MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens organization announced Friday that as part of the extensive renovations planned to enhance the fan experience at the Bell Centre in 2015-16 and beyond, the Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame will cease operations on August 30, 2015. As a means to offer a final opportunity for all fans to experience the Hall and its exhibits and features in their entirety, admission to the venue will be free for the entire month of August.

“In the coming months, as the real estate development projects around the Bell Centre move forward, we will be in a position to proceed with a number of new initiatives, including the redeployment of Centennial Plaza,” said Kevin Gilmore, the team’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. “This beautiful new site will serve as a permanent gathering place for years to come that celebrates the history of our team, from its greatest legends to its unforgettable conquests and unparalleled legacy. The Hall of Fame will close in order to offer new amenities to fans and clients during games, though we will be redistributing certain of its displays and assets throughout the building so that they can continue to be enjoyed. For those who have never visited the Hall, we invite them through the end of the month to experience it at no cost.”

Fans who have loaned materials to the Hall for display purposes will be contacted in the coming weeks in regard to next steps involving their return. Bell Centre guided tours will continue to be offered independently upon the Hall’s closure, with new enhancements and additions to be announced later in the fall.

The Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame is located at the lower level of the Bell Centre, situated at 1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal. The venue opened to the public in January 2010 on the heels of the club’s Centennial anniversary, and has welcomed over 200,000 visitors since its inception.