Why stay at the complex for a show
The Molson Canadian Centre is part of the Casino New Brunswick complex, the same as the hotel. That means no drive home after the encore, no designated driver, and no hunting for a taxi at midnight. Parking is free for hotel guests and for concert-goers, and re-entry to the venue is allowed, so you can drop a coat in your room between the support act and the headliner.
Which parts are 19+
The casino floor, and The Buffet and Hub City Pub on it, are 19+ with photo ID. The hotel, its pool and the concert hall are not, for most shows. The concert venue welcomes all ages unless an event's ticket information says otherwise. The province places its Responsible Gaming Information Centre just outside the casino, in the pedway that leads toward the venue.
Eating
If you are all adults, The Buffet works well before an early show between Wednesday and Saturday, from 4 to 9 p.m. If you have anyone under 19 with you, eat in town: the downtown riverfront is about 11 km away by our measurement. Do not plan on room service; there is none at this time. Inside the venue, there are limited concessions, and water is sold at the bars, since outside food and drink, including water, are not allowed.
The rest of the weekend
A concert takes three hours. The other forty-odd are yours. The Magnetic Hill and its zoo are a few minutes away by car, the Hopewell Rocks are a half-day trip in season, and downtown has the tidal bore and the Saturday market. Our weekend plans page has a show-weekend version.
Show weekend in a list
- Tickets from Ticketmaster or the box office only
- Small clutch or clear bag, or nothing at all
- Dinner plan that fits your group's ages
- Coat left in the room, since there is no coat check at the venue
- An early arrival for security checks
Prefer to avoid seeing the gaming floor entirely? That is hard here, because it is part of the same building. If that matters a lot to you, a downtown hotel near the Capitol Theatre or the Avenir Centre may suit you better for a show at those venues.