Changes aimed to provide better guest experience and improved security for all fans
OTTAWA – Canadian Tire Centre (@CdnTireCtr) announced today that it has updated its bag policy for fans coming to the venue. This policy is effective immediately and will be enforced for all Ottawa Senators (@Senators) games, show and events.
Patterned after the successful implementation of a similar policy in the National Football League and the National Hockey League’s new mandate for event operations and recommendations for enhanced security, the new policy will only allow patrons to bring small soft-sided handbags, diaper bags and bags specifically required for medical purposes into hockey games, shows and events.
Starting with the Senators game on Thursday, Jan. 15, versus the Montreal Canadiens, there will be zero tolerance for entry for any bags that are not of the approved criteria. This indicates specifically that backpacks, coolers and duffle bags will not be permitted into the arena. Canadian Tire Centre wants to inform those fans who arrive without a vehicle to be aware of this change so they can plan accordingly.
The Senators provided their first update of the bag policy in September, and during the last four months the building has allowed fans to check bags as they became educated on, and accustomed to, the new bag policy. For security reasons, bags that are larger than approved sizes will no longer be able to be checked for patrons.
“We felt it important to clearly communicate our change in policy to our fans,” said Tom Conroy vice-president and executive director of Canadian Tire Centre. “We feel we have provided ample time for fans to adjust their patterns of bringing bags to games and want to be clear well in advance that large bags will not be permitted to come in with patrons. We understand these changes could impact patrons who may walk or take public transit and that is why the building used the first half of the NHL season to allow people to adjust. We are confident that this change is in the best interest of our fans, their game experience and collective safety.”
Canadian Tire Centre continues to listen to feedback from patrons and strives to find new ways to improve the game experience, atmosphere and security inside the building. The fully updated NHL bag policy along with many other frequently asked questions about the arena and game experience can be located at www.canadiantirecentre.com/guest-services/new-policies
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