great skating, unwelcoming venue
by Sandra H. on 2024-03-22Centre Bell - MontrealThe skating is most enjoyable, but it is hard to spend 10 hours a day, six days in a row, at the Bell Centre. They are absolutely draconian about you bringing anything to the rink, but the only concession that is open only sells beer, hot dogs, poutine...nothing even remotely resembling a vegetable. Six days in a row. With the packed schedule of skating, it is difficult to eat well. At 6:30 am on Monday morning, I was not allowed to bring my Starbucks coffee into the rink even though the Tim Horton's coffee stand inside was not open (it didn't open all day). During the event, there are brief 20 minute breaks while the ice is resurfaced, but this is not enough time to use the washroom. Despite the fact that 80-90% of the guests are female, none of the men's washrooms have been converted to women's, which is common practice at other figure skating events. Lineups are hundreds long.