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As first reported by Canucks Army\u2019s Irfaan Gaffar<\/a>, Postmedia News has confirmed the Canucks and the city of Vancouver are deep into talks about securing a training facility in and around the current Britannia Rink in east Vancouver, which is about a 10-minute drive from Rogers Arena<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The city-owned facility had its ice surface overhauled in the past two years, which is good, but the surrounding facility, which includes a community centre, a pool, community services offices, plus school board facilities and more, are very dated and long in need of renovation or even replacement.<\/p>\n Daily Hive reported in January<\/a> that planning had resumed on redeveloping the complex, but was very early in the process and that much of the construction work was still years away. (City council had approved a community plan in 2018, but a variety of factors had interceded in the years since to stall any progress.)<\/p>\n A source close to the situation confirmed there\u2019d been progress toward an agreement between ownership and the city, but it\u2019s clear that until papers are signed everyone is holding their breath.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThere have been enough discussions for the potential of this to happen,\u201d the source said. \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of work done on it and it seems like it makes sense for both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n The ice may be ready, but presumably the Canucks would need to upgrade the off-ice spaces before it would be ready to host the NHL team for regular practices. The Aquilinis have long experience in construction and are clearly keen to win a lucrative contract from the city for a project like this.<\/p>\n As it stands, the Canucks are the only NHL team without a permanent practice facility; the Calgary Flames<\/a> also don\u2019t have permanent facility, but are building one as part of the partnership they struck with local government to build a new main arena.<\/p>\n The Canucks\u2019 lack of a facility has become a bit of quiet narrative around the league, since it sets them apart from what everyone else does. When the arena is booked out for a concert or another event, the Canucks usually have to give up all of their team spaces for the duration; having a permanent facility away from Rogers would make it easy for players to seek treatment and use team fitness facilities whenever they like.<\/p>\n As it stands, when the team does have to practice on a day where the don\u2019t have access to Rogers Arena<\/a>, they go to the University of B.C., which they set up as best they can but it\u2019s still a temporary arrangement.<\/p>\n When a deal between the city and the team might be struck remains unclear and how quickly work to upgrade Britannia might start if and when such a deal was struck is also unclear.<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/canucksbrass_295982791.jpg\")
Vancouver Canucks senior managers \u2014 president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, general manager Patrik Allvin, president of business operations Michael Doyle and Dax Aquilini, son of team co-owner Roberto Aquilini \u2014 were spotted at Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in south Burnaby taking an apparent tour of the facility on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 Photo by (X.com\/@ryan_bains)<\/p>\n