Canadian Tire Centre Pregame Guide
Ottawa Senators · Ottawa, ON
Canadian Tire Centre is at 1000 Palladium Drive in Ottawa, and its most practical detail is about leaving rather than arriving: vehicles parked in Lot 1 can use a dedicated ramp onto the eastbound 417 Queensway at the end of Senators games and select concerts, which sidesteps the queue everyone else joins. Doors open two hours before a Senators game, among the most generous windows in the league. Bags are restricted to clutch or wallet styles under 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches, must fit under the seat, and hard-sided bags and backpacks are refused outright.
Tips & Fan Reports
Hard-sided bags and backpacks are refused at any size; a clutch under 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches is the allowance.
Buy the parking pass through Ticketmaster ahead of the day.
Park in Lot 1 if you are heading east afterwards — it has its own ramp onto the eastbound 417 and skips the general exit.
Doors open two hours before a Senators game, one of the longest windows in the league.
Where to Go Before the Game
Lot 1, with the ramp to the eastbound 417
The lot to aim for: vehicles parked here can use a ramp exiting directly onto the eastbound 417 Queensway at the conclusion of Senators games and select concerts.
Known for Direct ramp to the 417 · Skips the exit queue · Senators games and select concerts
1000 Palladium Drive
The arena's address. Arriving from the east, take the Palladium Drive exit from Highway 417, exit northbound to the right, follow the interchange and turn left onto Cyclone Taylor Boulevard.
Known for Palladium Drive exit off the 417 · Left onto Cyclone Taylor Blvd
Cyclone Taylor Boulevard
The road the eastern approach turns onto after the Palladium Drive interchange, leading into the arena grounds.
Known for Final approach · Off the interchange
Rules to Know
What Canadian Tire Centre allows, and what it does not.
- Bags are restricted to clutch or wallet style bags smaller than 4" x 6" x 1.5", subject to contactless security screening.
- Diaper and medical bags are permitted upon screening.
- Bags must fit under the seat. Hard-sided bags and backpacks are not permitted.
- Doors open for Ottawa Senators games two hours before game start time.
- The arena is at 1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2V 1A4. Arriving from the east, take the Palladium Drive exit from Highway 417, exit northbound, follow the interchange and turn left onto Cyclone Taylor Blvd.
- Vehicles parked in Lot 1 can use the ramp to exit directly onto the eastbound 417 Queensway at the conclusion of Ottawa Senators games and select concerts.
- Parking passes can be purchased online through Ticketmaster.
- The arena publishes no tailgating policy.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Only clutch- or wallet-style bags smaller than 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches are permitted, and they cannot have a metal or chain strap.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages are prohibited, but empty refillable water bottles are permitted and filling stations are available throughout the arena.
- A card or a phone wallet
Canadian Tire Centre is cash-free and accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and major contactless payment methods.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Canadian Tire Centre uses fully digital mobile tickets through the Senators App or My Sens Account.
- A coat for the walk in
January lows average 8°F between the lot and the door at Canadian Tire Centre.
- A poncho for the walk in, not an umbrella
Umbrellas are on Canadian Tire Centre's prohibited list, and October averages 3.9 inches of rain.
Ottawa Senators Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Ottawa Senators gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
Canadian Tire Centre official site: Know Before You Go & A-Z Guide, and Directions & Parking
- Venue policies
Current Canadian Tire Centre A-Z, accessibility, safety, parking, and Ottawa Senators mobile-ticketing pages reviewed for Senators policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals