Pacific Coliseum Pacific Coliseum is an indoor arena at Hastings Park in Vancouver , British Columbia . Completed in 1968 at the site of the Pacific National Exhibition , the arena currently holds 16 , 281 for ice hockey , though capacity at its opening was 15 , 569 . The Coliseum is currently the home of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League . The arena also hosts a variety of events and concerts . It has also been chosen as the venue for figure skating and short track speed skating in the 2010 Olympics . Other hockey tenants of the Pacific Coliseum have been the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL from 1970 - 1995 and the WHL from 1968 to 1970 , the Vancouver Blazers of the WHA from 1973 - 1975 and the Vancouver Voodoo of the Roller Hockey International from 1994 - 1995 . History . Designed by W . K . Noppe in 1966 – 67 , with its simple geometric shape and distinctive ring of white panels , the building can be classified as formalist architecture . Used initially as home to the WHL ' s Vancouver Canucks , the building was used to attract an NHL franchise in 1970 and a World Hockey Association franchise in 1973 . The Coliseum underwent renovations and additions in the late 1970s , but its role as host of an NHL team and a main venue for events in Vancouver was lost with the building of GM Place in 1995 . Recent renovations were completed in 2007 to upgrade seating and ice surface for its use as a venue for the 2010 Olympics . Events . The Coliseum 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 . The 1982 and 1994 Stanley Cup Finals featured games at the Coliseum . On May 16 , 1982 , the New York Islanders beat the Canucks 3 – 1 and were awarded the Stanley Cup on Coliseum ice . All the seats at the Coliseum were full when the game ended , as people there could give both teams an ovation , though it ended a Canucks Cinderella run . On June 11 , 1994 , the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks met at the Coliseum in Game 6 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 . Canucks owner Arthur Griffiths called it " the greatest game ever played at Pacific Coliseum . " However , they lost the series to New York by a 3 – 2 score in Game 7 . There were fans watching on the big screen at the Coliseum . When the game ended , they gave both teams an ovation . The Coliseum also hosted the 1977 NHL All - Star Game . The Coliseum hosted Game 4 of the 1972 Summit Series on September 8 , with the U . S . S . R . 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 Pacific Colisieum was one of four arenas to play host to the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships . Memorial Cups . The Coliseum has hosted two Memorial Cup tournaments . The first tournament was held in 1977 when Stan Smyl and the New Westminster Bruins won their first Memorial Cup championship by defeating the Ottawa 67 ' s , 6 – 5 . Smyl would eventually have a successful 13 year NHL career playing with the Vancouver Canucks and at the Coliseum . In addition , his # 12 was retired by the Canucks on November 3 , 1991 , at the Coliseum , where it hung in the rafters until being moved to GM Place in 1995 . In 2006 , the Giants were chosen to host the 2007 Memorial Cup Tournament from May 18 – 27 . During this tournament the Coliseum surpassed the all - time Memorial Cup attendance record after only seven round - robin games with 91 , 808 , and would eventually finish with a total attendance of 121 , 461 . In the same tournament , the Vancouver Giants won the Memorial Cup championship by defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers , 3 – 1 .