Canadian Tire Centre - Ottawa Senators

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29

Canadian Tire Centre 1000 Palladium Dr Ottawa, ON K2V 1A5

Ottawa Senators website

Canadian Tire Centre website

Year Opened: 1996

Capacity: 18,652

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Sens Hope To Move Back To The Capital

The Canadian Tire Centre, which opened in 1996, is more a point of discussion not for where it is, but where it isn’t.

The CTC, whose main tenant is the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, is situated in Kanata, a 25-minute trip from Parliament Hill without traffic, but can take 50 minutes to one hour by car on weeknights through rush hour traffic on Highway 417. The alternative is a train-to-bus combo that makes the trip in about 1:20.

After the game, it often takes 20-30 minutes to get an Uber/Lyft, and there is no central place for rideshare pick up, which makes for a logistical nightmare as passengers are forced to wait in sub-freezing temperatures post-game.

The good news is help could be on the way as the Senators have acquired land downtown and intend to build a new facility. The big question is when construction starts and when the new home be ready to move in. Location, location, location.

The building was named The Palladium upon opening in 1996, became the Corel Centre until 2000, and was called Scotiabank Place from 2006-2013. The arena will turn 30 in January 2026.

The Senators, who play in the NHL’s Atlantic Division, are moving forward with plans for a new home at LeBreton Flats, having recently signed a land-sale agreement with the National Capital Commission (NCC) in August 2025 for 11 acres. This project is part of a larger redevelopment including housing, retail, hotels, and restaurants, aiming to solve current arena accessibility issues, though land cleanup and design mean a potential opening is likely around 2031-2032. Senators fans, stay patient.

Sens fans are patiently waiting for their team to win its first Stanley Cup. Ottawa reached the finals only once in 2007, losing to the Anaheim Ducks. Unfortunately, the Sens supporters are surrounded by more established hockey hotbeds in Toronto, four hours to its southwest, and Montreal, two hours to its east.

The current iteration of the Senators is not the original professional team in Ottawa. The original Ottawa Senators were a force in the pre-Original Six days and dominated the early 1900s, claiming eleven Stanley Cup Championships between 1903 and 1927. The Ottawa Black Bears of the National Lacrosse League also play in the building.

The Senators are currently owned by Michael Andlauer. The sale was approved by the NHL in September 2023. The team was sold following the passing of Eugene Melnyk in 2022. Andlauer is best known for his logistics companies (Andlauer Healthcare Group) and has prior hockey experience, including owning the OHL's Belleville Bulls.

Food & Beverage 4

The concession scene at Canadian Tire Centre offers plenty for the hockey fan to indulge in. CTC starts with the Grab and Go. Fans can grab popcorn, candy, snacks, soft drinks, and beer, and use the self-checkout for a quick exit. The other options included Smoke’s Poutinerie, Tim Horton’s, ByTown Grill (including Cuban sandwiches and burgers), Capital Eats, Chef’s Kitchen, Gabriel Pizza, and Popcorn Factory.

Then there are a host of bars serving beer, high-end mixed drinks, and cocktails. CTC serves Coca-Cola products, as well as Dr. Pepper and Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

Some of the bars include: Wayne Gretzky Distillery, Six 1 Three, Lone Star Cantina, Hard Rock Club, and Go Sens Go. Hard Seltzer is $14.39, Twisted Tea is $15.15, Domestic beer is $14.08, and Premium is $14.75. A bottle of Dasani is $5.75, and $7.05 for Smart Water. A 9’ cheese pizza is $14.15 from Gabrie,l and a Canadian Cubano is $23 from ByTown Market.

Atmosphere 3

The Canadian Tire Centre is probably a mid-level NHL venue for atmosphere. It features solid sightlines and is a good place to take in a game with not as many amenities. The exterior of the CTC is impressive as the cylindrical structure is lit up and has nothing blocking its view.

A long canopy along the central sidewalk leads fans into the building and offers protection from the elements (wind and snow), which can be brutal. Ottawa gets a significant amount of snow, averaging around 88-92 inches per season (223 to 234 centimeters), which makes it one of the snowiest national capitals. Ottawa gets more snow than Toronto and sometimes double the amount in some winters.

The "Sens sign" in front of the building provides prominent signage and the perfect spot for fans to stop for a selfie on the way in. Behind the sign is a natural gas fireplace.

The Molson Cup is located on the third level, a Canadian hockey award given to the player on a Canadian NHL team with the most three-star selections in a season.

CTC uses a blend of organ music and popular music. The scoreboard is not one of the better ones in the NHL. The screen is a bit smaller than most, and the board does not show which players are on the ice during live play.

The Ottawa Team Shop is located inside the building in the main lobby at Gate 1 and is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday.

