Of the 7 current NHL arenas I have been to this is 7th out of 7th Here is the rundown. Arena feels quite dated compared to the others I have been to, even though our favorite Madison Square Garden is much older and others are of similiar age. Unlike Centre Bell and Scotiabank Arena which have great food, drinks, and WiFi there are limited food and drink options here (at least on 3rd floor where we sat) and no WiFi. The arena is also far away from the city center although luckily they are putting new arena near the War Museum in LeBreton Flats that will be on the light rail line. They do their best to make up for the shortcomings and have a couple restaurants in the arena but we didn't try them as well as great pregame and intermission entertainment. When we went on November 2nd against the Kraken it was Oktoberfest night and they had pregame specials and entertainment we missed along with a beer stein giveaway they ran out of (but we didn't want to fly back with them anyways), and a German dance troupe during intermission that was just to the left and below us on the club level and the Jumbotron was fun to watch throughout the game. The team has so much potential and I love Brady Tkachuk as his dad Keith was my favorite Blues player growing up so I got his jersey in advance. Plus hockey really has its origins in Ottawa rather than Toronto even though the original Senators relocated to St. Louis to become the Eagles before they got the current team several decades later. Looking forward to seeing Ottawa again when Parliament is restored and they have a new and improved arena. read more

See all

This is the 7th hockey arena I've visited. It's almost 30 years old, but the place still looks pretty new. Pretty easy access to get in and out and there are plenty of restrooms and food choices. Staff was also super cool and friendly along with all of the Ottawa fans we met. It is out in the middle of the boonies, so we didn't drive there and stayed at the hotel that was 0.5 miles down the road. It is pretty easy to walk on Huntmar Dr and across the bridge to the arena. That's the only downside is that the place is like a 30 minute drive to downtown. There are some things around the area, but it is still pretty dead and you can't really pregame like you can at other arenas. read more

See all

Parking was easy in Lot 6 but I showed up early. During a show event, it costs $25 and payment can be made with the attendant upon entry. Since this show required a stage (blocks of 1/3-1/4 of the venue) there weren't as many in attendance compared to a hockey game night. Getting in was pretty easy and the security scans went very fast. I think the universal complaint everyone had was how frickin sticky the floors were! It was uncomfortably sticky. Makes you wonder how filthy the chairs are! Even when seated, any small movement of your feet would generate sticky sounds. For all the money they rake in, you'd think that they could afford a mop and bucket!! There are a lot of food stalls, washrooms and also some water fountains here and there. read more

See all

Visited the Canadian Tire Center to watch the Buffalo Sabres take on the Senators. Sadly the Sabres lost, but it was a good game with lots of goals which often helps the situation. I've been to a couple of hockey arenas and found this one pretty standard. They had a variety of different food options for visitors to enjoy, seats seem in good condition, promotions and things going on between periods. They were retiring Chris Phillip's jersey the evening we attended which was pretty exciting. Despite being a Sabres fan I really enjoyed their festivities, it was long, and there were a lot of speeches but it was clear that Phillips was a fan favorite, and the support was exciting to see. Parking was super easy and inexpensive in my mind. Having visited other arenas I have found parking to be at a premium. Not knowing the area I went online and found that it's pretty much exclusively stadium lots, although I'm sure the locals might know some secrets. It was only $12 canadian which I found very reasonable and it was super easy to get in and out. Had a good experience, and if back in Ottawa would definitely be interested in stopping by again! read more

Canadian Tire Centre - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Was here recently for a hockey game in the bell box. The best part of the bell seats was by far the HUGE food buffet. It includes anything you could imagine from pasta to pizza to a charcuterie board. It then gets changed to a full dessert bar around the end of the second period. Best part was the ice cream bar I also enjoyed how they had a bar with speciality cocktails for the game as well as a regular bar. They also had a popcorn machine as well as kettle cooked chips you can take and bring to your seats which watching the game. read more

Canadian Tire Centre - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

See all

I am enjoying myself but the concessions are mot right. Couldn't find Golden Palace at the spots marked. Ah well

