The Vancouver Canucks newest (and cutest) fan reported for duty when Baby C attended her very first NHL hockey game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver in April 2025.
For my husband, Colin, who has been cheering for the Canucks his entire life, this was a big moment. He’s dreamt of taking our child to their first Canucks game – so much so that we ended up with three infant-sized Canucks jerseys before Baby C was even born!
(One I bought, one was a gift and one was a hand-me-down, so not really our fault.)
Since getting together with Colin in 2015, I’ve probably been to a dozen NHL games (including the Sedins’ last home game!) and watched many more on TV.
While I’m certainly not the biggest hockey fan in the world, there’s something so exciting about seeing a game live in person.
So needless to say, Colin and I were both pretty stoked to bring our baby to her first ever hockey game. But we were also nervous.
How would she do? How would we do? Would it be too loud, too cold or just too much for an infant?
We made a pact before going in that we wouldn’t hesitate to pull the plug and leave the game early if we needed to. Luckily, we didn’t. Baby C did amazing (and so did the Canucks – they won!).
My biggest tip is to do your homework. Research your arena and consider carefully the best place to sit, where to enter, where you’ll feed your baby, etc. I dive more into all of this below!
If you’re planning to take your baby to an NHL hockey game, read on for all of the tips and tricks we learned. Find out what we got wrong and what we got right, plus what I’d do differently next time.
1. Check if the arena bag policy makes an exception for diaper bags
Most stadiums and arenas have strict bag policies. Some only allow small bags or clear, see through bags while others don’t allow bags at all.
However, many arenas make an exception for diaper/baby bags. At Rogers Arena in Vancouver, they allow any baby bags/diaper bags (size restrictions are not listed).
I did have quite a hard time finding that policy on their website so I recommend just putting your arena name + “diaper bag” into your search engine of choice to get the info you need.
Despite the policy being buried on their website, it seemed to be common knowledge for the people checking tickets and doing security at Rogers Arena. We were waved through and our diaper bag checked, without anyone questioning the size.
Even if baby bags are allowed at your arena, I still recommend packing light. You’ll most likely be keeping your bag with you at your seat, so you won’t have a ton of space.
I did see parents and their baby who must not have known about the diaper bag rule, as they walked into the arena without a bag and holding two pre-made bottles in their hands. Talk about packing light!
What to pack for your baby at an NHL hockey game
- Your regular diaper bag essentials: diapers, wipes, burp cloths, pacifier, etc.
- Extra change of clothes for you and baby (remember that hockey arenas can be chilly, so go for a long sleeve)
- Your baby’s favourite snacks and toys
- Anything you need to feed your baby (bottles, formula, breastfeeding cover, etc.)
- Ear protection, usually in the form of infant-sized noise cancelling headphones (more on this below)
- Baby carrier (more on that below)
- Extra space for any souvenirs or merch you want to take home
2. Figure out if your baby needs their own ticket
At most NHL hockey arenas, babies under two years of age can enter for free. They do not need a ticket, as they don’t get a seat, and must sit on their guardian’s lap.
However, every arena and team has their own rules. Some allow babies up to three years old to enter for free and others, like Rogers Arena in Vancouver, restrict entry based on height.
Ticketmaster put together a handy little table where you can look up the rules for your specific arena. I would go ahead and verify these on your arena’s website, as I’m not sure if Ticketmaster is keeping this post up to date.
Assuming your infant doesn’t need their own ticket – and you’re happy to keep them on your lap and not in a separate seat – you can proceed with only buying tickets for the adults/older children in your party.
Unlike an airline, you don’t need to get a ticket for a lap infant at a hockey game.
3. Choose your seats strategically
This is one section where Colin and I did a lot right but made one glaring mistake. So learn from us!
The first thing you obviously need to account for when choosing your seats is your budget. Of course a suite with its plush couches and private bathroom would be much more comfortable for baby’s first hockey game, but I don’t have that kind of money!
Rogers Arena has 100 level floor seats and 300 level balcony seats, plus suites in the 400s. Besides a few 100 level splurges over the years, we’re very much 300 level people.
Once you’ve decided on your level, you now want to pick your section. This is where we messed up. You want to pick your section based on the facilities you need to access.
