 TD Place Arena interior in January 2016 | |
 Interactive map of TD Place Arena | |
| Former names | Ottawa Civic Centre (1966–2009, 2012–2014) Urbandale Centre (2009–2010) Rona Centre (2010–2011) J. Benson Cartage Centre (2011–2012) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1015Bank Street |
| Location | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 45°23′55.99″N75°41′2.84″W / 45.3988861°N 75.6841222°W /45.3988861; -75.6841222 |
| Public transit | OC Transpo Local Routes 6 , 7 , Special Routes 450-455 |
| Owner | City of Ottawa |
| Operator | Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group |
| Capacity | 10,500 (1967–1993) 10,575 (1993–2005) 9,862 (2005–2014) 5,500–8,585 (2014–present)[2] |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1966 |
| Opened | December 29, 1967 |
| Renovated | 1992, 2005, 2012–2014 |
| Construction cost | C$9.5 million ($82.5 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Craig and Kohler |
| Tenants | |
| Ottawa 67's (OHL) 1967–2012, 2014–present Ottawa Nationals (WHA) 1972–1973 Ottawa Civics (WHA) 1976 Ottawa Senators (NHL) 1992–1996 Ottawa Loggers (RHI) 1995 Ottawa Rebel (NLL) 2002–2003 Ottawa Blackjacks (CEBL) 2020–present Ottawa Charge (PWHL) 2024–present | |
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TD Place Arena, originally theOttawa Civic Centre, is anindoor arena located inOttawa, Ontario, Canada. Opened in December 1967, it is used primarily for sports, includingcurling,figure skating,ice hockey, andlacrosse. The arena is directly under the north grandstand ofTD Place Stadium, an adjacent outdoor stadium. TD Place Arena has hosted Canadian and world championships in figure skating, curling, and ice hockey, including thefirst women's world ice hockey championship in 1990. It is also used for concerts and conventions such as the formerOttawa SuperEX.
The arena is the home to theOttawa 67's of theOntario Hockey League (OHL) and theOttawa Charge of theProfessional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). It was the home of theOttawa Senators of theNational Hockey League (NHL) from 1992 through 1995, theOttawa Nationals of theWorld Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1973, theOttawa Civics of the WHA in 1976, and theOttawa Rebel of theNational Lacrosse League (NLL) from2002 to2003.
Canadian Prime MinistersPierre Trudeau,John Turner,Brian Mulroney, andKim Campbell were elected party leaders during party conferences that were held at TD Place Arena.
In the 1960s, the City of Ottawa was preparing to rebuild the football stadium at Lansdowne Park, on Bank Street at the Rideau Canal. During the planning phase, the oldOttawa Auditorium arena was demolished and the City now needed two new sports venues. The City combined plans and the arena, named the Civic Centre, was built together under the north grandstand of thefootball stadium.[citation needed]
Dominion Bridge was the supplier of the huge steel girders for the arena and stadium's frame, some so large they had to be brought to the site by barge, up the Ottawa River and down the Rideau Canal. According to Dominion Bridge "the most striking feature of the unique design concept is a giant overhanging roof reaching out 170 degrees from atop eight massive steel A-frames."[3]
The new Civic Centre opened on December 29, 1967—although seating was not complete—for an exhibition game between the Ottawa 67's, boosted by five players from the Montreal Junior Canadiens, and the NHLMontreal Canadiens. Seats were taken temporarily from the Coliseum building nearby. Then President Howard Darwin said about 500 fans had to be turned away at the door. Of the 9,000 who attended the opening game, only six ticket-holders requested and received refunds.[4] The football stadium and arena complex served as the officialCanadian Centennial project for the city of Ottawa, as federal government grant money depended on the facility opening within 1967, and construction was rushed to meet the deadline.[3]
It was renovated and seating increased in 1992 in order to temporarily accommodate theOttawa Senators of theNational Hockey League.[citation needed]
The renovation also sealed up constant leaks that had been a problem for the Civic Centre for years. During the2011–12 season, a 67's game had to be rescheduled because of the leaking roof. Midway through the renovation process at the end of 2013, steel corrosion was discovered by workers and cost an extra $17 million to repair.[5]