My birthday present to myself last year was a trip to see my beloved Leafs take on the Sens. Ottawa was cold as heck but I still enjoyed the trip. The biggest drawback to this arena, compared to others in the NHL, is that it's in the middle of nowhere. You really have to drive to it (or get a ride there). There's one public bus that goes there but it takes over an hour from downtown, which just doesn't cut it for me. Luckily, several sports bars downtown run buses from their bars to the games and back for a low price, so that's how I found myself on a school bus full of Senators fans, wearing my Dion Phaneuf jersey (from when he was with the Leafs). The people on the bus were nice. Once you get to the stadium, the lines to get in weren't too bad. My seat was very good but food was just so-so. Nothing very fancy and the beer selection (at least in my section) was boring as hell. Maybe it's because the Leafs got shut out that I didn't enjoy myself too much, but it was a long ride back to downtown Ottawa after the loss so even though I love Ottawa, I can't give this arena more than three stars. Sorry! read more

See all

Went to see the New Jersey Devils play the Ottawa Senators (the Devils won). Although I'm not a hockey fan, I had a great time. I had 'Club Bell' seats so the perks were really good. They had a full buffet with roast beef cutting station, full salad bar, and dessert bar. Down size was the expensive wine, but really what do you expect at a stadium. I would definitely go again if I would receive (not pay for) another ticket. read more

See all

I'm not sure I could ever give an NHL arena less than 3 stars out of good faith in the league and my intense obsession with hockey. My life goal is to visit all five major sports teams arenas/stadiums/fields, and I'm currently doing the best with hockey. Out of the 12 I've visited, I'm sorry to say this was the worst. First and foremost: the location. Who's brilliant idea was it to build this in Kanata? I understand that Ottawa's inability to sell season tickets is more correlated with their off-season drama, but their poorly chosen address can't help sell those babies either. My dad and I were able to snag a couple seats from a local downtown bar for 20 dollars, but the thought of spending 60 dollars solely on Ubers to watch a game is enough to deter anyone from buying a ticket. Ottawa was the fourth game on a hockey road trip and I spent an astonishingly low amount for center ice, aisle row 1 seats. I truly thought Ticketmaster was punking me with the price. The only times I've spent less was in Buffalo and anytime I buy student tickets for Blue Jackets games. It was good for my wallet but bad for business. I've spent an embarrassingly large amount on hockey tickets in my short life and I can't imagine many other teams in the NHL selling the tickets I had for anything less than 150 - and that's if they're playing a shitty team. This was basically my heads up that this game would not be nearly as exciting as other ones I've attended. The arena is semi-difficult to navigate. You come through a main entrance but people are directed all types of ways as opposed to a general circular figure that most arenas have. My dad and I eventually made it to our seats and took in the game. As a Cincinnatian, I have attended one too many sad Reds games where people are there simply because the tickets are cheap. No ones really that into the game, but there's a vibe that the majority of the people there paid little to nothing for their seat so why complain? As a person, I am whiny. I am eternally grateful that I've gotten to experience what I did in Canada and take in the sights of the country's favorite sport. Plus, I was within two feet of Erik Karlsson before he was traded. However, between this gosh-awful location and the abysmal Senators, I can't think of a reason to go out of your way to see a game here. read more

See all

Wow, the arena has changed a lot since the last game I attended. The food selection has grown significantly, and while it still costs a mint to eat here, at least now there are options other than pizza and hot dogs! This is a great event space, and even though it changes sponsor names every few years and I can never remember what it's called, personally I think it's in a pretty decent location and not can it hold a crowd. I have attended several concerts here too, and am always impressed at all the work it takes behind the scenes to pull it all together. When it's not packed with fans, it's sits as a quiet giant preparing for its next adventure. I'm sure I'll be back for another epic event - this time it was game one of the playoffs, 2017. The energy almost brought the house down! read more

Canadian Tire Centre - 2017 playoffs - game 1! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

When a community comes together, the Arena becomes a magical place for the young and old. OTTAWA we need to stand together. Cheer these young men, these veterans. Or face the truth,the team disappearing. We may hate Toronto, but they have loyal fans, the seats are full. It shouldn't take the retiring of a Chris Phillips to have a decent crowd. Cheer our Warriors that represent our city. Go Sens Go next read more

See all

I was recently here for cirque de soleil. The show was amazing but of course this review is now about the show. :) The centre has always proven to be great for many events. I've been here for hockey games, concerts and now the CdeS show. You can get your average snacks and drinks like any other centre. The crowds are crazy as usual but they are great at controlling it. I will say I was very surprised and happy with the security at CTC this past visit. I left my glasses in the car (I have RX shades so I had those on instead and forgot to switch to my regular glasses). They actually let me go back outside to get my glasses even though the ticket said no reentry allowed. They completely understood that I would not be able to see the show with my RX sun glasses! Lol I will be back here in November to see Amy Schumer! read more

