Stanley Cup finals: Vancouver prepares to party, but not like it's 1994 games, party, happy

tiffiant

Stanley Cup finals: Vancouver prepares to party, but not like it's 1994

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver, the city that knew how to party happy during the 2010 Winter Olympics, will be back in business for the Stanley Cup finals. From party zones to street closures to a kinder, gentler "meet and greet" attitude by police to a Rogers Arena opened for the away games, Vancouver is set to party.

There's even a movement afoot to have the B.C. Pavilion Corp turn on the Olympic Cauldron at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre for the series.

This is a much different town than the last time the fight for Lord Stanley's cup came to Vancouver. No one who was around in 1994 will forget the Stanley Cup Riots, when Vancouver lost in overtime to the New York Rangers. Many lessons were learned after that riot about how to party hearty but safely, and a generation later the Olympics became the biggest crucible possible in which those lessons were truly tested.

Mayor Gregor Robertson said the energy on downtown streets has been really positive during the playoffs and he hopes it will stay that way through the finals. He doubts fans will allow the city to go back to that dark night of the 1994 riot.

"I'm not so worried about that. I believe that we've grown up since '94 and there is a very positive energy with the Canucks as there was with the Olympics and whatever the outcome it has been an extraordinary year and there is a lot to celebrate."

tiffiant

Hockey fans jam Granville Street after the Vancouver Canucks victory over San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night, clinching the Western Conference title and a trip to the Stanley Cup final.

tiffiant

Vancouver will host the first two games, with the next two in either Tampa, Florida or Boston, Mass., depending on who wins that series. If the finals go to seven games, the last will be in Vancouver, setting the city up for the mother of all public events.

"If we go all the way I think it will probably rival the Olympics for street party action," the mayor said.

T.C. Carling, a spokesman for the Canucks, said the details haven't yet been worked out but the franchise will open Rogers Arena to fans for away games.

"Many details are being worked out at this time as we await a schedule for the series and other elements that relate to events at Rogers Arena." There's no indication if fans will have to buy tickets.

Robertson applauded the Canucks' plan. "We've been urging [Rogers Arena] to open for away games and so I think it's great news that they will open their doors. I think there will be a lot of interest," he said.

Police Chief Jim Chu said crowds downtown during the playoffs have been good, with only six arrests after Tuesday's 3-2 double-overtime win against the San Jose Sharks. But the size of that last crowd surprised even the police, so they'll be beefing up ranks for the finals. So far the city has spent $150,000 on extra policing, but expects it to cost another $500,000 if the finals go to all seven games.

City transportation director Jerry Dobrovolny is working out a plan for which streets will become party zones. Asked if he'd started planning a parade route, he smiled wide. "No comment, I'm afraid of jinxing."