Ottawa Stadium

History and Tenancy

Ottawa Stadium was constructed to house the Ottawa Lynx of the International League, opening for the 1993 season. The inaugural season was a major success, with the Lynx selling out 43 games and setting an International League attendance record by averaging 9,772 fans per game. However, annual attendance declined steadily thereafter, with only a modest increase in 2001 interrupting the trend. By 2006, Ottawa had the lowest average attendance in the league, leading to the Lynx's relocation after the 2007 season. The departure of the Lynx initiated a period of uncertainty for the facility, with the City of Ottawa considering various redevelopment proposals while maintaining it as a baseball venue.

Following the Lynx, the stadium hosted a series of short-lived professional teams. The Ottawa Rapidz of the Can-Am League began play in 2008 but declared bankruptcy on September 29 of that same year. A planned team called the Voyageurs was announced for 2009 but was disbanded in March 2009 due to a lack of owners and poor economic conditions. The stadium sat largely unused in 2009, save for a community baseball series sponsored by city councillor Bob Monette, who had earlier suggested dismantling the venue. The Ottawa Fat Cats of the Intercounty Baseball League then occupied the stadium from 2010 through 2012, following a successful expansion franchise application to the league in March 2010.

After the Fat Cats, the city spent two years negotiating to bring a Double-A franchise to Ottawa, including a prospective deal with Mandalay Baseball that required a $40 million city investment in renovations. Instead, a ten-year lease was signed with the Can-Am League, resulting in the Ottawa Champions playing from 2015 until the league's merger after the 2019 season. The Champions were not included in the 2020 Frontier League schedule, leaving the stadium vacant again. The current tenant, the Ottawa Titans, was announced in September 2020 with a ten-year lease. In a notable non-baseball use, during the Freedom Convoy protests in 2022, the Titans permitted the city to allow protesters to use the stadium parking lot as a supply centre for one weekend to alleviate congestion.

Stadium Design and Features

Ottawa Stadium is built in a split-level design, with a concourse running around the middle of the seating bowl at street level. This layout requires fans with seats in the lower bowl to walk down from the concourse, while those in the upper bowl walk up. All spectator seating consists of blue chair-back models, providing consistent comfort throughout the venue. The wider main concourse, also at street level and situated underneath the upper seats, houses concessions, restrooms, a gift shop, and a children's play area, making amenities easily accessible during events.

The facility originally featured luxury amenities including skyboxes and the Upper Deck restaurant located behind home plate, though the restaurant is no longer operational. The windows in this space do not open, and there is no outdoor seating, with access provided by an elevator from the concourse below. This area is now marketed as an event space available for bookings for parties of 50 or more. For general admission fans, open-air picnic tables are available down the left-field line, offering an alternative viewing experience. A unique characteristic of the ballpark is its proximity to Coventry Road, which runs along the left-field fence with less than 50 feet (15 metres) of buffer, allowing games to be easily seen from the street but occasionally posing a hazard from foul balls to passing vehicles.

Naming Rights and Branding

The stadium's naming rights have changed several times throughout its history, reflecting corporate partnerships and municipal decisions. Upon its opening in 1993, Ottawa-based company JetForm purchased the naming rights, dubbing the facility JetForm Park. This name remained until after the 2002 season when JetForm changed its name to Accelio and the venue was renamed Lynx Stadium. From 2008 to 2015, during a period with multiple tenants and vacancies, it was known simply as the Ottawa Baseball Stadium. A significant corporate partnership began on March 12, 2015, when accounting firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton signed a three-year naming rights deal. The stadium was renamed Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park, commonly abbreviated as RCGT Park, and this arrangement lasted until 2021. In that year, the City of Ottawa opted to rename the facility with the generic and official title Ottawa Stadium, which remains its current name.

Concert History

While primarily a baseball venue, Ottawa Stadium has hosted a number of concerts and music festivals since 1993. These events have ranged from single-day concerts featuring major Canadian and international acts to multi-day electronic music festivals. The concerts have provided alternative revenue streams and community events, particularly during periods when baseball tenancy was unstable. The following is a list of notable concerts held at the stadium:

• 19 July 1998: Stardust Picnic featuring Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, 54-40, The Waltons, and Weeping Tile.
• 20-21 September 2002: Molson Canadian Snowjam featuring Treble Charger, Rascalz, Dropkick Murphys, Goldfinger, Swollen Members, Moka Only, Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan, Mudmen, 54stance, and Chuck Calibre.
• 5 July 2007: Concert with headliner Nickelback, supported by Daughtry, Puddle of Mudd, and State of Shock.
• 30 June, 1 July 2012: Escapade Music Festival.
• 4-5 September 2021: Escapade Music Festival.
• 15 October 2023: JON Festival.
• 27 September 2025: Tacos & Tequilas Festival.

