Vancouver mayor to ban Canucks watch parties due to riot concerns
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Samer Dagher
Apr 26, 2024 (11:18 PM)
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Photo credit: X - Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are known for causing chaos on the streets during the playoffs and the mayor has decided to take action this time around to avoid a riot.
The Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators are deadlocked at one game apiece as their Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoff series heads to Music City for Games 3 and 4.
Unlike other cities such as Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and even Calgary, Vancouver hasn't hosted major outdoor watch parties for Canucks fans. The city's leadership, mindful of past negative incidents in 1994 and 2011, is cautious about such gatherings. While not ruling out watch parties entirely, they're approaching any potential events with great care.
"Can we pull something off? Absolutely," said Mayor Ken Sim on Thursday.
"Are we going to do our work? Absolutely ... We're not just going to say, 'Hey, let's throw a party. This time will be different.'"
"Are we going to do our work? Absolutely ... We're not just going to say, 'Hey, let's throw a party. This time will be different.'"
The aftermath of Game 7 losses in the 1994 and 2011 Stanley Cup Finals saw shocking riots by some Canucks fans, tarnishing the city's reputation. Vancouver's leadership is determined to prevent a repeat, prioritizing safety above all.
"I think the city realizes that I really like to have a good party as well, personally, and as mayor of Vancouver we have to be incredibly responsible and thoughtful ... We have a history of 1994 and 2011 and we've been going through the reports and what we have to do is make sure we have a very safe event," Sim said.
As Game 3 unfolds tonight at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, fans eagerly await the outcome.
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