For us (and likely for you and your baby), that includes easy access to a bathroom with a change station, the nursing/feeding area, stroller storage and elevators.
At Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, stroller parking on the 300 level is at section 311 with Guest Services. The bathroom with the nursing area is at section 318. And there are elevators nearby too at section 316.
But where did we get seats? Section 328. On the complete opposite side of the arena.
And even though we were next to washrooms in section 328, they required you to go down a long flight of stairs to access. Which was not something I wanted to do with our three month old!
So don’t make the same mistake we did; choose your section wisely! Consult your arena map online before buying your seats (here’s the one for Rogers Arena).
All right, so you’ve decided on your level and your section. Up next is row and seat. This is where I think we made the right call.
We sat in row 4, which is the row that is level with the entrance to the section, meaning we didn’t need to take the stairs up or down.
This made getting in and out of our row really easy and meant we didn’t need to navigate steep, narrow stairs with a baby. If it works for your budget, I highly recommend choosing a row that you can access without or with minimal stairs.
Next, we decided to sit in seats 101 and 102 which were right on the end of the aisle. Again, I think this was the right call, but your mileage may vary.
We reasoned that by sitting on the aisle we could make a quick exit if Baby C got fussy. We could also enjoy a little bit more elbow room, since we didn’t have people next to us on one side.
And while it was nice to be able to get in and out of our aisle seats easily, just like on an airplane, the downside of an aisle seat is you have to move anytime your row-mates want to exit.
Unfortunately, the section we were in was quite a long row without a break, so there were a few people we had to move for. Luckily, they only ever wanted to leave during the intermissions, so we only had to get up a few times.
Even luckier for us, the people right next to us decided to leave after the first period giving us extra space to spread out!
4. Dress your baby in warm layers
Hockey arenas run cool so plan to dress your baby in warm layers. For Baby C we did a long sleeve onesie, pants, socks, a jersey and a toque.
Keep in mind that even though the arena is cold, you and your baby might get warm if you’re sandwiched between people and your baby is pressed up against you in their carrier.
Which is why I recommend layers that you can easily take off or put on depending on how you feel.
Layers also mean that if your baby makes a mess on one of their layers, you can take it off and you still have another outfit they can wear. But as parents, I’m sure you’ve used that trick already!
I think layers are a good idea for you too, especially if you’re planning to wear your baby. I wore Baby C for the majority of the hockey game and was very glad I had on a tank top with a jacket on top which I could easily take off when I got warm.
5. Find the accessible entrance ahead of time
This is another one we messed up so heed my advice and find the accessible entrance to your arena ahead of time – especially if you’re bringing in your stroller or carseat.
We ended up almost completely circling Rogers Arena, trying to find a gate we could enter without having to take the stairs. Eventually, we gave up and just decided to take the stairs, with Colin carrying Baby C in her stroller up the steps.
If we had done our homework ahead of time, we could have figured out which gates had elevators or were accessible from street level and planned to enter there.
So check out the map of your arena before you arrive and choose which gate to enter through. It should be accessible with no stairs – and bonus points if it also happens to be close to where you’re sitting!
6. Arrive earlier than you think you need to
If you have a little one at home, I probably don’t need to tell you that everything takes much longer than you think it should, especially if you’re trying to get somewhere on time.
Colin and I often look at each other in bewilderment when the simple task of leaving the house – a task that used to take us less than 30 seconds in pre-Baby C times – can now take a solid 15-20 minutes.
So in case you need the reminder, please give yourself lots of time to get to the arena and to your seat. You’ll need it!
Besides the time suck that is simply leaving the house with an infant, remember that you’ll also likely be fighting traffic on the way to the arena, finding parking, going through security, waiting for the elevator, parking your stroller, finding your seats, and getting situated.
That doesn’t even include time you might spend getting lost or walking the wrong way, changing a diaper, feeding your baby, etc.
As I shared above, we made the mistake of not finding the accessible entrance ahead of time, leading us to almost circle the entire arena. We also picked seats on the opposite side of the arena from stroller parking.
So despite leaving our house early with plans to arrive with enough time to grab a bite to eat outside of the arena, we skipped a pre-game meal and still didn’t get to our seats until just before the anthems were sung.
Whatever time you’re planning to leave your house, add another 15 minutes.
