Discomfort at the Bell Center: Geoff Molson puts his big screen

The Montreal Canadiens made a big announcement this week: a new big screen will grace the Bell Center for the 2024-2025 season.

Yes, you heard right.

A large, new screen, designed to excite fans and enhance the game experience.

Because apparently, that’s exactly what was needed to keep fans wanting more.

It spans nearly 2,900 square feet, with a very high resolution that would put even the best TVs on the market to shame.

The corners are rounded, and the scenes promise to be more immersive than ever.

But now, while Geoff Molson is delighted with this “innovation”, supporters are scratching their heads.

Is this really what we expected?

A big screen is all well and good, but what does it cost?

We still remember the exorbitant prices for a simple hot dog or warm beer at the Bell Center.

And now, we are being thrown a 30 ton screen, the equivalent of 160,000 hockey pucks.

Will this screen show us more goals or even more detailed replays of missed opportunities?

Because, let’s be honest, that’s not going to change the score.

Geoff Molson, in all his wisdom, seems to think this screen will improve the fan experience.

But what is really needed is not more pixels.

There are more times when we get up from our seats to celebrate a goal, a victory, an inspiring achievement.

And although this screen has inspired us with many impressive figures, the prices are still rising.

At this point, it almost takes a mortgage to afford an evening at the Bell Center.

The reality is that fans don’t come to the Bell Center to see ultra-HD replays.

They come to vibrate, to feel the electricity in the air, to experience a real feeling that cannot be replaced by a machine, no matter how good it is.

We bet if fans had the choice, they’d be happy to trade that big screen for hot dogs and beers, just like the good old days at the Forum.

No need for all that hoopla.

So, yeah, cheers for the screen, Geoff.

But we hope you don’t expect us to forget the show on the ice to watch on your new big screen.

Because at the end of the day, it’s the passion on the ice that keeps you coming back, not the number of pixels that flash above our heads.

Amen