What to know before your first Ottawa Rapid FC game

Ottawa’s newest professional team is making its mark.  

Ottawa Rapid FC is bringing high-energy women’s soccer to TD Place Stadium, and fans are showing up. Whether you’re looking for something to do or are a long-time soccer fan, Ottawa Rapid FC delivers fast-paced, high-energy play at every game.  

As one of the six founding clubs in the Northern Super League (NSL), the team represents Ottawa and the new era of sports in Canada. Following its announcement in 2024, the NSL’s inaugural season was played in 2025 after years of development and planning.  

The NSL was founded by Canadian Olympic soccer player Diana Matheson in collaboration with Olympic teammates. The league sees itself as a movement, dedicated to putting its best foot forward and showing up to the pitch with passion, bravery, and inclusivity. As Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, the NSL is creating a legacy.  

Fans can watch that legacy take shape at TD Place Stadium as Ottawa Rapid FC competes for the Diana B. Matheson Cup. 

Get to know the Ottawa Rapid FC 

The Ottawa Rapid FC is representing Ottawa in a new era of sports in Canada, one that celebrates inclusivity and community and aims to grow the game and inspire the next generation of Canadian female players.  

The team’s identity takes inspiration from Ottawa’s legacy and landscapes. At the centre of their logo is a peregrine falcon, native to Ottawa and the fastest animal in the world. The spaces between the falcon’s four feathers represent the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau rivers that define the National Capital Region. The logo is circled by the letter ‘O’ and topped with a tulip as a nod to Ottawa’s annual Canadian Tulip Festival. 

The team colours are light blue, a nod to the sky and water, with orange accents inspired by Parliament’s Centennial Flame. Keep your eye out for the team’s new mascot, Perri the Peregrine, and cheer and join her in cheering for the Ottawa Rapid FC.  

Getting to TD Place Stadium 

The Ottawa Rapid FC calls TD Place Stadium home. Located in Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park, there are many ways to get to the game. To take in all the game-day festivities, arrive one hour before the game starts.  

If you plan to drive to the stadium, purchase your parking pass beforehand, as a limited number are available, and they sell out quickly. Like your tickets, your parking passes are digital and can be added to your mobile wallet. Parking opens three hours before game time, so it is best to arrive early. 

Thanks to TD Place Stadium’s central location and proximity to the Rideau Canal, Rapid FC games are accessible to those who prefer walking or cycling. Plus, there are 285 bike rings where you can park and lock your bike around Lansdowne Park.  

If you plan to take OC Transpo, your game ticket lets you ride for free. Show your ticket to the driver as you board. When taking the LRT or a bus from a gated station, use the video chat function on a ticket machine. Go to “we’re here to help” and chat with a customer service agent who will issue you a pass to get through the gates. Don’t forget to hold on to your pass and use it on the way home. OC Transpo services for Rapid FC games start three hours before game time. 

What to bring  

TD Place Stadium is an open-air venue, so remember to check the forecast before the game. On sunny days, hats, sunglasses, and non-aerosol sunscreen will protect you from the sun and keep you comfortable. On rainy days, pack a poncho or raincoat as umbrellas are not permitted within the stadium. Check the TD Place Stadium Guide for what you can and cannot bring on game day, as well as other policies.    

Game day bags must fit under your seat and will be searched upon entry, so it's best to bring only the essentials. Using a clear bag is encouraged; those with clear bags can use the express lines to enter the stadium. 

Eats and treats 

TD Place Stadium has options for whatever you are craving, including Ottawa staples and sweet treats.  

For pizza and hot dogs, you can find Gabriel Pizza in sections W, SS and U. For another Ottawa staple, Shawarma Palace is serving up shawarma platters, poutine and shawarma poutine in section Q.  

At Lansdowne Grab N Go near section A, you can find a Caesar salad, a Chimichurri brisket wrap, or a curried chickpea sandwich. For classic stadium snacks like poutine, burgers and chicken nuggets, head to the Glebe Grill in section GG.  

Barbecue lovers should check out the Smoking Pig in section CC for pulled pork sandwiches, a brisket quesadilla, pulled pork nachos or smoked brisket nachos.  

To satisfy your sweet tooth, head to Maverick's Donuts in section QQ or to Lois N Frima’s for ice cream and mini donuts in the main concourse behind section Q.  

Get in on the action  

Are you ready to cheer on Ottawa Rapid FC? Get game day ready with your CAA Membership. Members save 20 per cent on home game tickets bought through the CAA Rewards Portal.