports and activities
Montreal boasts an extensive network of cycle paths and bikes can be rented from the Old Port area. It is also possible to hire quadricycles, inline skates, trailers for towing young children and even segways. For other events, there are five beaches and a number of parks including a large one on Mount Royal.
Sport - both spectator and participatory - is an important aspect of life in Montreal.
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