This year, Adrian Sciarra will reach his 11th anniversary with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, and will near the second anniversary of his promotion to President of the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Ottawa 67’s.

“I oversee all the operations of the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Ottawa 67’s,” Sciarra said. “The other part is overseeing the relationships we have with our tenant teams, the Ottawa BlackJacks, Atletico Ottawa, Ottawa Charge, and Ottawa Rapid FC.”

What exactly does that mean, though?

“They run their team and they run their games, but we really run their event and try to ensure a great fan experience here at TD Place,” Sciarra detailed. “When they walk into the building, we like to think that they just need to worry about putting a good product on the ice, court, or field, but everything else in terms of managing the event is taken care of for them.”

Like many others at OSEG, Sciarra is a big sports fan at heart. He had his favourite teams growing up, but never really envisioned a path to working in the industry. However, since 1999, that’s exactly what he’s done.

“I didn’t go into school thinking I’d work in sports,” Sciarra said. “I didn’t come out of school thinking I’d work in sports, either. It was an opportunity that came about through networking very early in my career, and I started in 1999 in this business. So here I am, 25 years later, certainly grateful it all happened.”

Since 2013, Adrian and his family found a new home in Ottawa. Prior to being in Ottawa, he has held many different roles with various organizations, including the Canadian Football League.

“I was working at the CFL when Ottawa was awarded the franchise,” Sciarra said. “I started to get to know the leadership group of OSEG, primarily Bernie Ashe. One thing led to another as OSEG was getting off the ground and it just fit.”

Thinking back to 2013, things were very different for OSEG. Most employees, regardless of their role, came into the office wearing a hard hat and construction boots. For about a year, no sports were being played at TD Place, but it was always busy.

Lansdowne wasn’t the only thing being developed though. The entirety of OSEG was. It needed an identity and a soul, which is something Sciarra was able to see implemented in real-time.

Sciarra recounts “It was pretty special to be part of a startup, and literally starting at ground level as it’s being built, so it was really exciting. The early days were a lot of work, but a ton of fun.”

“It’s been amazing to see the organization evolve over more than a decade now. From the building of TD Place to the first events, the first games, the addition of new teams, and then all the other amazing events that have taken place over the years. To be part of that journey has been pretty special.”

In that time, there have been a myriad of incredible, unforgettable moments for Sciarra. So many, in fact, that he can’t choose just one to highlight.

“Opening night for the REDBLACKS was an incredibly stressful, not perfect experience,” Sciarra said. “Hosting Grey Cup here, winning the Grey Cup in 2016 in Toronto, and the playoff run we had with the 67’s back in in 2018-19. Even things like the first massive concert we had with AC/DC, I came in as a fan and had an amazing time.”

“There are just so many memories, and that’s what makes this place special. And it’s not just games and sports events, it’s all sorts of things that have gone on here.”

At the end of this REDBLACKS season, he hopes that another Grey Cup championship can be added to the list. Much like the fans of the team, the President also loves seeing the team win games.

“We’re all really competitive,” Sciarra said. “It’s in our DNA, and we probably wouldn’t work in this business if we weren’t. But with competitiveness comes the kind of joy of victory and the agony of defeat. When we’re not winning as much as we want, it can weigh on you, but it also makes the winning feel that much sweeter. It’s certainly great to be having the year we have had, but it’s not done yet, and we’re still trying to win the next game week by week.”

Sciarra is excited about what’s next and is focused on putting his best effort in to push the business forward, so the next generation of fans can enjoy Ottawa’s meeting place for years to come.