New security changes for Canucks home games

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There are going to be thousands of people cramming into Rogers Arena for the Vancouver Canucks’ first home game of the regular season and there are some things you need to keep in mind, especially if you’re taking more than just the ticket with you.

Fans will definitely notice new security measures at the rink which include a revamped bag policy. Essentially, you’re being encouraged not to take a bag at all, unless it’s the size of a small purse. An oversized bag is considered 14″ x 14″ x 6″ or 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm.

If you absolutely have to take a bag with you because you took transit downtown and have a backpack or you carry a diaper bag for your kids, the Canucks say they’ll work with fans on a case-by-case basis.

“You will be directed to a bag check area, which is on our south plaza where it will be securely stored for you for the game. And then after the game, you can return there and pick up the bag. So, plan ahead, think ahead, bring minimal bags with you and that will make your experience seamless, hopefully. The main message is to leave your bags at home and come early,” explains Chris Brumwell, VP Communications, Fan and Community Engagement for the team.

He admits during the pre-season, they heard loud and clear from people who were frustrated by how long it was taking them to get their bag post-game which led to lengthy delays.

“Obviously, people have strollers and those kinds of things — we can work with people when they arrive. We want to make sure everyone has a good time. Generally speaking though, if you have a big bag or a huge backpack or something like that, we’re just asking you to think ahead to leave it at home if you can. Hopefully we can make things after the game as quick as possible so people can get home.

Ultimately, the fewer bags we have in the bag check, the faster it will go. So, we’re looking at ways to make sure we expedite that process for people.”

The bag check is free.

“The bag process has been working fairly well for the last few years. We saw an increase in the pre-season and a lot of that is often a lot of first-time fans are coming to games so they may not be as familiar with the bag policies as maybe a season ticket member, or someone who comes more frequently,” Brumwell says.

What’s returning for another season are the metal detectors.

The doors to Rogers Arena open at 5:30 p.m. and with lots of things happening like the Party on the Plaza, happy hour drink specials, and the naming of the team’s captain, the Canucks are hoping fans are in their seats by no later than 6:45 p.m.

Security Tips from Rogers Arena

• Minimize the number of personal items you bring to the venue
• Allow extra time for arriving to and entering the venue
• Guests will be asked to place all loose items that may trigger the alarm, including cell phones and keys in a tray on the table before passing through the metal detector (Magnetometer) units
• If the metal detector (Magnetometer) alarm sounds, you will be subject to a secondary screening which may slow your entry into the venue