Victoria Will Begin Play At Bear Mountain Arena

September 13, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced on Monday that the Victoria Salmon Kings will begin play in their inaugural season at Bear Mountain Arena.

Located in Colwood, British Columbia, Bear Mountain Arena opened in February 2004 and has 10 luxury suites, 2,350 seats and can sell an additional 481 standing-room-only tickets. The Salmon Kings are awaiting completion of the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, a $30 million state-of-the-art multipurpose facility with a seating capacity of 7,000, originally scheduled to open in the Fall 2004.

"The Bear Mountain Arena represents a very viable alternative for the Salmon Kings and the ECHL as we enter the 2004-05 season," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. "We appreciate the efforts and cooperation of RG Properties, the West Shore Arena Society, the Victoria Salsa and area youth hockey organizations for helping to make this happen. We all look forward to the completion of the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre and the move to the new building."

The ECHL will open its 17th season on October 22. The Salmon Kings will begin the season with 14 road games with the first home game on December 5 against Bakersfield. The late home opener was to allow for the completion of the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

"Given the uncertainty around the completion date of the new facility, we're pleased to announce the best possible alternative for as many games in our first season as we are required. It's terrific to have such a fine facility as Bear Mountain Arena in the market and we thank the West Shore Arena Society for making it available to us," said Salmon Kings director of sales and marketing Ken Noakes. "Our top priority is to take care of our season ticket holders. We have notified everyone about our temporary home at Bear Mountain Arena and have outlined the options available to season ticket holders for the upcoming season."

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