Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Canadian Tire Centre
1000 Paladium Drive
Ottawa, ON K2V 1A4
Year Opened: 1996
Capacity: 6,995 (lower bowl)
New Bear’s Den
It was a somewhat surprising announcement that saw the rebirth of box lacrosse in Ottawa. GF Sports, the New York-based owner of the New York Riptide, announced the relocation of the National Lacrosse League franchise to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
The circumstances surrounding the move were a little bit hazy, however, it is believed that the Riptide were evicted from their home, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, due to low attendance. The return of lacrosse to the Capital Region is a welcome one. The NLL left Ottawa as the Ottawa Rebel struggled at the gate, playing from 2001 to 2003. The Rebel would move to Edmonton and eventually become the current Saskatchewan Rush.
Home for the Black Bears is the Canadian Tire Centre. The much-maligned facility is the home of the Ottawa Senators. The Canadian Tire Centre was originally named The Palladium and built in 1996 in the town of Kanata, west of Ottawa. Kanata would become part of Ottawa after amalgamation in 2001. Often critiqued for being too far from where all of the action is in Ottawa, the future of the Canadian Tire Centre is murky at best.
Recently, the Senators have purchased a section of land in the LeBreton Flats area of Ottawa, much closer to Parliament than Kanata, to develop it and build a new arena. It will be interesting to see if the Ottawa Black Bears are part of the plan for that planned new arena. Until that point, the Canadian Tire Centre remains the new den for the Black Bears.
Food & Beverage 3
One of the advantages of NLL lacrosse at the Canadian Tire Centre is that fans have access to the 100-level concourse. Most fans would not have this access for Senators games and would be limited to the concession options on the upper levels. The Canadian Tire Centre is unique in that it features many bars and lounges on the 100 level.
There are plenty of spots where fans can sit and grab a drink and some food before the action starts on the floor. Otherwise, the concession options are decent at the Canadian Tire Centre. Gabriel Pizza is the local star and can be found at their dedicated concession or other stands. Tim Hortons and Lone Star are also recognizable stands.
The typical arena fare is found at the Canadian Tire Centre, as well as a few other, more interesting options. Canadian Cubanos and Oktoberfest Sausage should be considered for fans who wish to stray from the typical dogs and popcorn. There are many bars and lounges where fans can choose a variety of beer or other alcoholic beverages.
Atmosphere 3
The Canadian Tire Centre has a unique exterior. A circular building on a ground level square features light siding stripes at the upper portion of the building to give it that unique look. It is clear, even from the exterior, that the Canadian Tire Centre is the home of the Ottawa Senators. There are plenty of markings around the building, including the illuminated “Sens” sign at the main entry on the east side. The one marking for the Black Bears on the exterior is a series of banners, which are alternated with Senators banners. A fire pit welcomes fans at the east plaza and reminds them just how cold a winter in Ottawa can be.
Upon entering the arena, fans must choose the lower 100 level or upper levels before having their ticket scanned. The opportunity to check out the 100 level may be a possibility for many who would not normally see it during a Senators game due to the more expensive tickets. The 100-level concourses are accented with red everywhere, and there are plenty of Senators markings and artifacts.
There isn’t much in the way of Black Bears anything in the concourses. A few Black Bears items can be found in the team store, which is dominated with Senators paraphernalia. Walking around the 100-level concourse, fans will be required to double back as a 360-degree path is not accessible due to the Bell Club at the southwest end.
Inside the seating bowl, the Canadian Tire Centre features three tiers of seating with the 300 level closed for Black Bears games. The floor is oriented from northeast to southwest, and the perfect spot for the centre logo is from the northwest side. The 200-level fascia features a full 360-degree ribbon board, and the 300-level fascia has ribbon boards on the ends. The four-sided video board hangs above the floor. It may not be gargantuan like newer models, but it more than does the trick.
The gameday production of a Black Bears game is not dissimilar to that of most NLL teams. Music is played during the play, mainly classic rock. The PA announcer speaks familiarly and has a “homer” slant, even audibly questioning referee calls on the floor. The Black Bears are attempting to build in-game traditions by coaxing the fanbase to yell certain phrases at certain times during the game.
