TD Place Arena

History

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 old Ottawa 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 the football stadium.

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."

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 NHL Montreal 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. The football stadium and arena complex served as the official Canadian 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.

It was renovated and seating increased in 1992 in order to temporarily accommodate the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League.

The renovation also sealed up constant leaks that had been a problem for the Civic Centre for years. During the 2011–12 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.

Sports

Ice hockey

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 businessman Jeff 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. The 1972 and 1999 Memorial Cup tournaments were played at the arena.

In the 1970s, the arena was home to two WHA teams, the Ottawa Nationals and Ottawa 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 the Toronto Toros. The Civics were the hastily transplanted Denver Spurs franchise that played only two home games in Ottawa before disbanding.

The arena hosted the first-ever Canada Cup hockey game on September 2, 1976, when Canada defeated Finland 11-2. The arena also hosted games for the 1981 Canada Cup.

The arena was the site of the first IIHF Women's World Ice Hockey Championships in 1990. Canada defeated the United States 5–2 on March 25, 1990, to win the gold medal.

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.

In 1995, Roller Hockey International's Ottawa Loggers (renamed the "Ottawa Wheels" prior to their move to the Corel Centre) brought inline hockey to the arena.

Beginning in 2024, the arena is the home of the Ottawa Charge. 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.

In 2008 and 2009, it was used for games of the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Figure skating

The arena's unique arrangement of having most of the seats on one side of the ice has been described by Barbara Underhill as making it an ideal venue for figure skating presentations. The arena has hosted the 1978 and 1984 World Figure Skating Championships and the 2003 World Synchronized Skating Championships. The arena has hosted the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1987, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2017.

Both Worlds provided memorable moments in sports. In 1978 Vern Taylor performed the first 'Triple Axel' jump in competition. In 1984, the Canadian pairs champions Barbara Underhill and Paul 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."

Other sports

The arena has played host to several national curling championships; and hosted the 2023 World Men's Curling Championship. In men's play, the arena hosted the 1979, 1993, 2001, and 2016 Brier men's championships. It also hosted the 1990 Scott Tournament of Hearts women's championships.

The arena was the home of the Ottawa Rebel of the National Lacrosse League for one and a half seasons.

The World Wrestling Federation used the arena for shows until 1996.

In June 2016, the arena held a MMA event, hosting UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson.

Non-sports usage

In April 1968, the arena hosted the Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, when Pierre Trudeau was named Canadian Prime Minister. It also hosted the 1984 Liberal Party leadership convention. The arena also hosted the Progressive Conservative leadership conventions in 1983 and 1993.

Until the mid-2000s, the Central Canada Exhibition, or Ottawa SuperEx, used the arena for concerts and exhibits.

Gallery

File:TD Place Arena.png|Main entrance in 2019 from Bank Street File:Ottawa Civic Centre sideview 2004.jpg|Side view of the exterior in 2004 File:Ottawa 67s v Sudbury Wolves Sep 30 2004.jpg|View of the much lower ceiling under the stadium grandstand. File:Ottawa Civic Centre interior 2003.jpg|Interior prior to 2012 renovations

References

References

1. "Buy Ottawa BlackJacks Tickets {{!}} 2024-2025 Events & Schedule {{!}} Ticketmaster.ca".
2. Campbell, Don. (December 23, 2007). "Next Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of the first event at the Ottawa Civic Centre, a game by the 67's". Ottawa Citizen.
3. Kealy, Clem. (December 30, 1967). "9000 SEE GAME IN NEW RINK: Habs' Late Blitz Spoils 67s Debut". The Ottawa Journal.
4. Jon Willing. (November 30, 2018). "Ottawa Senators wanted city to pay for NHL arena on LeBreton Flats early in redevelopment process, mayor says".
5. "League Attendance Report".
6. (1992). "Ottawa Senators 1992-93 Yearbook". Ottawa Senators.
7. (September 2, 2023). "Ottawa's pro women's hockey team to share TD Place Arena with junior 67's". [[Ottawa Citizen]].
8. Brennan, Don. (January 2, 2024). "A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener". [[Ottawa Sun]].
9. "2017 Canadian Figure Skating Championships" ''CTV News'' January 16, 2017
10. "About Skate Canada". Skate Canada.
11. "Skate Canada: Hall of Fame: Honoured Members".