Know Before You Go & A-Z Guide

Canadian Tire Centre is a cash-free venue that only accepts debit and credit cards, including major contactless payment methods, for a safe and speedy check out.

Doors open for Ottawa Senators games two hours before game start time. Unless otherwise stated, doors open 60 minutes before the scheduled start time of Ottawa Black Bears games and non-Senators events. Canadian Tire Centre enforces a strict no re-admission policy.  Any guests exiting the facility will not be allowed to re-enter the building.

All tickets for Canadian Tire Centre events are delivered digitally and will be scanned from guests mobile devices at the arena to maintain a contactless fan experience.

In conjunction with NHL protocols and for your safety and expedited entry into Canadian Tire Centre, bags are restricted to clutch or wallet style bags smaller than 4″x6″x1.5″ which will be subject to contactless security screening. Larger bags may be permitted after screening with a x-ray machine located at Gates 1, 2 and 3. Bags must fit under seat. Hard-sided bags and backpacks are not permitted.

At each Senators and Black Bears home game, as well as select concerts and events, fans have the opportunity to play the OLG 50/50 raffle. For more information visit sensfoundation.com.

Parking spaces for guests with disabilities are available on a first-come, first-served basis in Lot A at the southeast corner of Canadian Tire Centre. To access the accessible parking lot you must have a government issued hang tag; those without a government issued hang tag will be redirected to a general parking lot. Parking passes can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Accessible seating is available on various levels of the arena, depending on the type of event and seating configuration. When available, accessible seats can be purchased online through Ticketmaster.

In conjunction with NHL protocols and for your safety and expedited entry into Canadian Tire Centre, bags are restricted to clutch or wallet style bags smaller than 4″x6″x1.5″ which will be subject to contactless security screening. These bags cannot include a metal or chain style strap and must clear our walk-through metal detectors. Larger bags may be permitted after screening with a x-ray machine, located at Gates 1, 2 and 3. Bags must fit under seat. Hard-sided bags and backpacks are not permitted.

Back packs and camera bags are not permitted. Exceptions will be made for guests who require a bag for medical devices and childcare/diaper bags. Guests who have these bags will be required to enter at Gate 3.

Onsite bag/coat checks are not available.

No signs, posters, or messages on any garment with explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization directed toward any person.

Banners/Signs, flags and signs are not permitted in Canadian Tire Centre for non-Senators events. For Senators games, guests are permitted to bring banners/signs into the arena provided they do not interfere with the game and other fans’ enjoyment of the game. Banners/Signs can neither cover any advertising or building signs, nor can they compete with existing building signs and advertising and they must not be attached to the building in any manner. They also cannot carry disparaging or obscene messages. Signs greater than 24″ × 24″ in size must be able to roll up or fold.

Many Canadian Tire Centre staff members are fluently bilingual.

The Box Office is located on the east side of the building at the main entrance, Gate 1. The box office opens two hours prior to hockey games, one hour prior to lacrosse games and concerts and is closed on non-event days.

Tickets for all Canadian Tire Centre events, including Ottawa Senators and Ottawa Black Bears single-game tickets, are available to purchase through Ticketmaster.

Parking passes can be purchased online through Ticketmaster.

Recording devices such as, audio (such as recorders) or video (such as the use of the video option on digital cameras) are not permitted in Canadian Tire Centre. However, guests are permitted to bring small still cameras without a camera bag to any Senators game. Still cameras with the option of the use of detachable lenses are not permitted. The camera flash option can only be used during the pre-game warm-up. Cameras cannot have any type of transmitter mechanism for the purpose of using a flash or strobes. The use of the camera during games is allowed only from the patron’s ticketed seat. The use of the camera cannot interfere with other fans’ enjoyment of the game. Canadian Tire Centre is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings, and patrons are discouraged from leaving their belongings unattended. Still Camera policy will vary by Canadian Tire Centre event.