See all

Ate supper at Chek Point. Had the chicken bowl. Looks like someone had diarrhoea and threw chips on it. The portion was smaller than the kid's chicken tenders and double the price. Horrible quality. Everything was cold including the chicken.i highly recommend going elsewhere or going hungry. Better than the insane prices for absolute crap food. Save yourself the time and eat somewhere else. Anywhere else. read more

Canadian Tire Centre - Looks like absolute crap because it was, but they call it a chicken bowl. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I recently went to a Sens home game and was terribly disappointed by the scarcity of beer nuts. Ive been going to hockey games for my entire life, minors to NHL, and beer nuts have always been a staple to my hockey-viewing experience. Even now, a few hours after the game, I can still smell the warm sugary aroma and feel the satisfying crunch of the candy and nut. CTC needs beer nuts. Please. read more

Love going to Sens games, shame I only visit Ottawa once every 2 years but everytime I return to th, they never let me down. Arena is amazing and has lots to offer as far as food and merchandise. Game experience is always terrific and I'll never forget a moment of it. Love coming here despite the fact the arena sits in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nothing. Not really anything to complain about however. Always love watching Sens games here! read more

See all

I love visiting professional team played arenas and stadiums from basketball and hockey to baseball and football. The Canadian Tire Center is a multi-purpose arena situated in the Kanata suburb West of Ottawa. Its major tennant is the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It has a seating capacity of 17,000. It famously hosted the 2012 All Star NHL game, last year's Eastern conference NHL finals and hosted many musical and dramatical events. Walking through its cooridors I can see that they are very roomy as well as the chairs unlike the Bell Center in Montreal or even the ACC in Toronto. There is a recliner chair section at the 200 level and a Molson Canadian bar. Wow. There are however fewer restaurants in the arena as compared to other similar arenas. We didn't go to these restaurants but chose instead to order food and to bring it back to our seats. The choice of food is great and surprisingly affordable for a sporting event. You can even get healthy choices on the 1st and 3rd level from Farm Boy Foods. A bit disappointed that the Sénateurs are not contending in 2017 playoffs, the stadium is far from Ottawa 20-30 minute ride in a modest traffic (you can reach the arena only either by car or public bus- awful choices for many spectators); and for some reason they covered empty seats in the upper decks- not a lot of spectators even when they were in the playoffs in 2016. Weirdly you don't hear a lot about the team during the season. A marketing prob or do they just want to put more salt on the wound to move? Tip: if you park outdoors park close to the exit as there will be a lineup to get out once your event is finished.. $$-$$$ (due to cost of our tickets,gas, and concession) read more

See all

I've been to many arenas, and I have to say the tire center is on par with the finest sporting venues in the world. The place sparkled like it's still brand new. The staff were all so helpful and knowledgeable. The food was fantastic, prepared fresh and beautiful served. There were enough bathrooms that not one was too packed to handle the sell out crowd for intermission. All other sports venues should take a page out of tire centers playbook. read more

I attended Disney on ice Saturday night March 3 7pm. I am handicap and the handicap parking lot. Cost 15.$ but worth it. However when we tried to park in the parking lot it was full of cars with no handicap signs. So had to park far from entrance. Why were they there and they should have all gotten tickets. Gj brown. read more

I am surprised there are not a ton of reviews for this place! Of course, Robert F (the previous and 1st reviewer) is refering to the fact that Canadian Tire has been the sponsor of this building since July 2013. How many iterations has this NHL Palace had since it was opened 20 or so years ago, as "The Palladium"!? None the less, here we are in 2015, and the Senators have been playing in the CTC for over a year now. If there have been any changes that Robert refers to, I certainly have not noticed a marked reduction in prices for seats or food! And Eugene Melnick wants to move them downtown, and he's proposing a new arena in LeBreton Flats. I say NO WAY to that! Parking is already an issue - even out in Kanata! They have an absolute hissy fit if you park outside the designated parking areas which are attached to the arena, at $10 or whatever it is now. Since the Tanger Outlet Mall opened in October, it is a walkable stroll to the CTC. But they certainly don't want you parking there, and walking over the bridge to the CTC... oh no! Moving the rink downtown will only wreak havoc for parking in the area surrounding LeBreton Flats - as if that wasn't bad enough already, with the Blues Fest being held down there! Moving the CTC down to LeBreton Flats would be creating another Glebe-like parking nightmare in a different neighbourhood. As for this particular visit, I'd have to say that we got GREAT seats, about 6 or 7 rows back from the glass, near the bend where the goalie's net is. Not cheap though! However, one big plus was that you could order food and have it brought to you. Pretzels are $6 (I think?) and Tim Horton's coffee was $2. There's a bit of a premium for buying coffee in this building, but in all, that wasn't a bad price. And that great big pretzel was fairly tasty! I would have to say it was 2nd best - compared to the fabulous Bier House pretzel (they're in the Kanata Centrum Mall. But beware - their prices are significantly higher!) Out of the 5 of us in attendance, 2 of us were very happy with the results of the game, as it was 7-2 for Ottawa. The other 3 people were here to chear on the Oilers, who unfortunately lost. Better luck next time! One thing I have to remember for future games: they do not allow knitting needles into the arena, or pocket knives for that matter. read more

