HALIFAX -- According to Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, Scotiabank Centre has been a catalyst for downtown growth and development over the 43 years since it first opened. "A lot of people didn’t think it made sense to build the stadium downtown," said Savage. "It was the right place to have it." Savage also said Scotiabank Centre has also played a defining role in downtown business and tourism. In recent years, the formerly named Halifax Metro Centre has benefitted from its partnership with Scotiabank, which has helped re-define the facility and pave the way for much needed and on-going upgrades and renovations.