TD Station - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Dave Cottenie
- Apr 30
- 5 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
TD Station
99 Station St
Saint John, NB E2L 4X4
Year Opened: 1993
Capacity: 6,308
Maritime City of Champions?
The Saint John Sea Dogs were founded in 2005 as an expansion team to the QMJHL, now known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. In 2011 they won their first Memorial Cup as Major Junior Champions across the Canadian Hockey League and in so doing, became the first Atlantic Canada team to achieve the feat. The Sea Dogs would hang a Memorial Cup Championship again in 2022 as well as posting the curious moniker “City of Champions” in the arena. It is undeniable that the Sea Dogs have enjoyed a great deal of success in New Brunswick, but does it warrant the self-proclaimed “City of Champions” title often used in reference to Edmonton, Alberta or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? The previous era of hockey in the Maritimes saw plenty of American Hockey League teams take residence, including the Saint John Flames, who brought home a Calder Cup banner in 2001.
All of these banners hang in the home of the Sea Dogs, TD Station. Built in 1993 as Harbour Station and owned by the municipally owned Harbour Station Commision, TD Station currently has a capacity of over 6,300. The naming rights were purchased by TD in 2019. TD Station is the central arena for the city of Saint John and has been the home to the local hockey and basketball teams as well as concerts and shows.
Food & Beverage 3
Concessions at TD Station are decent for a venue of this size, but they are not overly spectacular. All of the expected arena items can be found including pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers, poutine, burgers, ice cream, pretzels and popcorn. A Tim Hortons stand offers coffee and Timbits. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice and local favourite, Moosehead products are the go to beers.
Atmosphere 4
TD Station has a very attractive exterior with plenty of brown brick and large glass windows when viewed from the main entrance at the south. A concrete arch gives the main entrance a bit more of a grand feeling. Banners celebrating the Sea Dogs’ 20th anniversary and famous players who wore the blue and silver are found outside of the arena and on the entry doors. Entry into the arena brings fans to a smallish lobby which is dominated by the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame. Some scouring by fans will bring them the entries for former NHL players Randy Jones and Andrew McKim. Further entry brings fans into the main concourse, which wraps around the arena and is a comfortable size.
The main seating features two seating levels; a lower level with blue seats and an upper level with less attractive green seats. The ice surface is west to east oriented and the best spot to get that perfect centre logo picture is from the north side. The concourses are open and the ice surface can be seen while traversing around the arena. A four-sided videoboard hangs above centre ice and is of decent quality. The infamous “City of Champions” sign is by the press box on the north side. To go with traditional, plastic arena seats, the Moosehead Light Ice Bar is available at ice level on the east side, and thirteen luxury boxes are found above the upper deck. Three conference championships, five division championships, four regular season championships and the 2011 and 2022 Memorial Cups are memorialized by large banners that hang on the east side, above the ice. There are plenty of markings for former Sea Dogs around the arena as opposed to retired numbers, including Charlie Coyle, Mike Hoffman, Thomas Chabot and Jonathan Huberdeau.
The gameday production at a Sea Dogs game is not overly spectacular. The PA system had some issues at the game that was reviewed and was inconsistent at best. The announcements are done in both English and French and the mascot, Fleaburn, can be found on the ice for pre-game festivities, and moving around the arena, interacting with fans.
Neighbourhood 3
TD Station is located in Uptown Saint John. There are a number of places for pre and post game food and drink. Some options include Vito’s, Mix Resto Bar, Rocky’s Sports Bar, Saint John Ale House, Churchill’s Pub and Steakhouse, Uptown Pub Down under and Cask & Kettle. The Sea Dogs are really the only game in town. There is not even a USports presence in Saint John, although Fredericton and Moncton are both not too far away. As far as other tourist options go, The Saint John City Market, Partridge Island Lighthouse and New Brunswick Museum are all options. Fans wishing to stay close to the arena may choose the Chateau Saint John or the Delta.
Fans 3
Fan support for the Sea Dogs has taken a pretty significant dip in recent years. At the game that was reviewed, the Sea Dogs welcomed over 3,000 fans, a decent increase on the 2,500 average for the 2024-25 season. This ranked the team 11th in the eighteen team QMJHL in a venue that is larger than many in the league. This is also a far cry from the championship years. The fans in attendance are knowledgeable and supportive. It must be noted that the 2024-25 Sea Dogs finished at the bottom of the league and the game that was reviewed was one of the final games of the season.
Access 4
TD Station is located in Uptown Saint John. It is found on the north side of Station Street, at the confluence of Main and New Brunswick Route 1. It is not terribly difficult to get to the arena, although the area is very hilly and walking the area can be a bit challenging. There is parking on site. For fans wishing to take public transit, there is a Saint John Transit stop an 8 minute walk away from the arena at Mercantile Centre. Fans should consult the Saint John Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. TD Station is also attached to the Saint John pedway system, which offers tunnels and bridges connecting a number of uptown facilities and protecting patrons from the harsh winter elements. Getting around TD Station is not too difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate for the building.
Return on Investment 4
Saint John Sea Dogs tickets start at $20 with discounts for fans under 25 years old and under 9 years old, a clear attempt to lower the age of the fanbase. Concession prices are decent in TD Station. Fans will have a good time and the product on the ice is solid.
Extras 3
An extra mark for historic banners remaining in the rafters of TD Station including retired numbers of the Saint John Mill Rats, a former member of the Canadian Basketball League, and the 2001 Calder Cup Championship for the Saint John Flames.
An extra mark for the unique name, TD Station.
An extra mark for TD Station being connected to the Saint John pedway system.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not fans agree that Saint John is the “City of Champions,” taking in a Saint John Sea Dogs game is a must for all hockey fans and can easily be paired with catching other QMJHL teams in the Maritime area.
Comments