Vancouver unveils preliminary Canucks playoff plan

With lessons learned from last year's riot, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson rolled out a broad plan for Canucks fans looking to celebrate the team's playoff run.

As The Canadian Press reports, the city wants to scale back massive group gatherings and instead focus on smaller events, like block parties and viewing events at community centres.

In 2011, the city mounted large screens in the downtown area where tens of thousands of fans gathered to watch Game 7 of the playoffs between the Canucks and the Boston Bruins. It was at this site that the first rioters flipped a car and set it ablaze, triggering the maelstrom of smashed windows, store lootings and violence that followed.

Details on what the smaller events will entail have yet to be finalized; however, organizers revealed they were working on a plan and expect to spend between $50,000 to $100,000 on the festivities.

Vancouver's government and local transit authority will also work together to curb excessive alcohol consumption by curtailing the amount of booze sold and barring massive amounts of people from jamming into the downtown core.

This includes the possibility of limiting public transit if crowds grow too large.

Based on results from four reports commissioned after the riot, all concluded that the combination of alcohol over-consumption and massive crowds played a major factor in the night's events.

Another independent report suggested the city's police were "caught off guard" and in a "state of confusion" although the report's authors also said that more officers wouldn't necessarily have helped.

Among the recommendations posited by the same report was a suggestion that the city partner with emergency agencies and neighbourhood community members to better plan events.

But while they're adamant on avoiding a riot repeat, officials said they would consider opening up the Rogers Arena downtown if the Canucks make good this year.