Here are my random observations while visiting Montreal and Bell Centre last night.

The staff is quite friendly to us. They usher us in a back door entry way and the back of the building is really clean. It was well lit and the floor looks like a kitchen’s floor. You could eat off if it. How do they maintain this part of the building so well? We will have to find out.

The entrance ways to the suites are locked and an exec pulls out a card and swipes it. Very high tech. There is also a mini camera where you swipe your card and everyone entering the floor has his/her picture taken as they enter. It feels like a next generation “Get Smart.” Very formal and very cool. We literally go directly to our suite. We didn’t see a single person.

All of the hallways have photographs hung. In fact there is no dead space in this arena. There are photos, advertisements, and posters everywhere. The building is very contemporary and very alive. And again, very clean. I am so impressed.

All of the staff we have seen have been dressed in black suits. Very sophisticated and everyone is very attractive and professional. Montreal truly is a sophisticated European-like city. I am now glad I didn’t wear my ugly American red Caps jersey under my suit .

The music is this interesting mix of arena programming in French and English. French carnival- like music, hockey songs, 70′s rock, and alt rock. I feel like the music is playing at a Vidal Sassoon salon I once visited in a mall in Chicago! It has a Euro disco feel to it, too. I feel like dancing but my wife tells me to stop.

The crowd is late arriving and then like magic whoosh … it is filled to the brim. They wear red too. It is a red out! I am confused.

Jose is in goal taking shots. He is being heckled and loudly! Ovechkin is skating. The crowd booed “Ovi Sucks Ovi Sucks.” Chants rain down on him. He smiles.

The pre-game shows starts. We are sold some raffle tickets in the suite. A good promotion every game. The money goes to charity. The pre-game video is in both French and English. It is like a documentary film. It goes on and on. I felt like it was 12 minutes long. It didn’t pump up the crowd but it will get accepted at the Sundance Film Festival. The audio in the arena is spectacular, crisp and well produced. I can hear every word. This building infrastructure is really fantastic.

A young man comes out skating with a flame like the Statue of Liberty. He skates to center ice and viola! Then the entire building is on fire via lasers. Nice stuff and cool use of the electronic ribbons. These guys are good!

The American National Anthem is sung. The singer does a good job and then we hear booing and whistling and talking. I am disappointed. I hope we will never disrespect the Canadian National Anthem at Verizon Center.

The “O Canada” National Anthem is sung in French and English. AND NOW the video board shows highlights of the team and the building now grows loud. The camera goes to live shots of great players past. The pitch gets higher. This is a loud building. A big building. The anthem is part of the team promotion. The Canadiens are bigger than life here in Canada!

The game starts. We are being out played. The building gets amped up whenever there is a shot on goal. We end period one 0 to 0. I am relieved.

We retreat back into the suite because food has arrived. Very nice presentation and they have served their world famous hot dogs with buns that are lightly buttered and toasted on both sides. Wow… our group tastes a bit of everything but the highlight is these hot dogs. Why can’t these be served in the States? They would sell like … “hot dogs but even better!” I admit it. I ate two of them.

The second period starts. We are now shooting at the other end. We are sitting in the suite high up so we have a great view.

We score. We score again. We score again. New goalie!!! We score yet again. Ovi is booed and chanted on after he scores. Now folks in other suites know we must be Caps fans. Someone recognizes me and the folks around our suites start to talk to us. Most are very nice but two start to curse at us while smiling at us. But because they are cursing in French it sounds nice. The folks are all charming and funny and into the game but are NOT menacing at all.

Third period starts. I am still nervous.

They score; we score 5 to 1. The building starts to empty with 5 minutes left. There is a smattering of booing going on.

Game ends. We are escorted out to the van. We head to the airport. There is minimum traffic and the city traffic lights are all green. They are programmed to stay green for a longer interval of time. We get to the airport in no time flat. Mayor Fenty please synch up the lights on Constitution Avenue after a Caps game. The city was designed to have large avenue to move traffic quickly, but the lights must be in synch.

I am happy we won. I am mega impressed with Bell Centre of Montréal and the staff of folks. This is a well run building. This is a sophisticated and smart group of fans and this is a beautiful city. Thank you for being such classy and wonderful hosts.

See you all on Wednesday. Thank you.