7. Put on baby’s ear protection right away
Many parents choose to put ear protection on their little ones when attending a big game, show or concert. This is usually done by having them wear infant-size noise cancelling headphones.
We decided to bring our own pair, though many arenas also have these available to borrow (for free) or rent (paid). Rogers Arena does have child and adult headphones, but we had already obtained a pair secondhand, so just brought our own.
Plus, I wasn’t sure if the ones at the arena would be small enough for our baby’s head, since she was not even three months at the time.
So definitely double check if your arena offers noise cancelling headphones, where you can pick them up and if they’ll fit your baby. If headphones aren’t offered or they’ll be too big for your child, you’ll need to source your own.
Trust me, you don’t want to be without these. Hockey arenas get LOUD. Even with the headphones, I was worried Baby C would be impacted by the noise or they’d slip off her head.
If you’re bringing your own headphones, I actually recommend you put them on your baby before you enter the arena.
This is for two reasons: 1) Outside of the arena, you’ll have more space to put on the headphones, size them to your child’s head and ensure they’re comfortable.
2) Even the concourse where you first enter the venue can be loud, so it’s good to get baby’s ears protected right away.
Of course if you’re not bringing your own headphones and using ones provided by the arena, you can’t put them on ahead of time. In that case, I’d suggest heading straight to wherever you’re picking them up and putting them on ASAP.
Despite having our own headphones with us, we waited to put them on until we got to Guest Services and parked our stroller. This meant we had to do it in a bit of a rush and in the middle of the busy and loud concourse level of the arena.
In hindsight, I wish we had just taken an extra minute before we entered and put on the headphones then.
8. Park your stroller inside the arena
If your arena offers stroller parking or storage, you’re in luck! You can now seamlessly roll your baby from your house/the car/public transit right into the arena and have an easy way to carry them out when the game is over.
Rogers Arena offers to check strollers at Guest Services free of charge. Head to section 311 for stroller parking if you’re seated in the 300-level.
It was a very easy process for us to roll up with our stroller, get it tagged at Guest Services and then leave it there for the rest of the game. When we returned, our stroller was lined up and quickly returned to us once we presented our tag.
I bet you could also use stroller parking to store a few other things. While it’s not technically a coat or bag check, who says you can’t slide a bag or a few jackets into the basket of your stroller?
If you’re able to park your car close to the arena or don’t buy carrying your baby for a longer distance, you may not need to check your stroller.
But we really liked having this option, especially as we took a car-share to the arena, meaning we couldn’t leave our stroller and car seat in the trunk.
9. Wear your baby through the crowds
Almost everyone at Rogers Arena with a baby had their baby in a carrier. Take that as your sign. If you baby wear, I highly recommend having your baby in a carrier for their NHL game experience.
We rolled Baby C into the arena in her stroller but had brought her carrier along for the game. After parking the stroller, we just started walking towards our seats with Colin carrying Baby C in his arms (not in a carrier).
But a few minutes in, we decided to pull over and get the carrier out. The concourse level was very busy and it just didn’t feel safe holding our infant daughter as we navigated through.
We pulled off to a slightly quieter wing where we could find a bit of space. I put on the carrier, we put Baby C in, and instantly I felt much better about navigating the arena.
I ended up wearing Baby C for almost the entire game. This worked well because it meant my arms had a break (I even managed to eat a hot dog over her head) and my back was supported.
I was also able to easily get up and down whenever someone in our row needed to exit. Plus, having her in the carrier was an added level of warmth for both of us, which helped in the chilly hockey arena.
So yes, I highly recommend wearing your baby. I found it very comfortable and convenient. I only wish we had put her in her carrier right away – or even before we entered the arena – when we had more space and time to do so.
Bad lighting, but you can just make out that I’ve got her in a carrier
10. Find the nursing/feeding area ahead of time
If you think you may need a quiet area to nurse or feed your baby during the game, check where this is located in your arena ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is run around a busy arena trying to find this area when your baby is hungry!
At Rogers Arena in Vancouver, prepare to be disappointed.
If you look up nursing rooms on their website, you’re left with this unhelpful sentence (current as of Apr 2025), “There is a Quiet Rooms located at Section for nursing parents or anyone needing a break…”
Yes, you read that correctly. The section number is missing!