Fans are also encouraged to “get their claws out” upon Ottawa goals, standing and holding up their hands like bear claws. The Black Bears drumline plays throughout the concourse, parade style, before the game begins, and the Ottawa Black Bears cheer team performs during a couple of pauses in the action. The cheer team is more akin to a college cheer team, performing a few stunts, along with some dance routines. The mascot, Cubby, traverses the crowd and interacts with fans, as well as being part of the pre-game production.
Neighbourhood 4
The Canadian Tire Centre is located in the Kanata section of Ottawa, approximately 23 km from Parliament. The location of the arena has been an issue for the Senators since its inception. There are a few spots that are close to the arena for pre and post game food and drink. Crazy Horse Stonegrill, Via Cibo, Jack’s, Fratelli Kanata and Tommy’s are all good options. There are also a number of restaurants inside Canadian Tire Centre that are available.
There are plenty of other sporting options in Ottawa for fans to take in. Canadian Tire Centre is also home to the Ottawa Senators. Other sporting options include the Ottawa 67’s, Ottawa RedBlacks, Ottawa Blackjacks, Ottawa Charge and Ottawa Titans. The University of Ottawa fields a number of Gee-Gee teams including basketball, hockey and football.
Carleton University also fields Ravens basketball, football and hockey teams. The annual Panda Game between Carleton and Ottawa is a local event worth checking out. Ottawa also has a plethora of other tourist options including skating on the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, the Canadian war Museum and Museum of Nature to name a few. The Canadian Cold War Museum is closer to Kanata. For fans wishing to stay near the arena, the Glo by Best Western and Comfort Inn are good options.
Fans 3
The 2024-2025 season is the inaugural season for the Ottawa Black Bears. The fan support for the Black Bears has been initially good, but unspectacular. The Black Bears have welcomed an average of 6,100 fans per game. The game reviewed saw a crowd of over 5,200 fans. At the time of writing the Black Bears were ranked 6th in the NLL in attendance. There is plenty of room for improvement, but the Black Bears have enjoyed a decent beginning to their return to Ottawa. Fans in attendance are generally quiet and laid back and are not terribly enthusiastic towards the in game host’s prompts.
Access 4
The Canadian Tire Centre is located in Kanata, almost 25 km from Parliament Hill. It is adjacent to Highway 417, on the north side of Palladium Drive. Getting to the arena is not terribly difficult, and much quicker than getting there for a Senators game. There are large parking lots surrounding the arena, which can cause some slowdowns getting in and out of the area.
For fans wishing to take public transit, there are a number of bus stops at Canadian Tire Centre. Fans should consult the Ottawa Carleton Transpo for fares, maps and schedules. Inside the Canadian Tire Centre the concourses are generally narrow, and it is not possible to walk a full 360 degrees around the 100 level due to the Bell Club. Washroom facilities are adequate for the facility.
Security protocols are in constant flux for major sporting events. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Ottawa Black Bears and Canadian Tire Centre websites for the most up to date security protocols, including bag policies and prohibited items.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for the Black Bears begin at $31 and go up to $48 for 100 level seats. The opportunity to sit in prime seats for far less than a Senators game is a reality at a Black Bears game. The Bell Club seats are $120 and include food and drink. Parking for the Black Bears is not cheap and will run at least $21. Concession prices are akin to most other major sports arenas. The return for the investment at an Ottawa Black Bears game is solid and fans will definitely enjoy their trip.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the return of NLL lacrosse to Ottawa.
An extra mark for the bilingual announcements that happen at Black Bears games
Final Thoughts
Taking in an Ottawa Black Bears game is a great way to spend the sporting dollar. Although Kanata is not considered a prime location, the facility is decent. Hopefully, the second life for lacrosse in Ottawa will have a longer lifespan than the previous Ottawa Rebel, and they will be around long enough to join the Senators at the new LeBreton Flats arena.
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