The primary tenant since the building's opening has been the Ottawa 67's junior men's team. In 1998, the team was bought by local businessmanJeff Hunt, and he successfully improved attendance to take advantage of the arena's large capacity. Since then, the 67's have been one of the top-10 junior teams in Canada in terms of attendance, often finishing first on the list.[6] The1972 and1999 Memorial Cup tournaments were played at the arena.[citation needed]
In the 1970s, the arena was home to two WHA teams, theOttawa Nationals andOttawa Civics. Neither survived in Ottawa for more than one season. The Nationals played for one regular season, but moved their playoff games to Toronto, and subsequently moved there permanently to become theToronto Toros. The Civics were the hastily transplantedDenver Spurs franchise that played only two home games in Ottawa before disbanding.[citation needed]
The arena hosted the first-everCanada Cup hockey game on September 2, 1976, whenCanada defeatedFinland 11-2. The arena also hosted games for the1981 Canada Cup.[citation needed]
The arena was the site of the firstIIHFWomen's World Ice Hockey Championships in 1990.Canada defeated theUnited States 5–2 on March 25, 1990, to win the gold medal.[citation needed]
Starting in 1992, the Ottawa Senators called the arena home for three and a half NHL seasons. In preparation for hosting the NHL, the arena was refurbished, adding additional seating and 32 private boxes.[7]
In 1995,Roller Hockey International'sOttawa Loggers (renamed the "Ottawa Wheels" prior to their move to theCorel Centre) broughtinline hockey to the arena.[citation needed]
Beginning in 2024, the arena is the home of the Ottawa Charge.[8] The team's first ever game on January 2, 2024, drew 8,318 fans, which set a new attendance record for professional women's hockey. In the game,Montreal defeated Ottawa 3–2 in overtime.[9]
In 2008 and 2009, it was used for games of the2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[citation needed]
The arena's unique arrangement of having most of the seats on one side of the ice has been described byBarbara Underhill as making it an ideal venue for figure skating presentations.[10] The arena has hosted the 1978 and 1984World Figure Skating Championships[11] and the2003 World Synchronized Skating Championships.[11] The arena has hosted theCanadian Figure Skating Championships in 1987, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2017.[citation needed]
Both Worlds provided memorable moments in sports. In 1978Vern Taylor performed the first 'Triple Axel' jump in competition.[11] In 1984, the Canadian pairs champions Barbara Underhill andPaul Martini won the Championship in dramatic fashion:
"After a disappointing Olympics in Sarajevo, Barbara and Paul seriously contemplated retiring from skating before Worlds'. However, advised by their friend Brian Orser to put on her old skate boots, Barbara and Paul were propelled onto the ice, onto the podium and into history. Their flawless program is considered one of the great Canadian sporting moments and gave Canada a national thrill."[12]
The arena has played host to several national curling championships; and hosted the2023 World Men's Curling Championship. In men's play, the arena hosted the1979,1993,2001, and2016Brier men's championships. It also hosted the1990 Scott Tournament of Hearts women's championships.[citation needed]
The arena was the home of theOttawa Rebel of theNational Lacrosse League for one and a half seasons.[citation needed]
TheWorld Wrestling Federation used the arena for shows until 1996.[citation needed]
In June 2016, the arena held aMMA event, hostingUFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson.[citation needed]
In April 1968, the arena hosted theLiberal Party of Canada leadership convention, whenPierre Trudeau was named CanadianPrime Minister. It also hosted the1984 Liberal Party leadership convention. The arena also hosted theProgressive Conservative leadership conventions in1983 and1993.[citation needed]
Until the mid-2000s, theCentral Canada Exhibition, or Ottawa SuperEx, used the arena for concerts and exhibits.[citation needed]
| Preceded by first arena | Home of Ottawa Senators 1992 – 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home of Ottawa 67's 1968 – present | Succeeded by Current |
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