(via CityNews, Anil Jhalli) The lead singer and guitarist of the legendary rock band Pearl Jam stopped by the Rideau Sports Centre on Friday, Sept. 2, the day before the band performed at the Canadian Tire Centre as part of their North American tour.

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder paid a visit to a local sports club to play a little tennis, but he was missing a very important tool.

The lead singer and guitarist of the legendary rock band stopped by the Rideau Sports Centre (RSC) on Friday, Sept. 2, the day before the band performed at the Canadian Tire Centre as part of their North American tour.

Vedder, however, needed a racquet, so he borrowed one from RSC chief executive officer (CEO) and founder Nicki Bridgland.

Pearl Jam’s lead singer gifted staff at the RSC with tickets to the show.

“Saturday night’s concert was incredible,” RSC said in a tweet. “Thank you for bringing such joy to Ottawa.”

Bridgland told The Sam Laprade Show on Sept. 8 that there was a sense of excitement when Vedder showed up to play that day.

The RSC founder said the goal of the centre was to make it open and inclusive for everyone, and never imagined someone like Pearl Jam’s frontman dropping by for a visit.

“I was thinking, how can I best approach him, and just connect on a human level and not as a fan,” she said. ‘It was a total buzz moment for the centre.”

Bridgland said Vedder was in awe of the RSC.

Listen to the full interview with Nicki Bridgland here.