The new music and entertainment venue being constructed in the former Chapters location on Rideau Street officially has a name.
Live Nation Canada, which announced it would be leasing the space from the National Capital Commission last June, is expanding one of its established brands to the city with the creation of “History Ottawa.”
Live Nation announced at a press conference Wednesday that the 60,000-square-foot venue is already under construction and is set to open its doors in early 2026.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
Regional Group races ahead in the net-zero game
Regional Group is not just talking about sustainability—it’s showing what’s possible. As the first real estate company to join the Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator (ORA) program, delivered by Hydro Ottawa, Regional
How Emond Harnden helps employers navigate the complexities of employment policies
Emond Harnden Legal Counsel Alanna Twohey says there’s one main thing she always tells employers when they’re crafting their employment policies. “They’re not worth the paper they’re printed on if
“Ottawa has always had a love affair with live music,” said Erik Hoffman, president of Live Nation Entertainment’s Canadian music operations. “This notion that it is some sleepy government town isn’t just annoying to hear, it’s simply untrue … But today we take an important step forward in putting Ottawa even more concretely on the touring map.”
The two-level space will have a capacity of 2,000 people, with a general admissions area and reserved seating configurations, designed with the flexibility to bring musicians and entertainers of all stripes into the space.
“Whether you want to be in the (general admissions) area right up against the barricade, like the mayor,” Hoffman quipped, “or in the mezzanine seats or a private box like me, History will be the perfect concert experience. It’s a music-first venue, but also much more. The possibilities are endless.”
The National Capital Commission purchased the building at 47-57 Rideau St. in 2023. NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum said Wednesday it was a “crapshoot” trying to find a tenant at first.
“We saw this prime site as an opportunity to help reactivate the core, animate the ByWard Market, and ensure that this corner, one that sees among the most foot traffic of any intersection in the city, was a draw and not a blight,” he said. “When Live Nation showed strong interest in leasing this space, we got to work.”
Nussbaum added that the building is a short walk from other significant arts venues, including the National Arts Centre on Elgin Street and the National Gallery of Canada on Sussex Drive. With Parliament Hill just up the road and the proximity of the ByWard Market, it’s in a tourism hotspot, he said.
“We’re really excited to come and witness what’s going to be a transformative venue for our city,” he added.
Erin Benjamin, CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, said Ottawa has always had world-class venues, festivals and artists, but this particular project on Rideau Street is an indicator of the growing success and influence of the local industry.
“We haven’t always been at the table as a collective industry in the same way that other sectors traditionally are working in close strategic collaboration with government on things like city-building,” she said. “But that has fundamentally changed in recent years. What is so satisfying to me is recognizing that the existence of this new venue itself can be directly linked to the momentum created by all the folks in our community.”
Last month, she said, her organization released an economic impact study of the Canadian live music industry, which found that the industry contributed $11 billion to Canada’s GDP, created 100,000 jobs, and attracted 19 million visitors a year.
“So we know that the addition of History Ottawa to our live music landscape won’t just accelerate the city’s growing reputation as a premier concert destination and add millions in economic activity, but it will signal without a doubt how essential this industry is to our collective prosperity and therefore the future of this great city.”
Live Nation’s History brand was established with a 2,500-person venue in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood in collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake.
“Among other things, this is maybe the only opportunity in my life that I’ll ever get to thank Drake and (NCC CEO) Tobi Nussbaum at the same time,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe joked in his remarks.
“When I see people choose Ottawa, when people choose to invest in our city, and when I see Live Nation seeing the opportunity here in our city, that’s very validating for us.”
The construction of the venue comes as efforts are underway to breathe new life into Ottawa’s core, including the downtown area and ByWard Market. Sutcliffe said he’s grateful that the NCC and Live Nation saw the potential of the empty space.
“Something is happening here, something truly exciting,” said Sutcliffe. “We’re seeing growth. We’re seeing more people coming to the Market. We’re seeing people investing and opening new restaurants. We’re seeing tourists skating on the Rideau Canal and then going to a restaurant downtown. What Erik and his team are doing is really going to add to all the exciting things that are already happening and really turbocharge and drive it forward.”