Neighbourhood 3

Most likely, if you are visiting Ottawa from out of town, staying downtown is the preferred choice. There is an outlet mall and a few hotels, including Wyndgate by Windham and Microtel Inn and Suites, reasonably close, but they are not within walking distance. The Fairfield Inn and Suites is slightly more than one mile away.

A very short drive to Terry Fox Drive will bring fans to the Kanata Entertainment Centrum, which is a large retail area with many dining options. Beaver Tails, which is an Ottawa must, can be found at the nearby Tanger Outlets. Beaver Tails, established in 1978, is known for its unique Canadian pastries, but also offers hot dogs, poutine, and ice cream.

Ottawa boasts one of the premier tourist destinations in Canada. Being the capital city, the Parliament buildings are high on the list of places to see. There is plenty of availability for a free 40-minute tour of either the House of Commons or Senate, which can be booked online Parliament of Canada.

Museums are another way to beat the cold and learn about the city and the nation. The litany includes: Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Royal Canadian Mint. Lansdowne Park and the Rideau Canal are worth checking out, and skating on the canal is highly recommended. Typically, the canal opens for skating around New Year’s Day.

Fans 4

The Senators fans were invigorated last year as they made the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Led by young studs Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Dylan Cozens and first-year coach Travis Green, the Senators were back in contention. Ottawa played to about 92% capacity last year at 17,306 per home game.

The Senators are averaging 16,811 midway through the current season. The fans are enthused but not as fervent as the fans in their two nearest competitor cities, Toronto and Montreal.

The Sens fans are urged on by team mascot Spartacat, who is an energetic, anthropomorphic lion who debuted in 1992. Spartacat makes his way around the CTC witha drum in hand to lead the “Go Sens Go” rallying cry.

Access 3

The doors open for Senators games two hours before game time. Entry was simple as CTC has frictionless scanners located at Gates 1, 2, and 3. Patrons can walk through the scanners without emptying their pockets. Bags will still need to be x-rayed.

The arena is conveniently located off Highway 417. The exits that will lead you to Canadian Tire Centre are Terry Fox Road and Palladium Drive. There are plenty of parking lots surrounding the arena. Parking runs from $21-40. It is recommended to pre-pay through Ticketmaster. ​​

Parking Lots 5 and 9 are “SLAP SHOT” lots, which allow you to park and pay from your phone. Slap Shot Lots must be paid upon arrival (or up to 4 hours in advance of event time) through the Indigo Neo Parking App on a mobile device. Just pull in, park, register your plate, and pay.

Fans coming from downtown can take the 1 train to the 62 bus, which stops at Palladium, 5 minutes from the arena. For more information, visit octranspo,

The Sens’ website states guests dropping off/picking up passengers may use Frank Finnigan Way, located directly in front of Gate 1. But there is no dedicated area for rideshare,s which is a big negative.

A difference not seen at any other NHL venue is that tickets are not scanned at the entry point but instead scanned as people enter the level of their assigned seat. The other quirk is that fans cannot walk completely around the lower bowl, as the Bell Club (sections 109-113) prevents a complete revolution.

Return on Investment 3

According to the Fan Cost Index for the 2024-2025 season, the Ottawa Senators were one of the cheapest options in the NHL, ranked 28th at $487.29. That’s the best value in Canada and second best in the league.

Prices of food and collectibles are comparable to those of other NHL buildings. Ticket prices are on the more reasonable side, except for rivalry games vs. Montreal or Toronto. Upper level tickets can be secured for weeknights for as little as $5,0, while lower bowl will run as low as $150.

Extras 3

The Senators earn an extra point for their return to the original expansion logo in 2020 that the Senators wore during their first season in 1992. The change has been well-received as it brought back the familiar two-dimensional profile of the Roman soldier with minor tweaks to the colors and design

The arena garners another point as CTC was the final Canadian building to showcase NHL icon, Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky’s final game in Canada was played at the Corel Centre on February 21, 1999. There is also the Wayne Gretzky Distillery in Section 109, which opened in 2024.

The third point is for the beautiful Molson Canadian Fan Deck (opened 2016) on the second level in sections 214-216. The special VIP vinyl stadium seats are behind the net the Senators shoot at twic,e with a full bar directly behind the seating area. A check of TicketMaster Canada revealed a ticket in the fan deck to a March game v Anaheim goes for $156 Canadian or $114 USD.

Final Thoughts

The Canadian Tire Centre is more than an adequate venue to watch a hockey game. Sens fans dreaming about a new shiny toy in downtown Ottawa might have to wait a bit before the Yellow Brick Road to the capital is complete.

Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter @VenutoGreg and Facebook.