(Press release from the Ottawa Senators.)
The Ottawa Senators (@Senators) announced today additional details for the team’s annual Fan Fest, which will take place this Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. at Canadian Tire Centre (@CdnTireCtr). The event will feature four unique fan press conferences, a team practice, a Senators’ intra-squad game, autograph sessions, a Senators’ game-used equipment and jersey sale, interactive games and entertainment throughout the arena.
Advance tickets to Fan Fest are on sale now for only $10 (including taxes and CRF but excluding convenience fees) and include access to each of the event’s components. The first 7,500 fans to purchase a ticket via Capital Tickets will receive a voucher for a limited edition Bobby Ryan bobblehead, which serves as the first in a series of five bobbleheads that Senators fans can collect over the course of the 2015-16 season. A limited number of tickets will also be available on-site for $15 (includes taxes, CRF and convenience fees).
Fan Fest will officially get underway at 9 a.m. when Senators president Cyril Leeder joins fans on the Gate 1 plaza where he will unveil the player names of the next two limited edition bobbleheads. The final two names will be unveiled live on CTV2 between noon and 2 p.m. as they cover Fan Fest live from Canadian Tire Centre.
For Fan Fest, Senators players will be split into three teams. Fans will have the opportunity to watch one team practice beginning at 10 a.m., while the remaining two teams will go head-to-head in an intra-squad game that is scheduled to begin at noon.
Following the practice and intra-squad game, more than 50 Senators players and prospects will participate in autograph sessions at noon and 2 p.m. Each fan will receive a scratch-and-win ticket upon entering Canadian Tire Centre, which will permit access to exclusive autograph sessions and a chance to win Senators prizes. Fans can also obtain a wristband to meet Senators players and prospects at various locations on the 200-level throughout the day (limit of one wristband per fan at any given time).
Starting at 11:15 a.m., fans will have the opportunity to participate in four exclusive press conferences where they get to ask the questions to designated members of the club’s executive team, players, prospects and members of the Sens Alumni. The press conferences will take place on the Scotiabank Stage in the tent on the Gate 1 plaza and will have the following themes:
State of the Franchise (11:15 a.m.) – Emcee’d by TSN 1200 Senators hockey play-by-play voice Dean Brown, fans can join Senators president Cyril Leeder, general manager, Bryan Murray along with assistant general managers Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee discuss the Senators franchise on and off the ice.
Cheers! Life in a City Where Everyone Knows Your Name (Noon) – Ian Mendes of TSN 1200 will pose questions of Senators players about life in Hockey Country and what it’s like to be a celebrity in Ottawa-Gatineau.
Life After the NHL (1 p.m.) – Senators alumni including Laurie Boschman and Shaun Van Allen take to the Scotiabank stage with TSN 1200’s Steve Lloyd to discuss their transition from the NHL to life away from the rink. From what they’re doing now, what it was like stepping away from the game and what they miss the most, fans will learn what it’s like to retire from a game that’s been a significant part of their lives since their childhood.
Kids Only Press Conference (2 p.m.) – Led by TSN 1200’s Senators hockey colour commentator, Gord Wilson, Senators players will answer some of the toughest and more unpredictable questions from some of the Senators youngest fans.
New to Fan Fest this year, fans will be able to take their photo with a cutout of two-time winner Erik Karlsson and the Norris Trophy courtesy of Mattamy Homes, insert themselves into a ceremonial puck drop courtesy of Bell and more. As part of the day’s action, the Egg Farmers of Ontario will be on-hand with their 1,000 egg skillet for a cooking demonstration and sampling along with handing out Senators recipe cards. Scouts Canada will set up their climbing wall for fans to test out their skills, while Canadian Tire will be giving away gift cards to lucky fans throughout the intra-squad game.
Returning this year, fans can compare their athleticism to Senators players by participating in four tests that every player had to complete as part of the opening day of training camp and the NHL Combine – medicine ball chest pass, lateral shuffle, vertical jump and the one-legged standing broad jump. In addition, throughout the day, entertainers including balloonists and face-painters will welcome fans to Canadian Tire Centre, fans can personalize their own Coke ® can courtesy of Coca-Cola ®, take a RAM truck for a test drive to receive an Esso prize pack, participate in several interactive components from the Sens Street Tour, visit the Sens MBNA Rewards booth to enter to win a 400 level suite for opening night and more. Additionally, the Sens Store will host a new and used team equipment and game-worn jersey sale in the team’s Vintage store on the 100-level concourse. The sale will include game-used jerseys, game-used skates, gloves and sticks from recent seasons.
Free parking is available throughout the day at Canadian Tire Centre, while select items at concession stands (with the exception of alcohol and Tim Hortons products) will be 50 per cent off during Fan Fest. Festivities will conclude at approximately 4 p.m.
Fans not able to attend Fan Fest in person, can watch a live Fan Fest broadcast on CTV2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on Fan Fest, please visit www.ottawasenators.com.