With a bit more digging, you can find the webpage for Quiet Rooms where section 108 is listed. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this out until after the game, nor was I told about it when I asked three different staff members.
That page also does not specify that the Quiet Rooms can be used for nursing/feeding. And since none of the staff mentioned this option, I wonder if they’re not really open to nursing/feeding parents.
Friends of our had mentioned that there was an area for nursing in the women’s bathroom. When we arrived at Guest Services, they confirmed that there was a nursing area in the women’s bathroom at section 318 of Rogers Arena.
So on our way to our seats, I stopped in at the bathroom to check out the nursing area. I was expecting to find a room separate from the bathroom with some couches, changing tables, etc.
Instead, I found two chairs in the middle of the bathroom. Hope you weren’t looking for any privacy or quiet, because there’s none to be found here!
Just two beat up chairs in the middle of the bathroom!
I guess two chairs is better than nothing, but I really was expecting an actual room. And why is it inside the women’s bathroom? What happens if a parent who isn’t a woman needs to feed their baby?
I really hope Rogers Arena makes some changes here. It is possible to have a comfortable, fully equipped infant feeding room inside a large arena – check out this amazing one at Rogers Centre in Toronto!
We were already planning to see a Blue Jays game when we’re in Toronto this summer but now I’m even more convinced we have to go, just so I can check out this awesome room in person!
Not wanting to miss a big chunk of the game to feed Baby C – and certainly not wanting to do it in the crappy chairs in the women’s washroom – we decided to just give Baby C a bottle in our seats.
She didn’t wake up until halfway through the third period, at which point our seat mates to the left of us had already left. So we had lots of space to spread out and feed her.
11. Decide how you want to feed your baby
As I just mentioned, your arena may have a nursing/feeding room for your baby’s mealtime but there are still some other feeding decisions you’ll need to make.
When do you need to feed baby? Maybe you’ll be able to get away with feeding them at home before and after the game.
But in case your little one’s feeding schedule isn’t perfectly in sync with an NHL hockey game, you’ll probably want a plan for feeding them at the arena.
We had planned on me nursing Baby C or giving her a bottle in the available nursing room. But once I saw the “room,” and since the people seated next to us had left, it was easier and more comfortable to just feed her a bottle in our seats.
Depending on how you’re feeding your baby, you may need access to drinkable water to mix with formula or something to warm up your baby bottle.
We didn’t need these things, but I’d suggest checking in with Guest Services or one of the concession stands ahead of time.
12. Ensure you know where the diaper changing stations are located
If you feed ’em, you may need to empty ’em!
Just like figuring out where the nursing room is and how you want to feed your baby at the arena, you’ll also want to know where to change their diaper.
Hopefully your NHL arena is like Rogers Arena, where every washroom has a diaper changing station – men’s, women’s and the family washroom.
You should also figure out the closest washroom to your section and how to get to it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has turned one way out of my section and ended up circling the arena only to realize the thing I was looking for was right next to my section, just in the other direction.
Though if you’re attending a game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, keep in mind that the closest bathroom to you may not be the easiest to access.
I thought we were so smart booking seats in Sec 328 since there’s a bathroom right next to that section. However, that bathroom is only accessible down a long set of stairs – not something I wanted to be doing with crowds and a baby strapped to my chest.
Instead, I headed all the way back Sec 318 where the bathroom access was step-free. This was also the only bathroom with a “nursing area,” which I’ve already ranted about above.
So learn from our mistakes and check your arena map. Find not only the closest bathroom, but the one that is most easily accessible, from your seats.
13. Avoid bringing your baby out onto the concourse during intermissions
Even though the whole point of an intermission during a hockey game is to get up, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, and grab a drink or bite to eat, I actually don’t recommend heading out of your section during intermissions.
That’s because almost everyone gets up during the intermissions. That means the concourse level will be completely crowded – not a fun thing to navigate with a baby.
It also means bathrooms and food stalls will be lined up, meaning you’ll have to wait to use the facilities or order dinner.
(This was another reason I didn’t want to use the infant feeding area in the women’s bathroom. I’d have an audience the whole time as the bathroom line up walked right through the nursing area.)
Instead, I’d recommend staying in your seats during the intermissions. Of course, you can get up and stretch.
