TD Place Stadium - Panda Game
Updated: 3 hours ago
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14
TD Place Stadium
Lansdowne Park
1015 Bank Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3W7
Year Opened: 1908
Capacity: 24,000
Panda
In the National Football League it is the Super Bowl. In the Canadian Football League it is the Grey Cup. It is the biggest game of the season that draws the most interest and possibly the biggest crowd. In USports, it is not the Vanier Cup that is the signature game of the year, it is actually the Panda Game.
The annual rivalry game between the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and Carleton University Ravens has become the signature game of the season drawing by far the biggest crowd out of any USports game. The game was first played in 1955 at Lansdowne Park, where it is currently played. The donation of a stuffed Panda, named Pedro, gave the game its name. The early games were often associated with hijinx as “Pandanappings” were a regular occurrence.
The folding of the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL and disrepair of Frank Clair Stadium forced the Panda Game to be moved to Keith Harris Stadium on Carleton’s campus for the 1997 and 1998 games. The loss of revenue after being forced into a smaller venue exacerbated the already poor Carleton financial situation aiding in the decision to fold the program after 1998.
The Panda Game was revived in 2013 along with the Carleton Ravens program. In 2014 the game returned to Lansdowne Park and the newly renovated TD Place Stadium. Attendance began to grow exponentially to the point where Panda has outdrawn the Vanier Cup National Championship game every season since 2015.
Food & Beverage 4
The concession experience at TD Place Stadium is excellent. All of the expected stadium staples are available including hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, candy and poutine. What takes the concessions to the next level is the focus on local favourites. Gabriel Pizza has a strong presence at TD Place Stadium. Other local favourites include Shawarma Palace, Lois & Frima’s Ice Cream and Maverick’s Donut Company.
There are a number of alcoholic options available. The beer selection is decent including Stella Artois, Mill Street Organic, Mill Street Orange and Goose Island IPA. The Firth’s Tavern stand offers a full bar selection. The soft drink of choice at TD Place Stadium are Pepsi products.
Atmosphere 4
TD Place Stadium is one of the most unique in the world. It is located at Lansdowne Park, which has served as the exhibition grounds in Ottawa for over a century. It is embedded in The Glebe neighbourhood, which has a personality of its own. The main entry to TD Place Stadium is from the west, where a number of condominium buildings stand on Bank Street.
The stadium consists of two separated grandstands on the north and south side of the east-west oriented field. The north grandstand is the older of the two and doubles as TD Place Arena, longtime home of the Ottawa 67’s and former home of the Ottawa Senators. The arena is under the seating of the north grandstands and the field can be seen from the south concourse of the arena.
The south stand is the newer of the two and is a split level grandstand. A bronze statue of coach Frank Clair stands at the southwest corner opposite of the northwest corner stage. The west endzone has the log cabin social area/club with rail stands above it. At the time of writing, the 2026 season, construction of the new arena beyond the east endzone was visible. The videoboard is located on the west side, shading more to the north rather than south. It can be a bit difficult to see from the northeast. There are no real markings for either university within the stadium. A nod to the significance of the Panda Game somewhere would be a good addition.
The gameday production is very simple at the Panda Game. The stands are divided with one school taking the north side and the other the south side. The game is organized by each school in alternating years, and which grandstand each school populates also alternates. Each team enters the field from their particular inflatable with pyro from opposite corners of the south side. Announcements are fully bilingual. Both team mascots, Rodney the Raven and Gee Gee roam the sidelines. Both teams' cheerleaders perform at halftime and get the crowd into the game from field level of their respective sides during play. One of the main traditions of the Panda Game is that fans of both teams meet the players on the field after the game has concluded. This has been embraced as part of the event.
Neighbourhood 5
TD Place Stadium is located on the grounds of Lansdowne Park in The Glebe neighbourhood in Ottawa. The Glebe is a unique neighbourhood that is south of Parliament, which would be typically viewed as Downtown Ottawa. There are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink. Some options include Craft Beer Market, Joey Lansdowne, Med Supper Club and Irene’s Pub.