This may taint the review for some readers but...i am a Sens fan...don't judge me Leafs fans! This really is a great venue. At hockey games there really isn't a bad view, even in the 300 level. I've sat at every level and enjoyed every viewpoint. The concessions on offer are really varied from pizza pizza to farm boy, you'll definitely find snacks you will love! I've also seen music concerts here and the acoustics were fantastic. Really enjoyable! read more

This is the 3 rd senators game i come this year. Always brought a back pack. This time they refused to let me in with it. Referred me to an obscure section on the arena website. Not mentioned on the Ticketmaster website or on any signs on the building that back packs not allowed. Supervisor was very arrogant about it also. Great client service guys read more

Hyped for an authentic Canadian hockey experience. Left somewhat disappointed. 3.5 stars! First off this arena was great for viewing. I had seats in 311 and they were near perfect! Action felt so close unlike the upper seats in other arenas I've spectated from! Second, the Fans! Much more lively and team oriented compared to my beloved LA Kings which is more of a bandwagon team. Is it me or is the food offered here actually reasonable? I paid $10 for poutine, yes expensive but it was enough for two people! I'm used to shelling out $8 for a plain hot dog back in Cali! What lowered my rating was the overall experience with the fan entertainment. I get it, LA we have Will Ferrell on our kiss cams, but some of the video segments were just dull. Yes the fans are passionate but when the camera comes on its just....bleh. On ice entertainment aside from the great game was really boring too. I was actually dozing off somewhat! Maybe I'm too used to the entertainment value of being in LA. With the cool visuals, lasers, drunk I don't know what's going on, let's take a selfie type of fan...I missed some of that. Plus that arena, so cramped in the hallways! Oh and that parking situation. It's a pain getting oat of the arena (see what I did there eh) Nonetheless it was a great experience cause being a true hockey fan I came to enjoy the battle on ice between Boston and Ottawa. read more

Came here for an Ottawa Senators game and came away a little disappointed in the venue for an NHL Arena. The views were great from our seats, but the amenities are definitely lacking. While they do have a lot of food options the corridors are really small and the lines and walking traffic make it nearly impossible to stand in line for food and I don't think I saw a vendor in the stands once during the game in my section. I was also surprised on how small the team store. Parking is a nightmare as well as there are limited exit and entry options which makes for a very long wait. The one thing that did really surprise me was how clean the arena was, especially the bathrooms. They seemed to be well taken care of even in between periods they seemed always clean. read more

As many in Ottawa know this arena could be so much better. The location is not great, concessions are over-priced and needless to say the Ottawa Senators had a terrible season. My biggest pet peeve - they have a 100 staff directing you into the parking lots but when the game is over it's everyone for themselves. I do, however, like the addition of the new club bell seats where there is a great buffet and tables right at your seats. read more

My original review was "too long" to post here or anywhere else but this has to be said: everything you read about this place is true. It's possibly the worst venue ever. No fucking venue in the RIGHT MIND would make their customers leave their bags and purses OUTSIDE, out in the OPEN... for anyone to steal or grab... that's what these people did to many others and myself for the Slayer Final Tour this past Wednesday night... if I can give less than 1 star, I most definitely WOULD. Let this business DIE please... don't come here, don't give your money to them, do anything to let them die a slow and painful death of bankruptcy and anything else. This establishment either must change their policy ASAP or close down NOW. Worst venue for a concert I have ever been in & will be the worst venue for a concert you will ever be in if you dare come here. BE WARNED.... ******THIS IS NOT A JOKE******* read more

The Arena of the Ottawa Senators, wrestling matches, Country music concerts and other events. Located in a suburb of Ottawa (yet we passed freaking farms on the cab ride from downtown) The Area is nicely laid out, with wide concession areas, great sight lines, and comfortable seating. The downside is the location. Its basically surrounded by car dealerships and open fields. The overall lack of Mass Transit in the Ottawa area compounds the issue. The other minus is they don't control pedestrian traffic crossing in in front of the cab pickup area. its dangerous for the pedestrians, and forces the cabs to sit there trying to find an opening in the flood of people. read more

