Canadian Tire Centre facts for kids
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The Canadian Tire Centre in 2022
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 Canadian Tire Centre
Location in Ontario
Canadian Tire Centre
Location in Canada
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| Former names | The Palladium (1996) Corel Centre (1996–2006) Scotiabank Place (2006–2013) |
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| Address | 1000 Palladium Drive |
| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°17′49″N 75°55′38″W / 45.29694°N 75.92722°W |
| Public transit | OC Transpo [[|62]] [[|162]] [[|400]] Canadian Tire Centre station |
| Owner | Capital Sports Properties Inc. |
| Operator | Canadian Tire |
| Capacity | Basketball: 20,500 Concerts: 20,500 Ice hockey: 18,500 (1996–2005) 19,153 (2005–2015) 18,694 (2015–2017) 18,572 (2017) 17,373 (2017–2018) 18,655 (2018–present) Lacrosse: 6,995 Theatre: 2,500–7,400 |
| Record attendance | 20,511 (December 4, 2014) |
| Field size | 650,000 sq ft (60,000 m2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 7, 1994 |
| Opened | January 15, 1996 |
| Renovated | 2004, 2012, 2015 |
| Construction cost | CA$170 million ($246 million in 2021 dollars ) |
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| Project manager | ZW Group |
| Structural engineer | Carruthers & Wallace Ltd. |
| Services engineer | J. L. Richards & Associated Ltd. |
| General contractor |
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| Main contractors | Eastern Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Ottawa Senators (NHL) (1996–present) Ottawa Black Bears (NLL) (2024–present) Ottawa Wheels (RHI) (1996–1997) Ottawa Rebel (NLL) (2001–2002) Ottawa 67's (OHL) (2012–2014) Ottawa SkyHawks (NBL Canada) (2013–2014) |
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The Canadian Tire Centre (also known as Centre Canadian Tire in French) is a large building in Kanata, a suburb of Ottawa, Canada. It's a place where many different events happen. It first opened in January 1996 and was called the Palladium. Later, it was known as the Corel Centre from 1996 to 2006, and then Scotiabank Place from 2006 to 2013.
This arena is mainly used for ice hockey. It's the home rink for the Ottawa Senators, an NHL team, since it opened. It also hosted the Ottawa 67's hockey team for a while when their own arena was being fixed up. Starting in the 2024–25 season, it became the home for the Ottawa Black Bears lacrosse team.
Contents
History of the Canadian Tire Centre
How the Arena Was Planned and Built
The idea for this arena started in 1989. A company called Terrace Corporation wanted to bring an NHL team to Ottawa. They suggested building a 20,500-seat arena, called the Palladium, along with a hotel. This big project was planned for a large area of farmland near Kanata.
Building the arena wasn't easy. The land was farmland, so it needed special permission to be used for construction. The local government in Kanata supported the idea. However, the provincial government and some people living nearby were against it. This led to public meetings to discuss the plans.
In 1991, permission was finally given, but with some rules. The arena had to be a bit smaller, with 18,500 seats. Also, the company had to pay for a new highway exit. Construction officially began on July 7, 1994.
Getting the Money to Build It
Finding money for the project took two years. The Canadian government gave $6 million, but much more was needed. Rod Bryden took over the Senators team and Terrace Corporation in 1993. He borrowed money from banks to pay for the $188 million project. However, he still needed help to pay for the highway exit. The Ontario government helped by promising to cover the loan for the highway, and then construction could really move forward.
Opening and Name Changes
The arena was built in 18 months. It opened on January 15, 1996, with a concert by Canadian singer Bryan Adams. The first NHL hockey game was two days later. The Montreal Canadiens played against the Senators.
Just a month later, in February 1996, the arena's name changed from 'Palladium' to the Corel Centre. This happened because Corel Corporation, an Ottawa software company, bought the rights to have their name on the building for ten years.
In 2003, a businessman named Eugene Melnyk bought the Senators team and the arena. He owned them through a new company called Capital Sports Properties.
Changes to Seating and Name Again
In 2005, the arena was allowed to have more seats, increasing its capacity to 19,153 for games and 20,500 with standing room.
In 2006, the arena's name changed again to Scotiabank Place. This was part of a new 15-year agreement with the Canadian bank Scotiabank.
The arena hosted the 2012 NHL All-Star Game and got a new, clear high-definition scoreboard that year.
In 2013, the arena's name changed one more time to the Canadian Tire Centre. This happened after the Canadian Tire Corporation bought the naming rights.
Later, the Senators team decided to reduce the number of seats in the arena. They thought the building was "a little bit too big for the market." They hoped that having fewer seats would mean more games would sell out completely. The seating capacity was changed several times, eventually settling at 18,655 for hockey games in 2018.
Future Plans for a New Arena
The Ottawa Senators have been talking about building a new arena in downtown Ottawa since 2016. These discussions continued after the passing of owner Eugene Melnyk. A deal to buy land for a new arena was signed in August 2025.
On December 6, 2024, the arena hosted its first PWHL game. The Montreal Victoire played against the Ottawa Charge, with Montreal winning 2–1 in front of 11,065 fans.
What You'll Find at Canadian Tire Centre
Arena Features and Seating
The Canadian Tire Centre is set up for many types of events. It regularly hosts ice hockey and basketball games. It has also held indoor lacrosse matches. For concerts, the arena can change its seating arrangements to fit the show.
Inside, there are six restaurants and a fitness club. Most of the restaurants are open only on game days. You can also find many snack stands. The Ottawa Senators team has a store near the east entrance where you can buy team merchandise.
The arena has three main seating levels: 100, 200, and 300. The 100 level is closest to the action. There are also special suites on different levels. The 100 level has its own walkway, while the 200 and 300 levels share one. In 2014, the arena had major updates, including new food areas and 4K video screens.
Location and Getting There
The arena is located in the western part of Ottawa, near Huntmar Drive and Ontario Highway 417. You can easily get there from two highway exits. It's about 22 kilometers (14 miles) west of Downtown Ottawa. OC Transpo, Ottawa's public transit system, offers special buses to take people to and from the arena for events.
Exciting Events at the Centre
The Canadian Tire Centre is the biggest place for sports and concerts in the Ottawa area, besides the outdoor TD Place Stadium. It often hosts famous musicians, big concerts, and major sporting events. Here are some of the notable events that have taken place:
- It hosted games three and four of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.
- Three world championship ice hockey tournaments: the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and the 2013 Women's World Hockey Championships.
- The 2008 NHL Entry Draft, where NHL teams pick new players.
- The 2012 NHL All-Star Game, featuring the league's best players.
- The last NHL game that hockey legend Wayne Gretzky played in Canada.
- A UFC event in 2019, called UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy.
- Several Canadian University Basketball Championships.
- Many professional wrestling shows, including episodes of WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown.
- A large religious event, Billy Graham's final Canadian Crusade, in 1998. Over 100,000 people attended.
- Concerts by many famous artists like Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, and U2.
See also
In Spanish: Canadian Tire Centre para niños
