Premier John Horgan says B.C.’s provincial health officer has approved a proposal to make Vancouver a possible NHL playoff hub city.
John Horgan says that Dr. Bonnie Henry has agreed to modify the quarantine plan to allow an NHL team to be considered a family entity or a ‘bubble.’ Speaking to media on Wednesday, Horgan says he is asking the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, to move the initiative forward, as modifications to the quarantine rules in B.C. have to be approved by the federal government.
“I’ve written to the prime minister advising him that Vancouver and British Columbia would welcome the NHL, as per the plan that was put together by the Vancouver Canucks the NHL and, of course, public health officials,” he said.
“It is an amendment to the quarantine. It’s not changing it in any meaningful way. It’s only expanding the number of people within the bubble that would allow for NHL teams to come to Vancouver.”
Horgan says a team would stay together in one hotel and travel together to Rogers Arena using private transportation, while avoiding any contact with the public during the 14-day isolation period. Further, teams would be responsible for any COVID-19 testing.
Horgan also said Tourism Vancouver was part of the process along with the Canucks as he says there could be a significant benefit to hotels, food and other services if Vancouver is chosen as an NHL hub city.
“That’s an exciting thing for hockey fans. I’m going to be on my couch watching the games regardless whether they’re in Vegas or Vancouver, but I really believe that British Columbia has a great deal to offer the NHL, particularly the players,” Horgan added.
“If you were bringing your family to soar in North America for the summer months to spend time while you played hockey I can’t think of a better place than British Columbia.”
Vancouver is one of three Canadian cities that could be named a potential hub city, the others being Edmonton and Toronto. Other possible locations in the United States include Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Pittsburgh.
“So, I believe that the NHL has to make the call now. There was concern that we were allegedly not responding rapidly enough to this question of quarantine,” Horgan added, noting that despite the move, the province is still not prepared to put at risk the progress British Columbians have made to limit the transmission of COVID-19.