Actually, this is the perfect time to do some standing, bouncing or swaying with your baby, since your row will be a little emptier now that everyone is out on the concourse.
Once the game is back on, then you can head out to use the bathroom, get a drink, change baby’s diaper or feed them. Sure, you’ll miss a bit of the game, but at least you’ll avoid the crowds and the lines.
14. Take your time exiting the arena
It’s hard to funnel 20,000 people out of an arena all at one time. It’s even harder if you have a baby strapped to you, you’re pushing a stroller and you’re waiting for an always-full elevator.
So rather than rushing to exit as soon as the buzzer sounds, take your time. Let your seat mates exit first while you hang back. There’s no rush!
Because we were on the end of the row, Colin and I felt some pressure to pack up and quickly leave so we weren’t holding anyone else back. Our game had also gone into overtime, so we were rushing home to walk our dog and put Baby C to bed.
But, of course, the concourse was absolute mayhem when we first left our section. I was very glad to still be wearing Baby C so that she was safe and secure against me.
It was a mission to push our way back to Guest Services to retrieve our stroller. We then waited ages for an empty elevator, eventually riding one that was going up just so we could have a spot on the way back down.
Instead, I wish we had just hung back and taken our time. A few extra minutes would have allowed things to calm down and our exit to be a lot smoother.
Throwback to the Canucks’ playoff run in 2024 when the arena was really nuts!
15. Look for a fun way to remember your baby’s first NHL hockey game!
Congrats, you survived baby’s first hockey game! Hopefully you not just survived it but also had a lot of fun – and hopefully your team won.
Win or lose for your team, it’s a win for you that you made it through a professional sports game with your infant. And that deserves to be memorialized!
Of course we took a ton of photos to mark Baby C’s first Canucks game. I made sure to get some of her and Colin at home before we left, just in case the arena was too chaotic or she spit up on her jersey before we got there.
We also noticed during the game that staff were going around the arena with a sign that read “My first game” and holding it over people’s heads. We flagged them down while they were in our section to mention that it was Baby C’s first game too.
She didn’t get the sign held up for her (play had resumed so the staff were putting the sign away by the time we flagged them over) but they did tell us to come over to Guest Services.
So after the game, we headed over there and got a certificate and button to mark her first game!
It’s so sweet to have these tokens to remember Baby C’s first game. And even nicer that they were given out by the arena for free. So definitely check if your arena has something similar!
Other fun ways you can mark baby’s first NHL game:
- Getting a photo of your baby with the team mascot
- Buying something from the team merch store
- Submitting a message to be displayed on the jumbotron during the game
- Saving your ticket stubs from the game
Colin really wanted to do that last one, but unfortunately it seems that tickets for Canucks games are only digital these days. So no souvenir ticket stub for us!
Wrapping up: Is it worth bringing a baby to an NHL hockey game?
Bringing our baby to her first NHL hockey game was definitely a bucket list item for my husband. I know this is something he’s dreamt about doing for a long time and it was really special to be able to do it as a family.
Of course, attending a professional sports game with a baby is a lot harder than when it was just the two of us. Back then, we didn’t have to think about elevators, stroller parking, change tables, bottles, nursing, or crying (unless the Canucks lost really badly).
But – like a lot of things with a baby – it was harder but also more special.
All of the venue staff were so nice to us, making sure we knew where we were going, complimenting Baby C on her jersey and prioritizing us for the elevator. We got the VIP treatment!
We caught a few lucky breaks, like our seat mates leaving early and Baby C sleeping until halfway through the third period.
And we messed up a few things, like not being able to find an accessible entrance and choosing seats on the opposite side of the arena from stroller parking.
But overall, despite our mistakes and thanks to a little planning and a little luck, we had an amazing time. I’m really glad we took our baby to a Canucks game and would definitely say it’s worth it for hockey-loving families!
Of course, I’m even more excited to bring her back when she’s a little older and understands what’s going on. I can definitely see her and Colin bonding over hockey games and cheering on the Canucks together.
Hopefully she becomes a better fan than me – since I’m mostly in it for the overpriced hot dogs and fun intermission music!
I’d love to know: Would you ever take your baby to a professional sports game? Or if you have, I’d love to hear your tips for our next game!
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