Submitted. Consistently rated among the best sports & entertainment venues in Canada among arenas of 10,000 capacity or less over its seven-year history, the Abbotsford Centre has this month achieved its highest-ever ranking on the Pollstar list of the world’s top-200 arenas and stadiums.
In the list compiled by the concert tour industry’s leading global trade publication, the Abbotsford Centre is rated #115 in the world and #10 in Canada among sports & entertainment venues of all size categories. The ranking is based on ticket sales worldwide for concerts held to date this year at the leading venues in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
“In a world in which there are more than 10,000 arenas and stadiums, we’re honoured to be included on the Pollstar list, let alone rank 10th in Canada and be included among the very finest sports & entertainment facilities in the country,” said Andrew Nash, General Manager of the Abbotsford Centre.
“It’s particularly gratifying for us given that these Pollstar rankings are reflected in the testimonials and endorsements we continue to receive from the leaders in the concert business; namely the agents, managers and promoters who make it all happen,” added Nash, a veteran industry leader with more than 20 years of experience in the sports & entertainment venue sector.
Earlier this year, the Abbotsford Centre was ranked top Canadian venue in the category of arenas with seating capacity of less than 10,000 by Venues Today Magazine, another leading international trade journal serving management, owners and suppliers to music, sports and meeting venues.
According to the mid-year Pollstar rankings spanning the period January 1st through June 30th, 2016, the 02 in London, England is the world’s most productive venue in terms of worldwide ticket sales (872,809).
The Abbotsford Centre is 115th in the world, 10th in Canada and second in British Columbia behind only Rogers Arena in Vancouver. It is one of three BC venues ranking among the world’s top-200 (along with the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, B.C., which like the Abbotsford Centre is managed by Spectra Venue Management).
“The Abbotsford Centre is an important community asset and we are thrilled to see the facility recognized among the best sports & entertainment venues in Canada,” said Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun. “The Abbotsford Centre’s A New Game strategy is contingent on professional operations, enhanced public access and a robust concert calendar, one that is reflected in this year’s strong ticket sales and in how well our community has responded to our robust concert calendar.”
The top 10 venues in Canada on the Pollstar list are:
1. Air Canada Centre in Toronto (305,667 and 13th in the world);
2. Bell Centre, Montreal (254,382/20th);
3. Casino Rama in Rama, Ont. near Orillia, Ont. (178,428/39th);
4. Rogers Arena, Vancouver (156,299/48th);
5. Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ont. (145,721/55th);
6. Rexall Place, Edmonton (128,035/62nd);
7. Budweiser Gardens, London, Ont. (123,566/64th);
8. Centre Videotron, Quebec, Que. (107,995);
9. First Ontario Centre, Hamilton, Ont. (103,356/80th);
10th. Abbotsford Centre, Abbotsford, B.C. (58,439/115th).
The other Canadian venues listed on the Pollstar Top-200 for the first half of 2016 are: 11. MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Man. (52,210/128th); 12. General Motors Centre, Oshawa, Ont. (42,684/144th); 13. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary (37,722/152nd); 14. Mile One Centre, St. John’s, Nfld. (35,657/158th); 15. SaskTel Centre (33,596/165th); 16. Scotiabank Centre, Halifax, N.S. (28,969/177th); and 17. Encana Events Centre, Dawson Creek, B.C. (24,726/196th).