Nepean Sportsplex

The Nepean Sportsplex is a sports facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 1701 Woodroffe Avenue north of the Ottawa Greenbelt, near the former Confederation High School along OC Transpo routes 74 and 75 in the former city of Nepean. The facility features an athletics centre (including fitness room) & gym, baseball, soccer and football fields, four squash courts, convention space, swimming pools, lawn bowling, 10 curling sheets, and two NHL-sized rinks.

Nepean Sportsplex

Interactive map of Nepean Sportsplex
Address	1701 Woodroffe Avenue
Location	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates	45.326838°N 75.745293°W / 45.326838; -75.745293
Owner	City of Ottawa
Operator	City of Ottawa
Capacity	2,200 (Steve Yzerman Arena) 300 (Allen J. MacDonald Arena)
Record attendance	2,362 (Game 7 of 2012 Bogart Cup Final)
Field size	200 feet (61 m) x 85 feet (26 m) (Steve Yzerman Arena)
Construction
Broke ground	1971
Opened	1973
Tenants
Nepean Raiders (CCHL) (1973–present) Ottawa Jr. Riders (QJFL) (2017–present)

The main 2,200-seat rink, the Steve Yzerman Arena, is the home of the Nepean Raiders of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), as well as the Ottawa Jr. Riders of the Quebec Junior Football League (QJFL).^[1][2]

History

Nepean Sportsplex opened in 1973 as a central facility for the former city of Nepean.^[3][4] In addition to nearby neighbourhoods, the Sportsplex served the community of Barrhaven until the Walter Baker Sports Centre was constructed in 1980. In 1997, the 2,200-seat arena was named the Steve Yzerman Arena in recognition of Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, who played with the Nepean Raiders in his youth.^[5] The Sportsplex was the site of Ottawa's first mass vaccination clinic during the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic.^[6]

The largest crowd to ever see a game at the arena was on April 22, 2012 during Game 4 of the 2012 Bogart Cup Final, in which a sold-out crowd of 2,362 people saw the Nepean Raiders defeating the Cornwall Colts 4–3 to win the Bogart Cup at home.^[7]

Facilities

Nepean Squash Club:

Began with 4 squash courts and an upstairs viewing gallery in 1974 and called itself the Nepean Squash Racquets Club. Then 4 more courts were added in 1976. By 2004, only 6 courts remained to make way for a weight room, and by 2008, only 4 courts remained.

Active membership of over 100 club players with House League, City League, Tournaments, Round Robins, Socials and Lessons.

Foyer Gallery

The facility includes the Foyer Gallery, an artist-run exhibition space that operates under the auspices of the Foyer Gallery Artists’ Association and the City of Ottawa. The gallery features visual art by established and emerging regional artists.

Notable events

• The facility hosted 8 games in the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship.
• The facility hosted the 2000 Ontario Nokia Cup, the provincial men's curling championship.