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Gatineau Olympiques Arena Name: Robert Guertin Arena (Aréna Robert Guertin) |
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| Robert Guertin Arena |
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| What's the Arena Like? |
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Robert Guertin Arena is a well-maintained building in a working-class neighbourhood of Hull, Québec, located just a few minutes from the Parliament Buildings. The building from the outside is colourful and has a great traditional design. The arena has a low concourse and stairs which lead up into the seating bowl. Once inside the bowl you find yourself in an immaculately-preserved building. The seats are all original wood and painted in dark colours. There are gondola-style boxes hanging over the seating area and banners hanging from the ceiling. The ceiling itself is painted wood and the seating is steep. I have not been to a game at Robert Guertin Arena, although Ottawa native Jason Cormier has been to many. Here's his take: Jason Cormier says: Robert Guertin Arena oozes history. From the working class neighbourhood in which it's located to its barn-like exterior; from its cramped entrance way to the gated ticket gate; from the ice level entry into the arena to the steep seating; from the standing room wrapped around the entire rink to the low roof. There is ample parking next to the rink and access from the Ontario side is fairly simple. The box office is right inside the first set of doors at the side of the rink though lines can be long if there a lot of walk-up sales. There are concession stands outside the seating area and another set on the concourse/standing area that surrounds the top of the rink. Washrooms are not too plentiful and fill up quickly. The rink is small by CHL standards but medium-sized in the Q. When the seats (3500) and the standing room are full, about 4300 people are crammed inside. (Capacity is most definitely not the 4900 claimed in the league guide.) The seats wrap around the entire rink and the standing area is along the concourse above the seats. Team benches are on opposite sides of the rink, much like at the Civic Centre across the river. The seating at Guertin is very steep and all the way around. The fans are right on top of the action and they let the visitors know they are there. The low roof and the ample beer sales also contribute to an extremely loud and intimidating experience for visiting teams. On the other hand, the fans are also very knowledgeable and appreciative. With the exception of the hard-core nationalists who only show up for the infrequent games vs. the 67's, the crowd is not rude or violent. When the opposition is worthy, they will show their appreciation. Sidney Crosby was a recent recipient of multiple standing ovations at the rink. The owners of les Olympiques have been in lengthy negotiations with the city over expanded office space, larger dressing rooms, more concessions, and bigger washrooms. The negotiations have become so bitter at times that the team started making threats of moving, though it was disguised as an appeal for more season ticket sales. The city will eventually relent and make the desired improvements. If you have anything to contribute please send it to  |
Future Developments |
| The city of Gatineau is planning either a full rebuild from the inside out of the Guertin Arena, or to demolish it and build a new arena next door. Either way, the plan would result in a 6,000 seat arena for the 'Piques. A time frame for the work hasn't yet been decided. |
| Inside Robert Guertin Arena |
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How To Get There |
| From Ottawa: From Ottawa, take Sussex Dr to the Alexandria Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue straight along Charlevoix. Turn right at De Carillon. (If you come to Autoroute 50, you have gone too far.) The arena is about 100 metres down the road, on your left. The parking entrance is off De Carillon, just before the rink. |
Admission Prices |
| Adults: $14 Students (13-17): $12 Seniors: $12 Child (12 and under): $8 Family (2 adults/2 children): $36 |
| Franchise History |
| Hull Arena was built in 1952 as the main arena for the city of Hull/Gatineau, Quebec. The Olympiques franchise was founded in 1973 as the Hull Festivals but were renamed the Olympiques in 1976, and have been a model of stability for an oft-unstable league. The now-renamed Robert Guertin Arena is the only home that the team has ever had. |
| Another Look Inside Robert Guertin Arena |
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Retired Numbers |
| 15 Luc Robitaille 16 Sam Lang 33 José Théodore 77 Guy Rouleau |
Local Rivals |
| There really aren't any Q teams that are that near to Gatineau, but the other Quebec teams in the Montreal-Quebec corridor are rivals. The Olympiques and the Ottawa 67's used to play each other in exhibition games, but that was stopped a few years ago because the rivalry was too intense, to the point of being dangerous. |
Feedback |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at and I'll update the guide. |
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Copyright © Kevin Jordan
2002-07. |