Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque
Université de Moncton
450 Université Avenue
Moncton, NB E1A 7R1
Year Opened: 1966
Capacity: 1,200
Le Nid des Aigles Bleus
Outside of the province of Québec, there is only one fully francophone university in Canada. That school is Université de Moncton. Located in the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, UdeM embraces the Acadian tradition which sees New Brunswick as a fully bilingual province. Université de Moncton was formed by the amalgamation of three colleges in 1963 including Collège Saint Joseph, Université Sacré-Coeur and Université Saint-Louis d’Edmunston. Université de Moncton has 5,200 students and a number of campuses, with the main campus located in Moncton. Known as the Aigles Bleus, or Blue Eagles, UdeM athletics first took the ice in 1964 and have seen significant success culminating in 11 conference championships and 4 University Cups as National Champions.
Home for the Aigles Bleus is on the campus of Université de Moncton. Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque was built in 1966 with a capacity of 1,200. Built more like a box than a barn, Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque was named after a local philanthropist who was critical for fundraising for the university.
Food & Beverage 3
Concessions at Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque are limited to snack bar on the upper level at the east end of the arena. The menu is simple and includes soda, water, juice, Gatorade, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pizza, poutine, onion rings, hot dogs, candy, popcorn and chips. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice at the arena. Very limited beer sales are also found at the concession stand. The stand is enclosed on the east end with windows looking out over the ice and some seating, similar to a Blueline Club found in many lower level junior hockey arenas in Canada.
Atmosphere 3
Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque is a simple rectangular prism shape located at the western edge of campus. From the road there is nothing that stands out about the brown and grey structure, however a closer look at the main entrance on the west side finds a very attractive entry with stone facing around the doors emblazoned with the Aigles Bleus logo. After entry, fans are met with a small ticket window and then must ascend to the upper level to have their tickets scanned. The upper level on the west side is where fans will find some modest nods to Aigles Bleus history with captions in French. Team photos as well as a specific section for team photos for the 1981, 1982, 1990 and 1995 Aigles Bleus squads that brought home National Championships are here for fans to peruse. The Aigles Bleus have a unique method of honouring those whose jersey numbers are retired. Portraits of Jeannot Boulanger, Yves LeBlanc and Ronnie LeBlanc are found in the upper lobby rather than banners hung inside the arena. There is also a large portrait of Jean-Louis Lévesque with an explanation of his contributions to the university, en français, of course.
Inside the arena, the ice is oriented from west to east with seating on the north and south sides. A double logo at centre means that the perfect centre-ice logo photo can be achieved from either north or south sides. Seating consists of 8 rows of plastic arena seats with a walkway behind the seating and rails for standing room. When selecting seats, fans should be cognizant of the pillars around the arena which can cause some obstructed views. Choosing seats at row F or lower would be a good plan. Large, yellow, truss supports cross over the ice surface, give the arena a low profile and cozy feel. The four National Championship banners hang above the ice surface and 14 conference banners for both men’s and women’s hockey hang on the east wall. Simple hockey scoreclocks are found at both the west and east walls.
The gameday production at an Aigles Bleus game is fairly simple. All of the announcements are in both french and english and Moncton uses the eagle screech sound effect liberally. The PA system is not terrific and some announcements are difficult to hear. A 50/50 draw is the highlight of promotions and Moncton’s mascot, Super Bleu, can be found interacting with the crowd during the game.
Neighbourhood 3
Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque is located at the west end of the campus of Université de Moncton in the Sunny Brae neighbourhood of the city. There are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink that are not too far, but will require a ride in the car. Tony’s Bistro, Hynes Restaurant, The Sunshine Restaurant and Mark10 Taproom are good choices. The main sporting option in Moncton is the Wildcats of the QMJHL, who play downtown in the Avenir Centre. Other tourist options in Moncton include Riverfront Park, Resurgo Place, Musée Acadien, and the Moncton Highland Games. Fans who wish to stay near campus can choose the Holiday Inn.
Fans 4
USports hockey fans can be a bit difficult to assess as the AUS, and other conferences, do not congregate attendance statistics. That being said, Moncton enjoys strong support. At the time of writing, the Aigles Bleus averaged 800 fans per game, which ranked 3rd in AUS. In the previous season, 2023-2024, Moncton attracted over 670 fans per game, which ranked 4th in the conference. The game that was reviewed was the 2025 senior game and there were nearly 900 fans in attendance. UdeM fans are loud and proud and very much into the game .
Access 3
Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque is located at the west end of the campus of Université de Moncton in the Sunny Brae neighbourhood of Moncton. It is on the south side of Université Avenue, which serves as the southern border of campus. It is immediately north of NB-15 and 3 km south of the Trans-Canada Highway, so getting to campus is very easy. There is plenty of free parking at the arena on gameday. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, there are buses that run on Université Avenue. Fans should consult the Codiac Transpo website for maps, fares and schedules. The arena is definitely on the older side and getting around is not as easy as other modern arenas. The seating offers limited legroom, which is not consistent from row to row. Also, fans should take heed in selecting a seat to avoid obstructed views from the support posts. Selecting seats in row F or lower will probably work. Washrooms in Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque are also small.
Return on Investment 5
There is tremendous value in a Moncton Aigles Bleus hockey game. Moncton tickets start at $14 for adults with discounts for seniors and kids. UdeM students and kids under 6 are free. AIgles Bleus seats are reserved, which is not common for USports hockey, so pre-purchasing seats online might be the best idea. Parking for the Aigles Bleus is free and concession prices are good. The product on the ice is solid and it is found in a very supportive atmosphere with a significant crowd. Put that all together and it equals an excellent return on investment.
Extras 3
An extra mark for Université de Moncton as a fully francophone university, the only one in Canada outside of Québec.
An extra mark for the success the Moncton Aigles Bleus have enjoyed.
An extra mark for the local Acadian flavour found at an Aigles Bleus game.
Final Thoughts
When in the Maritimes, taking in a Moncton Aigles Bleus game may be the best mix of sports and Acadian culture that can be found. Aréna Jean-Louis Lévesque offers a unique atmosphere in a building that is full of Acadian flavour. Le Nid des Aigles Bleus is definitely worth checking out.
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