Live Nation Canada brings History music venue to Ottawa
First expansion of the History brand is set to open in 2026
Live Nation Canada aims to make history by expanding its Drake-owned music business to the capital.
In a Wednesday news conference, Live Nation Canada unveiled History Ottawa, a two-story live music venue that will occupy the former Chapters building on the corner of Rideau Street and George Street.
It will have a 2,000-person capacity and is being built in collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake and the National Capital Commission (NCC), which announced the building purchase in January 2024.
"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," joked Mayor Mark Sutcliffe during the news conference.
History Ottawa is Live Nation Canada's first expansion of the History brand, with History Toronto having opened back in 2021. History Ottawa is set to open in early 2026.
Erik Hoffman, president of music at Live Nation Canada, said History Ottawa will help further cement Ottawa on the music touring map.
"Ottawa's always had a love affair with live music," Hoffman said. "This notion that it is some sleepy government city or some town that fun forgot isn't just annoying to hear, it's simply untrue."
Sutcliffe said History Ottawa will be a "game-changer" to help revitalize the ByWard Market and downtown Ottawa.
"This is going to bring so much activity and so much life to the ByWard Market, which is already going in the right direction," Sutcliffe said. "I've been chatting with business owners in the ByWard Market and they are seeing positive signs, but I feel like this is really going to springboard the downtown economy and our nightlife."
Hoffman said some demolition is already underway and that the building will look "very similar" to History Toronto. He described the music venue as having both general admission and seating options up top for music fans.
Melanie Brulée, executive director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, said Ottawa is "ripe and ready" for this new music venue.
"We have a lot of talent here already. As well, we got a lot of the infrastructure that is starting to build," Brulée said. "This is just the next step in Ottawa's music ecosystem."