Just need to say that the bus parking is not set up very well...we almost died of carbon monoxide poisining because the buses are parked too close together and kept running. They should also be facing the other directiin in the parking lot so they are able to leave properly with enough room to get around. The venue itself was great! read more

Worst nhl arena I've been to! Where do I start? My friend, myself, and my girlfriend all took an 8 Hour Dr. from Philadelphia to Ottawa. We've been to 8 different stadiums and never had an issue. The city is beautiful, our hotel was great, the game day experience was a good time, but how it ended was embarrassing. With about 10 minutes left in the third period, the game was tied and security came down and told my buddy he had to leave. We are Philly fans, so I know we get a bad rap wherever we go. But we were surrounded by senators fans the whole game and enjoyed talking hockey with them and the continuous back and forth action all game long. The security supervisor who was talking with my friend about why he had to leave was unreasonable. We each consumed three beers in a total of two hours, yet she insisted he was intoxicated. When I told her to breathalyze him so he can prove he was not. She responded, "it's a judgment call" and "this is private property, we can ask whoever we want to leave, whenever we want". None of us cursed, do anything vulgar, and the only thing I can think of that got their attention was that he banged on the glass when the flyers scored their 3rd goal of the game. But c'mon, we were second row! He didn't flip the bird, curse, or do anything you don't see at any other game. When I argued back with her, she told me I could leave too. I told her we just drove 8 hours and my girlfriend was still in our seats. She threatened to have my friend arrested if he didn't leave. Out of fear of spending a night in jail 500 miles from home, he said "let him stay, I'll just leave". I was appalled and Embarrassed that this literally was happening. He missed an overtime period and shootout win for our flyers because of this. Everyone sitting around us asked what happened and couldn't believe it either...even the Jumbotron cameraman for the senators!! He kept apologizing for them ruining our experience. The fans and cameraman were amazing. I will not recommended anyone to see a game at Canadian tire Centre. How you can call someone intoxicated after 3 beers in 2 hours is beyond me? We're casual drinkers and always are respectful of hometown fans in their own arena. Good luck, you've been warned. read more

Canadian Tire Centre - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

See all

This is a great venue. Amazing atmosphere during a hockey game. In dropping one star for the tiny seats. Being a large venue the high prices are expected. Other than that the tiny seats are pretty comfortable and things are kept quite clean. read more

Glad to see the Sens have partnered with a strong organization to continue a long tradition of building a better community. Expect a lot of changes to occur in this building over the next few years. read more

Had a meal at check point. The wrap took 20 and still got here before our drinks did. It was obviously premade and had been sitting around as it wasn't warmed properly before being delivered. In summary: too slow, too expensive and not that good. Eat anywhere else. Or just eat afterwards. Or go hungry. read more

Poor view, over expensive food. Not worth the money. It's a cheap arena but makes scenes for it's in Ottawa.

Disappointing. Concourse is very narrow and cramped, even in the 100 section (lower level). This is a major design flaw and not acceptable for a newer arena. Also, there's no wi-fi unless you belong to a club of some sort. Most arenas have it and Canadian Tire Centre should join the 21st century! read more

Great NHL experience. I can't speak to its function for other events, but as an NHL arena it is great. I've been to other arenas in both Canada and the USA, and I think it stands up quite well. The new jumbotron really improves the experience, the seating layout is quite comprehensive, and there is Ottawa Senators paraphernalia that decorates the halls to check out between periods. I found other buildings, particularly in the southern States, to be far too loud, to the point of fear of hearing loss. The CTC however is loud enough to feel like you're at a game but not overwhelming. The parking really isn't too bad. Its all relatively close to the building, and the only issue is lack of exits when driving home after the game. That is however a problem characteristic to all of Ottawa's suburban infrastructural planning: not enough ways out. If you just hang out in the building for the three stars and stuff there's not too much traffic left when you leave. My only other criticism is the disruption caused by people who order food throughout the game. You're trying to pay attention to the game and then a waiter is at the end of your row trying to communicate food orders to people in the middle of the row. Then you're passing food and money back and forth throughout the whole game. Seriously folks, eat before the game! Are your appetites really so insatiable that you can't go a full 20 minute period without a dramatically overpriced beer and pizza?! read more