Fans searched for cover at TD Place. Soon, there will be less of it.

The uncovered south-side stands at TD Place are seen following Saturday's Ottawa Redblacks home opener. The stormy conditions have renewed debate over Lansdowne 2.0's roofless north-side design. Photo by Michael McBean /Postmedia

Article content

As rain poured during the Ottawa Redblacks’ home opener Saturday, longtime season-ticket holder Lanny Underhill couldn’t help but notice the contrast.

Article content

From his seat high under the roof on the north side of the stadium, he watched fans pack into covered sections while much of the exposed seating on the south side sat noticeably empty.

Article content

Article content

“Tons and tons of south-side people and north-side people that were down below were coming up and asking, ‘Are these seats taken? Are these seats taken?’ because they were just trying to get out of the rain,” Underhill said.

Article content

Article content

For Underhill, the scene underscored what he sees as one of the biggest flaws in Lansdowne 2.0. The $418.8-million redevelopment project will replace TD Place’s aging north-side grandstand with a new 12,400-seat structure, but the new stands will be built without a roof.

Article content

Article content

The existing north-side grandstand includes an overhanging roof that covers a large portion of the seating area.

Article content

“We’ll probably have to re-evaluate,” Underhill said when asked about his future as a season- ticket holder.

Article content

It was yet another wet night at TD Place as the Ottawa Redblacks played the Edmonton Elks on June 6, 2026. Photo by André Ringuette /Freestyle Photo

Article content

Underhill’s comments came as the Redblacks continued to battle what has become a seemingly endless streak of bad weather luck. Rain, lightning delays and gloomy forecasts have become a recurring feature of home games in recent years, often affecting attendance and fan experience.

Article content

“It is statistically improbable that we could have the amount of rain on Redblacks game days that we’ve had over the last three or four years,” Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group president and CEO Mark Goudie said.

Article content

The weather can have a direct impact on attendance, particularly in the CFL where many fans buy tickets shortly before kickoff.

Article content

Article content

“The big problem in CFL football and in Ottawa is a big portion of your crowd is walk-up,” Goudie said. “When you’ve got a forecast that’s forecasting rain on game day, that just kills your sales.”

Article content

Article content

While Goudie acknowledged the appeal of a covered grandstand, he noted that most open-air stadiums across North America do not have roofs over their seating areas.

Article content

For Underhill, avoiding Ottawa’s unpredictable weather was exactly why he moved his season tickets years ago.

Article content

Originally seated lower in the north-side stands, he and his wife eventually relocated farther back beneath the overhang.

Article content

“Why sit in the rain when you could sit perfectly dry?” he said.

Article content

As construction continues around Lansdowne, reminders of the site’s future are already impossible to miss.

Article content

Beyond the east end zone, a large construction pit has become a familiar sight for fans this season. When kicks disappear into the excavation area, the jumbotron flashes “In The Pit” before public address announcer Mike Sutherland bellows the phrase in his booming voice.

Article content

Construction at Lansdowne Park continued in late May 2026. When kicks disappear into the excavation area at TD Place, the jumbotron flashes “In The Pit”. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Article content

The pit is part of the first phase of Lansdowne 2.0, which will replace the aging arena and eventually see the north-side stands rebuilt.