Pacific Coliseum - Notable Events

Notable Events

The arena hosted its first NHL game on October 9, 1970. The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Canucks 3–1 in the Canucks' NHL debut. The Kings' Bob Berry scored the first goal, with Barry Wilkins scoring the first goal for the Canucks. Its final NHL game was played May 27, 1995. Chris Chelios scored the arena's last NHL goal in overtime as the Chicago Blackhawks eliminated the Canucks in the Western Conference Semifinals. Roman Oksiuta scored the last Canucks goal.

On October 16, 1970, the anti-nuclear protest group Don't Make a Wave Committee held a concert at the Pacific Coliseum and managed raise funds for a demonstration against nuclear testing by The United States. The demonstration marked the beginning of the environmental organization Greenpeace.

The 1982 and 1994 Stanley Cup Finals featured games at the arena. On May 16, 1982, the New York Islanders beat the Canucks 3–1 and were awarded the Stanley Cup on the ice. On June 11, 1994, the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks met at the Coliseum in game six of the Stanley Cup Finals. Jeff Brown and Geoff Courtnall each scored twice as the Canucks won the game 4–1 to even the series at three games apiece. The game, which Canucks owner Arthur Griffiths called "the greatest game ever played at Pacific Coliseum", was the only time in five attempts that the Canucks won a Finals game at the Coliseum. Three nights later, when the Canucks lost game seven at New York by a 3–2 score, Pacific Coliseum was full of fans watching the game on video screens.

In 1977, the NHL All-Star Game was played at Pacific Coliseum, with the Wales Conference defeating the Campbell Conference 4-3.

The arena hosted the fourth game of the 1972 Summit Series on September 8, with the Soviet Union beating Canada 5–3. In a famous post-game interview, Phil Esposito gave an emotional response to the booing of the crowd that was broadcast on national television.

The arena was one of four arenas to play host to the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

The arena was used for the Madison Square Garden scene in the movie Miracle as well as Slam Dunk Ernest. The dog show scenes from Best in Show were filmed here. The Coliseum has also played host to WWE's weekly live television broadcast of WWE Raw, as well as the now defunct WCW "New Blood Rising" pay per view.

David Bowie's performances, during his Serious Moonlight Tour, on September 11–12, 1983, were filmed and released, on VHS, in 1984 and re-released, as a DVD, in 2006.

American band Pearl Jam played at the arena on September 25, 2011, as part of the bands 20th anniversary celebrations.

Alexisonfire is set to play in the Coliseum on December 17, 2012, for their upcoming Farewell Tour.