An Ottawa REDBLACKS game may be the only place a business leader should leave their game face at the door.
That’s because after the pandemic, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) saw the need to create spaces where business leaders can forge deeper connections with employees and clients.
“We all felt the loss of personal connection,” said Matt Bennett, OSEG’s vice president of corporate partnerships & ticketing
Bennett says they relied on their five pillars to carve out new offerings to support the local business community: clients, networking, employees, brand, and community.
The result? A suite of Premium Group Ticket Packages that can help you reward clients and employees, network via large events, or give back to the community
Even more options to ‘wow’ clients
While season tickets are still a prized perk, the REDBLACKS recognized the opportunity to provide businesses with more options to wow their clients.
The answer? A tiered offering of social spaces, with a Canadian twist.
“If you’re looking to get out with colleagues or friends, we have our Lower Log Cabin experience right next to the field,” said Bennett. “If you need a more premium option, you can book the Otto’s Subaru Upper Log Cabin space — it’s in high demand.”
The Upper Log Cabin is popular for good reason. With a capacity of 50-250 people, it was designed to treat high performers and high-value clients with a top-of-the-line, unforgettable experience with stunning views of TD Place you won’t find anywhere else.
At field level, you’ll find the Lansdowne Lodge on the North side. It’s a private space that is opened 90 minutes before game time to give diehard football fans some pre-game time to connect.
The Telus Legacy Lodge offers the same fantastic food choices, but with a completely different feel. This open-space area is perfect for hosting groups from 10 to 150 people, and is adorned with the REDBLACKS “Wall of Honour”, decked out with team regalia celebrating the team’s Grey Cup Championships.
In every space, OSEG prides itself on helping businesses curate a menu and bar list that will wow your guests.
Custom – not cookie-cutter – service
Customizing experiences is key to providing options for businesses who want to try something new and different, but consider themselves only casual football fans.
“We start by listening and understanding their goals,” said Bennett. “Then we curate an experience that’s been uniquely designed for them by leveraging all the tools at our disposal.”
An example of a marquee event tailored for a unique group is the upcoming Women in Tech event, presented by Invest Ottawa. One hundred and fifty women will watch the game while networking and having a fantastic time.
“We’re nimble enough to create whatever will work for you,” said Bennett. “Whether it’s renting a suite for the night, or hosting 250 people in the Otto’s Subaru Upper Log Cabin .”
Bennett says it’s all about helping businesses get out of the boardroom and typical hotel-style events, so they can experience something fun and unique. That’s why they’re creating key hospitality experiences with PCL, Ideal Roofing, Thunderbolt, Queensway Carleton Hospital and the Ottawa Construction Association.
Their final pillar — community — helps businesses give back.
“We know businesses want to make a positive impact on the community, and we have multiple products that allow them to do that,” said Bennet.
For example, the REDBLACKS work with Michael Harris and the team at Kids Up Front Ottawa to connect with families and children who may not have access to tickets on a regular basis and they welcome businesses’ contribution to that effort.
“There’s no better unifier than sport,” said Bennet. “At the end of the day, creating fans for life with those core memories is one of our end goals.”
