Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre - Victoria Royals
- Dave Cottenie
- 9h
- 5 min read
Photos by Paul Kilpatrick for Stadium Journey.
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
1925 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC V8T 4J2
Year Opened: 2005
Capacity: 7,006
Junior Hockey Royalty
Stadium Journey would like to thank Paul Kilpatrick for gathering the information used in this review.
The Victoria Royals were established in 2006 as the expansion Chilliwack Bruins. When the Board of Directors of the Bruins voted to move the team to Vancouver Island and the capital of British Columbia, Victoria it brought WHL hockey back to Vancouver Island. It is believed that there was pressure from the Western Hockey League to re-establish the easternmost market, as rumours of the AHL Manitoba Moose moving to Victoria to coincide with the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg were running amok.
The Victoria Royals played their first season on Vancouver Island in 2011. The WHL returning to Victoria followed the over two-decade run of the Victoria Cougars, who moved to Prince George in 1994. The Royals ended up pushing out the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings, who folded after the announcement of the move east.
Home for the Royals is the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Built in 2005, the SOFMC replaced the venerable Victoria Arena. It is the largest arena in British Columbia outside of Vancouver, with a capacity of over 7,000. It is also unique in that it is privately owned and operated.
Food & Beverage 4
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre provides the standard concession options. Burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, chicken fingers, and fries are all available at a few different concession stands. The Lion’s Den restaurant provides a buffet-style experience that is available before and during the game. The ReMax Fan Teck offers a lounge-style experience in the upper deck with concession options. The Philips Brewing Craft Beer Corner offers some local beer options. One of the concession highlights is the Taco Taco Taco stand.
Atmosphere 4
The exterior of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre is attractive with red and silver paneling, with plenty of glass. It has a modern look. There is a decent meeting area at the corner of Blanchard and Caledonia, which leads to the main entrance. After entering the arena, fans are brought into a typical junior hockey concourse, which travels around the arena, behind the seating area, open to the ice surface.
There are several interesting items to check out in the concourses, including a number of plaques honouring the members of the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Some names of note include Kent Manderville, Mel Bridgman, Russ and Geoff Courtnall, Rich Harden (MLB pitcher), and Eddie Murray (Detroit Lions kicker). Some trophy cases house some local sports artifacts and trophies, and a banner for the 1925 Stanley Cup Champion Victoria Cougars hangs proudly in the concourse.
The ice surface is north-south oriented in Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with the best spot for a photo with the centre-ice logo from the east side. The Lions Den Restaurant is at the south end of the arena, behind the seating bowl, and suites are found on the east and west sides, with club seating on the west side. A decent octagonal-shaped video board hangs above centre ice with a simple, hockey score clock hanging underneath.
The gameday production at a Victoria Royals game is fairly simple and similar to many CHL experiences. A mini game for minor hockey players takes place between periods, and promotions include a chuck-a-puck contest and a 50/50 draw. The Royals mascot, Marty the Marmot, interacts with fans during the game and takes part in some of the promotional activities.
Neighbourhood 4
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre is located in the North Park neighbourhood of Victoria, adjacent to downtown. Victoria is an excellent tourist area. There are several spots for pre- or postgame food and drink very close to the arena. Jones BBQ, Shuck Taylors, Block Kitchen & Bar, Drake Eater, and Firego Old Town are all good options.
There is not much in the way of other sports in the area. The Victoria Vikes have won some basketball National Championships in USports. There are also many BCHL teams close by. Tourist options include the Royal BC Museum, Carr House, and Victoria Harbour. Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and is worth checking out. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Quality Inn and Best Western are close options.
Fans 3
The Victoria Royals have enjoyed decent fan support over the years. At the time of writing, the 2025-26 season, the Royals averaged over 3,600 fans per game. The previous season, the Royals averaged a few more fans per game. The Royals ranked 14th and 16th in the WHL, respectively. There is plenty of room to grow for the Royals to grow. The fans in attendance are supportive of the team and loud at all of the expected times.
Access 4
The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre is located in the North Park neighbourhood in Victoria. It is on the northeast corner of Blanshard and Caledonia, between Quadra and Pembroke. Victoria is on Vancouver Island and will require a trip on the ferry or flying into one of the island airports for access from the mainland.
The arena is less than a kilometre from Highway 1-Trans Canada Highway, so getting to the arena from the highway is not difficult at all. There is some parking on site that comes with a cost. For those interested in public transit, there are buses that run north-south on Douglas Street and Quadra Street. Fans should consult the BC Transit website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around the arena is not too difficult, although the concourse does not offer 360-degree travel.
Stadium Journey recognizes the constant state of change that is happening in spectator sports. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Victoria Royals and Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre websites for the most up-to-date security protocols, including bag policy and prohibited items.
Return on Investment 4
Victoria Royals start tickets at $19. Prices go up to $25 for corners, $32 for the sides, and $39 for club seats. These prices are not out of line with the rest of the WHL. It will cost around $15 to park, and concession prices are reasonable. WHL hockey provides a top-notch experience with high-quality hockey on the ice, and fans will definitely enjoy the experience.
Extras 3
An extra mark for incorporating Victoria’s sporting history throughout the concourse, including the 1925 Victoria Cougars Stanley Cup banner.
An extra mark for the creative way of cleaning up hundreds of Chuck-a-Pucks. They used a hose-like flexible tube to drag all the pucks off the ice in seconds.
An extra mark for tacos!
Final Thoughts
The Victoria Royals may seem a bit isolated, being located on Vancouver Island. However, Victoria is an excellent tourist destination, and the Victoria Royals can definitely be a part of the excitement. The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre provides a solid junior hockey experience, and fans will definitely enjoy the experience.
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