Canadian Tire Centre

The arena sits in a stretch of Kanata where the local skyline is flat and the surrounding lots are mostly empty. It is not the only building on Palladium Drive, but it is the one that draws the crowds.

Inside, the layout is standard, but the sightlines are dictated by the roof supports. The ice is bright white, surrounded by the standard glass barriers. The seating rises in tiers, creating a bowl that feels intimate despite the size of the room.

The venue has seen its share of changes. It opened in the mid-nineties and has been renamed a handful of times since. The capacity has shifted up and down as renovations took place. In 2012, they installed a new high-definition screen to replace the old one. The Ottawa Senators have called this place home for nearly thirty years. They are not the only team to use the ice; the Ottawa Black Bears of the National Lacrosse League also played there for a season.

High-profile events have landed here. The National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in 2012, and the draft brought Steven Stamkos to the city. A woman’s hockey match drew a crowd of over eighteen thousand, which is a significant number for a city of this size. Concerts have also filled the seats, with Garth Brooks selling out four nights in a row.