Ottawa Black Bears says team won’t return to Canadian Tire Centre next season

The Ottawa Black Bears told ticket holders they will no longer play at the Canadian Tire Centre next season, putting the team’s future in doubt. CTV’s Camille W

The Ottawa Black Bears say they won’t be returning to the Canadian Tire Centre next fall, according to a brief email sent to season ticket holders.

The professional lacrosse team did not say if or where the team would be moving to. No reason was provided for the decision.

Fans were told they would be issued refunds and to contact the National Lacrosse League (NLL) for further inquiries.

Season ticket holder Greg Stewart says he was disappointed to receive the email. He says he hasn’t heard anything from the team about its future.

“I’m feeling really depressed because I’m a big lacrosse fan, and I know there are big lacrosse fans in the city,” Stewart said.

“At least tell us and then we know. But there was no communication.”

The Black Bears started playing at the home of the Ottawa Senators during the 2024-25 season after the relocation of the New York Riptide.

The team had its largest attendance of the season in March when 5,840 fans came to its final regular season home game.

The Black Bears helped fill a 20-year absence of professional lacrosse in Ottawa, becoming the 6th Canadian franchise in the NLL and 14th active team in the NLL.

CTV News Ottawa reached out to the league but did not receive a response. In an email, the Black Bears referred all questions to the league.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Camille Wilson

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