Industry Status
On the University of British Columbia's Point Grey campus, the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre (DMTSC) sits in concert capacity between the Commodore Ballroom and the 18,000-seat Rogers Arena. With room for up to 8,000, it has hosted acts like The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, and Fall Out Boy. The arena took its current name on August 21, 2009, honouring Doug Mitchell, a UBC alumnus, lawyer, and sports administrator.
Production Specs
The arena is built to take in touring productions with minimal rework.
- Staging: In-house rolling stage (60' w x 48' d) with adjustable height (48" to 78").
- Load-In: Two roll-up docks plus a production drive-through, a 5,000-lb forklift, and a 25' scissor lift.
- Power: Four in-house spotlights and integrated broadcast/media booths.
Legacy & Sustainability
The current arena opened on July 7, 2008, built around the existing facility from a 2006 start at a cost of about C$47.8 million, and was designed by HOK with Kasian Architecture. The complex also incorporates the refurbished Father David Bauer Arena, which opened in October 1963 as the training home of Canada's first national hockey team.
A venue for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, the facility is LEED Silver certified. It runs a closed-loop system that captures waste heat from the ice plant to heat the building. It was designed to support sledge hockey with transparent boards and level-entry ice access.