Canadian Tire Centre administration offices are located within Canadian Tire Centre, on the arena level at Gate 2. Business hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cellular phones are permitted in Canadian Tire Centre, provided that their use does not interfere with other fans’ enjoyment of the event. In the event a concert is a phone free show at the request of the artist, patrons will be notified prior to event day.

Most Canadian Tire Centre events do not require a child who is less than two-years-old to have a ticket unless they are to occupy a seat. This policy will vary by event, so please inquire at time of ticket purchase.

Please visit the Concessions page for list of all concessions.

For the convenience of our suite holders, a Concierge Desk is located at Gates 2 and 3. Open on event days at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. respectively (for evening events), the Concierge Desk provides a variety of services to our suite and club seat holders, including ticket drop-off and pick-up. When leaving tickets at the Concierge Desk for pick-up by guests less familiar with Canadian Tire Centre, please ensure you specify Gate 2 or Gate 3. Tickets left for pick-up by non-suite holders and non-club seat holders and their guests should be left at Will Call, located at Gate 1.

We allow empty re-fillable water bottles into the building, as there are water filling stations throughout Canadian Tire Centre.

Interested in becoming a corporate sponsor? For more information contact Martin Ballard  or at 613-599-0391.

Please visit our directions page.

Doors open for Ottawa Senators games two hours before game start time. Unless otherwise stated, doors open 60 minutes before the scheduled start time of Ottawa Black Bears game and non-Senators events. Canadian Tire Centre enforces a strict no re-admission policy.  Any guests exiting the facility will not be allowed to re-enter the building.

While visiting Canadian Tire Centre, guests are required to wear shirts and shoes at all times.

Canadian Tire Centre guests are asked to please drink responsibly and choose a designated driver. Canadian Tire Centre management wants everybody to arrive home safely after our events. For information on our Designated Driver Program, please go to the Guest Services Booth located behind Section 201 on the Main Concourse.

Canadian Tire Centre management and Indigo Parking provide emergency services to guests parking on the Canadian Tire Centre site. Please approach an Indigo Parking staff member or go to one of the parking booths for assistance.

During Ottawa Senators games, guests arriving or returning to their seats will be asked to wait until a stoppage in play before entering the arena bowl from the concourse to avoid disrupting the view of others. During all events, improper conduct, which includes profane or abusive language, fighting and throwing objects onto the ice/stage or in the stands, will result in ejection from the building. Repeat offences will result in loss of ticket privileges as determined by Canadian Tire Centre management at its sole discretion. Ottawa Senators season-ticket holders are responsible for the actions of others that use their tickets. NHL rules prohibit guests from interfering with play and or athletes. Guests who fail to comply with these rules will face immediate ejection from the arena and possible criminal prosecution. Fans are encouraged to report inappropriate behaviour to arena staff.

Located on the Main Concourse behind Section 201. City of Ottawa Paramedic Services attendants are on hand during all events at Canadian Tire Centre. Guests requiring first-aid assistance are urged to contact any member of the Guest Services staff.

Frictionless scanners are now located at Gates 1, 2 and 3. Patrons can walk through the scanners without emptying their pockets. Entering with a venue approved bag? Bags will still need to be x-rayed. 

The Guest Services Booth, along with our first-aid facilities, are located behind Section 201 on the Main Concourse. Seating maps, seating assistance, sensory needs and many other services related to your enjoyment of events are available from our Guest Services staff.

Most restrooms include a counter suitable for infant care. Please view the interactive map for restroom locations.

Did you lose something? Articles will be retained at the Guest Services Booth until the end of the event. Following events, please contact Canadian Tire Centre administration at 613-599-0114. All items are held for two weeks only, after which time they are donated to a local charity.

Souvenirs for most events are available at various locations around the building during events. Senators’ souvenirs are also available at Sens Stores, the Official Ottawa Senators’ retail store. The main store is located in the main lobby at Gate 1. It is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during all Senators home games.

Please visit our parking page.

