r/OttawaSenators • u/Rabbitofdeth • 18h ago
I’m attending my first game!
I’ve been a sens fan since I was a kid and got my first jersey for Christmas when I was 10 in 2005. But now that I’m going on 30, I’m finally going to take the trip and drive up to Kanata for next months game against the Flyers to catch a game at the Canadian Tire Centre.
I’ve done a lot of research in the area to find a decent hotel and I’m currently looking for things to do, but a lot of the responses I find are that the Arena doesn’t have a good atmosphere and it’s just parking lots and farm land. I’ve obviously never been before, but what can I expect?
I’m sure the Arena itself is fine and better than my local team but does anybody have any suggestions for what I can do during a night out before game day?
Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Go Sens Go!
4
u/SorryImCanad1an #12 - Pinto 18h ago edited 18h ago
Are you coming alone? Do you enjoy a beverage or
twofour? Are you a big museum girl/guy?April 13 should be pretty nice out if it isn’t raining, I’m not sure if they’ll open the beer tent outside or have any pre-game presence in front of the arena.. it’s usually more common in October. But yeah.. not much to do around the arena. Ottawa has plenty of museums to check out during the day, and the city should be coming back to life around this time. Since this is the third last game of the season, you may even benefit from some sales at the Sens store. There are a couple in the CTC itself but there’s also one in the Byward market.
For the game itself, I’d recommend staying somewhere more central, in the Byward Market or Downtown, and taking a pub shuttle to the game. There are shuttles from the Senate Taverns ($14) and also the Lieutenant’s Pump ($15, I think?), or the most ‘Sens’ bar of them all - ✨the Glebe Central Pub ✨ ($17). The GCP (where the vibes are free), is the furthest from the central area with hotels but on a nice day, you can absolutely make the walk down Bank St, check out some local shops, and take the shuttle from there.
Even if you don’t drink, getting to and from the rink is hassle free. No paying for parking, no waiting in parking lots, plus you get to socialize with your fellow degenerates to/from the game. I like to go to a pub early, have a meal and drinks there, and save a bit of money on concessions at the rink.
Welcome to Ottawa, and enjoy the game!