Place Bell is Centre Bell’s younger, smaller sibling — a 10,000-seat arena in Laval, Quebec, that opened in 2017 and immediately started booking the kind of shows that make you wonder why you have been driving past it to get to Montreal. Managed by Evenko, the same company that runs Centre Bell and programs half the live music in Quebec, Place Bell gets access to the same touring network but in a room half the size. The result is arena-level production in a building where the back row still feels close to the stage.
For Upstate New York concertgoers, Place Bell sits about 20 minutes north of downtown Montreal — which means it is actually closer to the Champlain border crossing than Centre Bell is. If you are already making the drive to Montreal for a show, Laval is not a detour. It is a shortcut.
The Building
Place Bell opened in September 2017 after three years of construction. The complex is anchored by a 10,172-seat main arena — home to the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens — plus two additional ice surfaces: an Olympic-sized rink with 2,500 seats and a community rink with 500. The facility was designed as a multi-purpose entertainment hub from the start, not a hockey barn that occasionally hosts concerts.
The architecture is modern and striking — clean lines, glass facades, and an open concourse that feels more like a contemporary performing arts center than a sports arena. The building was less than a decade old at the time of writing, which means the infrastructure is current: modern sound systems, LED lighting rigs, high-speed connectivity, and the kind of backstage and production facilities that touring acts appreciate.
The Concert Experience
At 10,000 seats, Place Bell occupies the sweet spot between a club and a full-size arena. It is big enough to justify major production — full lighting rigs, video walls, arena-scale sound — but small enough that the energy in the room stays concentrated. There are no dead zones. The upper bowl is steep and close, the lower bowl wraps tightly around the floor, and floor configurations range from reserved seating to general admission depending on the tour.
The booking calendar reflects this versatility. Evenko routes a mix of mid-level arena headliners, French-Canadian stars, international touring acts, comedy specials, family shows, and WWE events through the building. Acts that would play Centre Bell in Montreal sometimes choose Place Bell instead for the more intimate setup — and acts that are not quite at the 19,000-seat level find a perfect home here.
Sound quality is excellent for an arena. The modern construction means the acoustics were engineered rather than inherited, and the compact bowl keeps audio focused. Rock, pop, hip-hop, and country all translate well in the room. The sight lines are uniformly good — the 10,000-seat capacity means there is genuinely not a bad seat in the building.
Getting There From Upstate NY
The route mirrors the Centre Bell drive — I-87 North to the Champlain border crossing, then Autoroute 15 South — but you exit before reaching downtown Montreal. Place Bell is at 1950 Claude-Gagné Street in Laval, accessible from Autoroute 15 or Autoroute 440. From the border, it is about 30 minutes. From Albany, plan on roughly three and a half hours. From Plattsburgh, about 75 minutes.
The same border-crossing tips apply: passport or enhanced driver’s license required, NEXUS gets you a faster lane, and the Overton Corners/Lacolle alternate crossing can save time if the main Champlain crossing is backed up. The advantage of Place Bell over Centre Bell is that you do not have to navigate Montreal’s downtown traffic — you exit the highway in Laval and the arena is right there.
Parking is available in the arena’s on-site lots and the surrounding Laval commercial area. Rates are event-dependent but consistently cheaper than downtown Montreal. The Montmorency métro station is nearby if you prefer to park elsewhere and ride in, though the on-site parking is convenient enough that most drivers just use it.
The Laval Scene
Laval is a suburban city of 440,000 — Quebec’s third largest — and the dining scene around Place Bell has grown significantly since the arena opened.
Scores Rotisserie on Saint-Martin Boulevard is a local favorite for rotisserie chicken and ribs in a casual, family-friendly setting — reliable, affordable, and quick enough for a pre-show meal. Bâton Rouge, the Quebec steakhouse chain, has a Laval location that does a solid steak-and-ribs menu with a full bar. For something with more personality, Restaurant Mango serves Thai and Vietnamese cuisine with fresh ingredients and a loyal following in the Laval dining scene.
If you want the full Montreal restaurant experience, downtown is a 20-minute drive or métro ride — but Laval has enough around the arena to handle a pre-show dinner without the detour.
Insider Tips
- Place Bell is not Centre Bell. Double-check your ticket. The names are similar, the management company is the same, but the buildings are in different cities. Showing up at the wrong Bell is a real thing that happens.
- The parking is easier than Montreal. On-site lots, reasonable rates, no downtown traffic. This is one of Place Bell’s genuine advantages over its big sibling.
- Shorter drive from the border. If you are coming from Upstate NY, Place Bell saves you 20-30 minutes each way by not requiring the push into downtown Montreal.
- Check the exchange rate. Same Canadian-dollar advantage as Centre Bell — tickets priced in CAD are often significantly cheaper for Americans after conversion.
- The building is new and it shows. Wide concourses, modern amenities, clean sight lines. If your last arena experience was in a 1990s-era building, Place Bell will feel like a generation ahead.
- Combine with a Montreal weekend. See a show at Place Bell on Friday, spend Saturday in Montreal proper. Laval is close enough to make both cities accessible in one trip.
View the full event schedule and purchase tickets at placebell.ca.