There are quite a few other sports options in Ottawa. TD Place Stadium is also the home of the Ottawa RedBlacks and Atletico Ottawa. TD Place Arena is directly under the north grandstand and is the home of the Ottawa 67’s and Ottawa BlackJacks as well as other uOttawa and Carleton rivalry games. Kanata is the home of the Ottawa Senators and Ottawa Charge. The campuses of uOttawa and Carleton are not too far from The Glebe. The Gee-Gees host a number of athletic teams, including football, hockey and basketball. The Ravens also host football and hockey and are well-known for their massively successful basketball team.
Ottawa is one of the top tourist destinations and the capital of Canada. There are a ton of other tourist options for fans. Just some of the options include Parliament of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint, Canadian War Museum, Supreme Court of Canada, Rideau Canal and Byward Market. At Lansdowne Park on Sundays from May until late October is the Ottawa Farmers’ Market, which directly coincides with the Panda Game.
There are a ton of options for fans who wish to stay in Ottawa. Heading north towards Parliament is the best option where the Best Western, Hilton and Hampton Inn are all reliable
Fans 5
The Panda Game is the best attended game on the entire USports calendar. It has enjoyed sellout crowds for a number of years. Each grandstand is dedicated to a particular school, which is delineated on ticket selling platforms. The volume from each school’s fans is excellent, adding to the atmosphere.
It must be mentioned that there have been some disorderly incidents over the years that are related to Panda. Some of the language from one school's fans to the others can definitely be colourful as well.
Access 3
TD Place Stadium is located on the grounds of Lansdowne Park in The Glebe neighbourhood of Ottawa. It is found on the east side of Bank Street and Exhibition Way, just north of the Rideau Canal. Lansdowne Park is less than 1.5 km south of Trans-Canada Highway 417. However, traffic in Ottawa is quite significant, so getting to the stadium can be an issue.
Parking at Lansdowne Park is extremely limited and on site parking is not sold for the Panda Game. Also, parking in The Glebe is very limited and street parking is strictly enforced. The best plan to get to TD Place Stadium is to take public transit. There are bus stops on Bank Street and a Panda ticket equals a free ride before and after. Fans should consult the OC Transpo website for maps and schedules.
There is a whole new level of security for the Panda Game. Lines can be huge and gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. There are plenty of extra fences all over the stadium and added security personnel. It is highly recommended to plan to enter the stadium as early as possible to avoid missing anything. At the game that was reviewed, fans, mostly students, were still entering the stadium with less than five minutes remaining in the first half.
Lansdowne Park and TD Place Stadium are active construction zones as of this writing, so getting around is a bit of a challenge. There was no 360 degree path at the game that was reviewed. Washrooms have always been a bit of an issue at TD Place Stadium with a number of portable washrooms around the stadium, something that will most likely be addressed with the replacement of the north stand.
Return on Investment 4
Panda Game tickets are definitely priced at a premium event level as compared to the usual prices for Ottawa or Carleton football. Standing room tickets start at $56 and seats start at $79. A price increase is understandable considering the significant upgrade in security features and personnel working at TD Place Stadium as compared to a normal game. Transportation could be free using public transport and concession prices are priced at a premium game level. That being said, although the investment is high, the return is top notch. The Panda Game is THE USports football game of the year and there is no experience that is quite like it. Attending a Panda Game is really a must for all Canadian university football fans and a right of passage for Carleton and uOttawa students.
Extras 4
An extra mark for the tradition and longevity of the Panda Game, with the first one being played in Ottawa in 1955.
An extra mark for the Panda Game as the preeminent game of the USports football season.
An extra mark for legendary SNL comedian Norm MacDonald’s Panda game experience.
An extra mark for overcoming previous student behaviour issues and making the current Panda experience one that the City of Ottawa and the two universities are fully behind.
Final Thoughts
The history and longevity of the Panda Game provides an atmosphere that is unlike any in Canadian university football. TD Place Stadium is a great venue for the game and provides the perfect situation for the schools involved. Definitely a bucket list item for Canadian football fans.
