About

The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Senators play their home games at the 19,153 seat (20,500 capacity) Canadian Tire Centre which opened in 1996. Founded and established by Ottawa real estate developer Bruce Firestone, the team is the second NHL franchise to use the Ottawa Senators name. The original Ottawa Senators, founded in 1883, had a famed history, winning 11 Stanley Cups and playing in the NHL from 1917 until 1934. On December 6, 1990, after a two-year public campaign by Firestone, the NHL awarded a new franchise, which began play in the 1992–93 season. The current team owner is Eugene Melnyk, and in 2012, the club was valued by Forbes magazine at $220 million. The team has had success, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs in 15 of the past 18 seasons, winning four division titles, the Presidents' Trophy in 2003 and appearing in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. The success has been reflected in attendance and has been in the top half in attendance in the NHL.