Hockey fans from around the world got a look at their future home during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games as plans for Molson Canadian Hockey House were further unveiled today in Vancouver. Hockey Canada president/CEO Bob Nicholson joined Vancouver Canuck and Team Canada alumni Stan Smyl in introducing the preliminary hockey and entertainment lineups planned for the venue which includes appearances by Hockey Hall of Famers Paul Coffey, Cam Neely, and 2009 inductee Luc Robitaille, Hockey Canada alumni Peter Mahovlich, Danny Gare, Russ Courtnall and performances by The Barenaked Ladies and comedian Sean Cullen. Barenaked Ladies’ drummer Tyler Stewart has signed on as entertainment director, responsible for creating a stellar lineup of top Canadian and international entertainment programming for the venue. Multiple-day VIP passes are now available via www.molsoncanadianhockeyhouse.com.

“If you build it they will come,” said Bob Nicholson, president/CEO of Hockey Canada in reference to the legions of hockey fans expected to descend onto Vancouver for what many are calling the ‘Hockey Games.’ “We have worked closely with Jordan and his team at Vision|Co over the past three years to create the ultimate experience for hockey fans. Located in the heart of the hockey action, Molson Canadian Hockey House will be a showpiece for our game, blending heritage and live entertainment sure to excite and inspire the world’s biggest hockey fans.”

Located on the shores of North East False Creek at Concord Place Exposition and Activity Zone just steps away from all the on-ice action at Canada Hockey Place (GM Place), Molson Canadian Hockey House will be the epicenter of hockey offering a packed schedule of live sporting broadcasts, top entertainment acts, local delicacies and cold beer supplied by Molson Canadian.

“There’s no bigger stage than the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to showcase the best our land has to offer, from its people, its sport, its music and its beer,” said Jamie Sprules, senior brand manager of Molson Canadian. “Molson Canadian Hockey House aims to become a lighthouse for hockey fans in Vancouver, inviting them to experience Canada’s true hockey culture the way it was intended to be.”

In total, Molson Canadian Hockey House will host up to 17 live concert events during the Games, not including impromptu appearances by surprise guests attending the festivities.
“Molson Canadian Hockey House will be the heart and soul of hockey during the 2010 Winter Games,” said Jordan Bitove, president of Vision|Co, whose company is also managing the execution and public relations for the project. “This will be the largest free-standing pavilion ever constructed in Canada and we’re going to pack it with the best in sport, entertainment and hospitality, ensuring it’s nothing less than a world-class hockey house.”

“Molson Canadian Hockey House is going to be the place to be in Vancouver during the Games,” said Barenaked Ladies’ drummer Tyler Stewart, the entertainment director at Molson Canadian Hockey House. “We’re going to pack the schedule with a solid lineup of nightly entertainment that, combined with hockey’s most passionate fans, is a recipe for an unbelievable, once in a lifetime experience.”

In addition to its entertainment offerings, the site will also be home of the International Lounge (International Ice Hockey Federation) and to Hockey Canada House (Hockey Canada). Both will host VIP members from hockey’s elite Canadian and international communities.

“The idea about a hockey house was born prior to the 2006 Games in Turin and it was a huge success,” said Rene Fasel, IIHF president and IOC Executive Committee member. “Planning for 2010, we were committed to repeat the success formula in Vancouver. As the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation I am delighted that we can officially announce the Molson Canadian Hockey House, which will be the place to be between the Olympic hockey games. I would like to thank Molson and Hockey Canada who made this possible in co-operation with Concord and Vision|Co.”

Molson Canadian Hockey House Fast Facts:

• At 81,000 square feet, the entire hospitality pavilion is nearly one and a half times larger than a CFL football field (58,000 square feet)
• The venue is expected to host more than 50,000 fans throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
• Over 350,000 cans of Molson Canadian
• MCHH will feature 1,400 square feet of video images, a 40,000 watt sound system, 38,000 LEDs and over 92 million video pixels
• Every attempt will be made to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible. This will include but is not limited to, recycling and using recycled/biodegradable products.
• MCHH will be in operation from 11:00 am until 2 am each day.

Molson Canadian Hockey House opens to the public on Feb. and is in operation through Feb. 28. Construction on the venue is set to begin Oct. 15.

Multiple-day VIP passes go on sale Oct. 6. Visit www.molsoncanadianhockeyhouse.com for more details, along with a 3-D virtual tour of Molson Canadian Hockey House.