Concerts have been held at Ottawa Stadium on seven different occasions since 1993. The Escapade Music Festival was held at the stadium on June 30 and July 1 in 2012 and again on September 4 and 5 in 2021. The Tacos & Tequilas Festival is scheduled to be held at the stadium on September 27, 2025. These events demonstrate the stadium's ongoing role as a part of Ottawa's live event offerings beyond baseball.

Attendance and Notable Events

Attendance at Ottawa Stadium has experienced dramatic peaks and valleys throughout its operational history. The venue's highest sustained attendance was during the inaugural 1993 season of the Ottawa Lynx, which set an International League record with an average of 9,772 fans per game and included 43 sellouts. This early success was not maintained, as attendance declined steadily, hitting a league-low average by 2006 prior to the Lynx's departure. The table below illustrates the attendance trajectory for key seasons and events, highlighting the record set in 2026.

On May 8, 2026, the Ottawa Titans played their home opener at Ottawa Stadium in front of a league-record attendance of 10,278 fans. This was the stadium's first sold-out crowd since September 2002. During the Freedom Convoy 2022 protests, the Titans permitted the city to allow protesters to use the stadium's parking lot for one weekend in an attempt to alleviate congestion. Protesters instead set up a long term supply centre at the facility.

Future and Community Role

The record attendance at the 2026 home opener suggests strong community engagement with the new team, a positive sign for the venue's viability. The stadium's design, with its event space and picnic areas, allows it to function as a community asset beyond professional baseball games, hosting private events and festivals. Its location near major highways continues to make it an accessible venue for residents across the city and surrounding region. The City of Ottawa maintains ownership of the facility, and its history shows a repeated commitment to preserving it for baseball despite past proposals for redevelopment.

After the departure of the Lynx in 2007, the City of Ottawa considered other proposals for the site. Among the proposals rejected by the city were conversion of the stadium into the Steelback Centre, a variable-use complex proposed by Frank D'Angelo of Steelback Brewery. Other rejected proposals were replacement of the stadium by a casino, replacement of the stadium with a larger Ottawa Congress Centre, and redevelopment of the site as conventional retail or office space. The stadium is the home of the Ottawa Titans of the National Association of Professional Baseball.

Questions about Ottawa Stadium

What is the seating capacity of Ottawa Stadium?

Ottawa Stadium has a total seating capacity of 10,278 spectators. All seats are individual blue chair-back models. The stadium achieved a record sell-out of this full capacity on May 8, 2026, for the Ottawa Titans' home opener. The previous sell-out crowd before that occurred in September 2002 during the Ottawa Lynx era.

What professional baseball teams have played at Ottawa Stadium?

Several professional minor league teams have called the stadium home. It opened in 1993 as the home of the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx, who played there until 2007. Subsequent tenants included the Ottawa Rapidz (2008), the Ottawa Fat Cats (2010 to 2012), and the Ottawa Champions (2015 to 2019). The current tenant is the Ottawa Titans of the National Association of Professional Baseball, who began their tenancy with a ten-year lease starting in the 2021 season.

Has the stadium ever had a different name?

Yes, the stadium has undergone several name changes due to corporate sponsorship and municipal decisions. From 1993 to 2002, it was called JetForm Park after the Ottawa company JetForm. From 2008 to 2015, it used the generic name Ottawa Baseball Stadium. From 2015 to 2021, it was named Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park (RCGT Park) following a naming rights deal. Since 2021, the city has used the name Ottawa Stadium.

What major concerts have been held at Ottawa Stadium?

Concerts held at Ottawa Stadium include the Stardust Picnic on July 19, 1998, and the Molson Canadian Snowjam on September 20 and 21, 2002. A concert headlined by Nickelback was held on July 5, 2007. The Escapade Music Festival was held in 2012 and again in 2021. Other concerts include the JON Festival on October 15, 2023, and the scheduled Tacos & Tequilas Festival for September 27, 2025.

Where is Ottawa Stadium located?

Ottawa Stadium is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Specifically, it is situated in the city's east end near the interchange of Queensway and Vanier Parkway. Coventry Road runs directly along the stadium's left field fence. This proximity to the road is notable, as there is less than 50 feet of buffer, meaning flying baseballs can occasionally pose a hazard to passing cars. The stadium has been a fixture at this location since it first opened for the 1993 season.

What happened at the stadium during the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests?

During the Freedom Convoy 2022 protests, the Ottawa Titans baseball team permitted the city to allow protesters to use the stadium's parking lot for one weekend. This permission was granted in an attempt to alleviate congestion from the protests occurring in Ottawa. However, the protesters instead established a long term supply centre at the facility, utilizing it beyond the intended short term arrangement. The stadium, which is the home of the Titans, thus became a logistical site for the protest movement during that period.

Sources and further reading

• Ottawa Stadium (Wikipedia)
• Major events and sport venues (ottawatourism.ca)
• Ottawa Stadium | Ottawa Titans Baseball Club (ottawatitans.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.