All pets, with the exception of service animals, are not permitted in Canadian Tire Centre.

• No signs, posters, or messages on any garment with explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization directed toward any person.
• Food or beverages purchased outside Canadian Tire Centre
• Bottles and cans
• Coolers
• Sticks/flagpoles
• Aerosol cans
• Fireworks
• Skateboards
• Inline skates
• Roller skates
• Illegal drugs or noxious substances
• Cameras, sound and/or video recording devices as per event restrictions
• Helium balloons
• Stolen tickets
• Items prohibited based on promoter request
• Horns or noisemakers
• Frisbees and/or beach balls
• Laser pointers
• Umbrellas
• Any mechanically enhanced noise making devices, specifically air horns with sirens, whistles
• Spiked or studded jewelry or belts
• Weapons and dangerous devices of any type such as firearms, explosives, stun guns, handcuffs, clubs, batons, martial arts instruments, knives, etc.

Building management reserves the right in their absolute discretion to deny access for any item(s) deemed a safety concern or may result in an undesirable impact on the guest experience.

Illegal items will be turned over to Ottawa Police. If a guest is found in the facility with a prohibited item, the item will be confiscated, and in some cases, the guest may be evicted from the building.

For the safety of all Canadian Tire Centre guests, any person found endangering others by throwing or tossing objects within the arena or onto the ice surface will face immediate ejection from the building.

Pucks flying into spectator areas can cause serious injury. Please be alert in spectator areas, including after stoppages in play. If you are injured, please notify a staff member at once. Fans are welcome to keep any puck shot into the stands; however, NHL rules prohibit interference with any game in progress. Any fan interfering with a game will be ejected from the building.

Please visit the restaurant section to see the various in-house options available to dine in during your visit. 

Ticket scalpers are not recognized ticket agents of Canadian Tire Centre. If you accidentally purchase lost or stolen tickets, you risk being removed from your seats upon the appearance of the legal and legitimate ticket holder. The Canadian Tire Centre Box Office does not sell tickets to be re-sold and will not sell tickets by mail, telephone or in person to anyone whom they believe may re-sell the tickets. Canadian Tire Centre strongly urges all guests to purchase tickets through established outlets (Ticketmaster) and not to patronize ticket brokers or scalpers.

As part of the no re-entry policy, patrons will not be able to leave the venue to smoke and then return to the game or event. Smoking is not allowed inside the venue.

Taxi/UBER pick-up service is available at Gate 1. Phones linking you directly to the taxi company are located beside the exit doors at Gate 1.

• ARAMARK – 613-599-0230
• INDIGO PARKING – 613-599-0190
• THE SENS STORE – 613-599-0333

If you require help or feel you are in danger while attending an event at Canadian Tire Centre, call of text 343-551-4400 for immediate assistance.  

For the convenience of guests, tickets for all Canadian Tire Centre events, Ottawa Senators hockey and Ottawa Black Bears lacrosse games are available for purchase on-line at Ticketmaster, canadiantirecentre.com, or in person at the box office up to two hours before event time.

The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and Ottawa Black Bears Lacrosse Club are pleased to provide fans with a unique service, allowing them a forum to announce birthday and anniversary greetings at a home game.

Please note that all Special Greetings MUST BE SUBMITTED BETWEEN 24-48 HOURS BEFORE THE GAME that you wish the message to appear.

• Ottawa Senators Greeting
• Ottawa Black Bears Greeting

Water fountains are located throughout the concourse.

If you require wheelchair seating, please inform the ticket seller or phone operator at the time of purchase. Canadian Tire Centre does have a limited stock of wheelchairs that are used for transportation purposes only, i.e. to and from your seat. Wheelchair escorts are available from Gate 3. Wheelchair seating locations are reserved for those who require accessible seating. For inquiries concerning wheelchair seating, please contact the Canadian Tire Centre at 613-599-0100 for non-Senators events or 613-599-0300 for Senators hockey games or inquire at the time of the ticket purchase.