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Ottawa 67's Arena Name: Robert Guertin Arena |
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| Robert Guertin Arena |
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| What was the Arena Like? |
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Robert Guertin Arena is a well-maintained building in a working-class neighbourhood of Hull, Québec, located just a few minutes from the Parliament Buildings. The building from the outside is colourful and has a great traditional design. The arena has a low concourse and stairs which lead up into the seating bowl. Once inside the bowl you find yourself in an immaculately-preserved building. The seats are all original wood and painted in dark colours. There are gondola-style boxes hanging over the seating area and banners hanging from the ceiling. The ceiling itself is painted wood and the seating is steep. While the "Bob" is a footnote in Ottawa 67's history, it has been used by Hull/Gatineau hockey teams for a generation. The building is filled with reminders of one of the QMJHL's most historic and successful teams, and it is as a QMJHL building that Robert Guertin stands today. Jason Cormier says: Robert Guertin Arena oozes history. From the working class neighbourhood in which it's located to its barn-like exterior; from its cramped entrance way to the gated ticket gate; from the ice level entry into the arena to the steep seating; from the standing room wrapped around the entire rink to the low roof. There is ample parking next to the rink and access from the Ontario side is fairly simple. The box office is right inside the first set of doors at the side of the rink though lines can be long if there a lot of walk-up sales. There are concession stands outside the seating area and another set on the concourse/standing area that surrounds the top of the rink. Washrooms are not too plentiful and fill up quickly. The rink is small by CHL standards but medium-sized in the Q. When the seats (3500) and the standing room are full, about 4300 people are crammed inside. (Capacity is most definitely not the 4900 claimed in the league guide.) The seats wrap around the entire rink and the standing area is along the concourse above the seats. Team benches are on opposite sides of the rink, much like at the Civic Centre across the river. The seating at Guertin is very steep and all the way around. The fans are right on top of the action and they let the visitors know they are there. The low roof and the ample beer sales also contribute to an extremely loud and intimidating experience for visiting teams. On the other hand, the fans are also very knowledgeable and appreciative. With the exception of the hard-core nationalists who only show up for the infrequent games vs. the 67's, the crowd is not rude or violent. When the opposition is worthy, they will show their appreciation. Sidney Crosby was a recent recipient of multiple standing ovations at the rink. The owners of les Olympiques have been in lengthy negotiations with the city over expanded office space, larger dressing rooms, more concessions, and bigger washrooms. The negotiations have become so bitter at times that the team started making threats of moving, though it was disguised as an appeal for more season ticket sales. The city will eventually relent and make the desired improvements. If you have anything to contribute please send it to  |
| Inside Robert Guertin Arena |
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How To Get There |
| From Ottawa: From Ottawa, take Sussex Dr to the Alexandria Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue straight along Charlevoix. Turn right at De Carillon. (If you come to Autoroute 50, you have gone too far.) The arena is about 100 metres down the road, on your left. The parking entrance is off De Carillon, just before the rink. |
| What's It Used for Today? |
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Robert Guertin Arena was built in 1952 as the main arena for the city of Hull/Gatineau, Quebec. Over time it has hosted numerous shows and games. The main tenant is today's Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, who have been resident at "The Bob" since their founding in 1973 as the Hull Festivals. In 1967 an expansion OHL team was granted to our nation's capital, and the city pledged to build Lansdowne Park as a home for both the new 67's and the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders. It wasn't finished in time, though, and the 67's were forced to play half a year out of the only suitable arena in the Ottawa Region, which was Robert Guertin Arena across the Ottawa River. The old Ottawa Auditorium at the corner of O'Connor and Argyle Streets downtown, where the original NHL Senators had played, had been torn down earlier in 1967 in anticipation of the completion of the Civic Centre. Construction was finished in January of 1968 and the 67's moved into their new home after a mere half-season in Hull, leaving Robert Guertin Arena behind forever. |
| Another Look Inside Robert Guertin Arena |
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Feedback |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at and I'll update the guide. |
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Copyright © Kevin Jordan
2002-05. |