Canadian Tire Centre celebrates 30 years in Ottawa

CTV’s Tyler Fleming looks back at some historic moments at the Canadian Tire Centre as the arena marks 30 years in the capital.

Thirty years ago, a blizzard of activity was happening in Kanata inside what was then known as the Palladium, now the Canadian Tire Centre, marking the opening of Ottawa’s largest indoor arena.

The first event was a Bryan Adams concert, kicking off a new era for live entertainment in the capital. Two days later, the Ottawa Senators played their first game at the building against the Montreal Canadiens.

“It was fantastic. Really was a special night,” says Senators president Cyril Leeder. “It became the gathering place in Ottawa for all major concerts, major events and big hockey games.”

Leeder has been a key player from the start and was central to building the stadium.

“You could imagine, you’ve got a franchise, you don’t have a building; you’ve committed to build a new building, so we were starting really from ground zero,” he says. “It’s something I had been involved with before we got the franchise. I was out there, knocking on doors with the people that owned the land, the farmers to buy their land. And my first real task once we got the franchise was to oversee the building project and build the Palladium.”

Over three decades, the building has hosted countless concerts, from U2 to Celine Dion and Paul McCartney, sporting events, including the World Junior hockey championship, and community gatherings, but Leeder says, many of his most memorable moments remain tied to hockey.

Among Leeder’s fondest memories in the building were the 2009 World Juniors, as well as several historic moments in Senators history.

“Daniel Alfredsson’s 400th goal, for me that was a special night. It was a comeback game scored in overtime. A young Erik Karlsson made the pass and jumped into his arms after the goal went in the net,” Leeder said.

“We can’t forget our first Stanley Cup playoff game here in 2007. We had game three which we won. But the loudest the building ever was when Igor Kravchuk scored a goal in 1998. It was our second year in the playoffs.”

As part of the 30th anniversary, a time capsule buried during construction, placed inside the main entrance at gate one, is being opened in the coming days.

“Late in construction we sunk a stainless-steel canister, probably 3 feet or 4 feet tall into the lobby,” he says. “I don’t know what’s in it. I know there’s a picture of me holding a newspaper and a special mason jar of dirt from the site from the Palladium. It has the palladium logo on it, so I know that’s there but short of that, your guess is as good as mine and we’re gonna have some fun.”

Senior director of premium seats and sales Christine Clancy has also been with the organization from the start.

“I started out thinking I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do out of university and I applied for a job as a receptionist at this new and exciting organization that was starting up in Ottawa,” she says.

“I thought that sounds like a good place to spend a couple of years and the next thing I know I’m into my 34th season and I’ve never left.”

Clancy says her experience at the arena has been all about the special moments made possible by the organization’s hard-working staff.

“You see the impact that your job has so it’s definitely an exciting place to work and then outside of the relationships that we have with our coworkers and colleagues it’s about the relationships that you have with your clients too.”

Clancy also placed a few items in the time capsule.

“It is going to be so interesting to see what we uncover when we open up the time capsule,” Clancy says. “I specifically remember putting in a photo of a couple of the girls — two of us are still here.”

While a new downtown arena is planned, Leeder says the Canadian Tire Centre remains an important part of the team’s future.

“We are making a plan for the next generation for our arena and our facilities and we’re working hard at it,” he says. “We’re going to be here for a few years and we’re still making significant investments here in the building while we work away at putting the future home of the team downtown.”

The Senators host the Canadiens on Saturday, mirroring the matchup from opening week in 1996.

The first event was a Bryan Adams concert, kicking off a new era for live entertainment in the capital. Two days later, the Ottawa Senators played their first game at the building against the Montreal Canadiens.

“It was fantastic. Really was a special night,” says Senators president Cyril Leeder. “It became the gathering place in Ottawa for all major concerts, major events and big hockey games.”

Leeder has been a key player from the start and was central to building the stadium.

“You could imagine, you’ve got a franchise, you don’t have a building; you’ve committed to build a new building, so we were starting really from ground zero,” he says.

“It’s something I had been involved with before we got the franchise. I was out there, knocking on doors with the people that owned the land, the farmers to buy their land. And my first real task once we got the franchise was to oversee the building project and build the Palladium.”

Over three decades, the building has hosted countless concerts, from U2 to Celine Dion and Paul McCartney, sporting events, including the World Junior hockey championship, and community gatherings, but Leeder says, many of his most memorable moments remain tied to hockey.

Among Leeder’s fondest memories in the building were the 2009 World Juniors, as well as several historic moments in Senators history.

“Daniel Alfredsson’s 400th goal, for me that was a special night. It was a comeback game scored in overtime. A young Erik Karlsson made the pass and jumped into his arms after the goal went in the net,” Leeder said.

“We can’t forget our first Stanley Cup playoff game here in 2007. We had game three which we won. But the loudest the building ever was when Igor Kravchuk scored a goal in 1998. It was our second year in the playoffs.”

As part of the 30th anniversary, a time capsule buried during construction, placed inside the main entrance at gate one, is being opened in the coming days.

“Late in construction we sunk a stainless-steel canister, probably 3 feet or 4 feet tall into the lobby,” he says. “I don’t know what’s in it. I know there’s a picture of me holding a newspaper and a special mason jar of dirt from the site from the Palladium. It has the palladium logo on it, so I know that’s there but short of that, your guess is as good as mine and we’re gonna have some fun.”

Senior director of premium seats and sales Christine Clancy has also been with the organization from the start.

“I started out thinking I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do out of university and I applied for a job as a receptionist at this new and exciting organization that was starting up in Ottawa,” she says.

“I thought that sounds like a good place to spend a couple of years and the next thing I know I’m into my 34th season and I’ve never left.”

Clancy says her experience at the arena has been all about the special moments made possible by the organization’s hard-working staff.

“You see the impact that your job has so it’s definitely an exciting place to work and then outside of the relationships that we have with our coworkers and colleagues it’s about the relationships that you have with your clients too.”

Clancy also placed a few items in the time capsule.

“It is going to be so interesting to see what we uncover when we open up the time capsule,” Clancy says. “I specifically remember putting in a photo of a couple of the girls — two of us are still here.”

While a new downtown arena is planned, Leeder says the Canadian Tire Centre remains an important part of the team’s future.

“We are making a plan for the next generation for our arena and our facilities and we’re working hard at it,” he says. “We’re going to be here for a few years and we’re still making significant investments here in the building while we work away at putting the future home of the team downtown.”

The Senators host the Canadiens on Saturday, mirroring the matchup from opening week in 1996.

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