While the City of Vancouver has no plans to host any community watch parties for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one Metro Vancouver community is when the Canucks welcome the Nashville Predators this Sunday.
Delta is hosting fans at Social Heart Plaza starting at 7 p.m. April 21, when the two teams face off for Game 1 of the first round.
“The last time the Canucks were in the playoffs, we couldn’t watch together. Let’s make up for lost time,” the city said in an Instagram post.
The city says the viewing party will be free.
The only other similar event that’s been announced in the region is being hosted by the Canucks for road games. The team started selling tickets Friday to Rogers Arena for Game 3 — when the Canucks will be in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena to face the Preds.
The City of Vancouver confirmed Friday it didn’t have any community watch parties planned for now. In a release, Mayor Ken Sim commended the team for a “great season,” saying, “as a lifelong fan, I’m thrilled to cheer them on as they enter the playoffs.”
“Win or lose, let’s make our home team proud and celebrate every game with the unmatched passion and respect that defines our city. Go Canucks go!” Sim said.
The city is warning people about various road closures on game days, noting traffic disruptions are expected for anyone around Rogers Arena and those heading into or out of downtown Vancouver.
In statements to CityNews, the cities of Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Abbotsford, and Coquitlam all said they decided against hosting outdoor watch parties for the first round of the playoffs. They did not provide a reason for their decisions.