Thursday's Montreal Canadiens game played without fans in Bell Centre amid COVID-19 concerns
The Montreal Canadiens will play Thursday night's game in an empty arena, after ticket buyers were told to stay home.
The news comes amid a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in Quebec and concerns about the Omicron variant.
"Faced with the spiraling rise of COVID-19 cases in the region, late this afternoon the Montreal Canadiens organization received a request from Quebec public health officials to host tonight's game against the Philadelphia Flyers in a closed setting with no fans in attendance at the Bell Centre," a news release read.
An update on the status of Saturday's scheduled game against the Boston Bruins will be provided on Friday, the team said.
A message to ticketholders that circulated on social media said they would be reimbursed for their tickets, and that holders of season's tickets would be returned the amount for the game in account credit.
Fans posting on Twitter had mixed reactions -- some said they were angry, but others said they understood the decision.
Habs executive France Margaret Bélanger later put out a fuller statement saying that the team is hoping for better news in January.
"Playing tonight’s game in a closed setting is obviously disappointing to our fans," she wrote, but the team agreed with the request in order to preserve everyone's health and security.
"We have obtained assurances that we will be able to wecome our fans to our January games at 50 per cent capacity," she wrote.
"There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in our arena since the beginning of the pandemic," something that team managers are "proud" to have accomplished.
No spectators were allowed in the Bell Centre during the regular season last winter. Capacity then increased from 2,500, starting in Game 6 of the First Round Series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, to 3,500 spectators starting in the Stanley Cup semi-final against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Habs' request to be able to play in front of 10,500 spectators in the grand final against the Tampa Bay Lightning was refused by health authorities.
The limit was also 7,500 spectators during the preseason games this fall, then the authorities gave the green light to fill the Bell Centre to capacity in time for the home opener on October 16.
The maximum capacity of the arena is 21,302 people.
--With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.