The Ottawa Senators reportedly have a deal with the National Capital Commission (NCC) to build a new NHL arena – technically an events centre – at LeBreton Flats. Today was the deadline for the two sides to agree on a deal and, according to Wayne Scanlan at Sportsnet, they managed to get things done.
While west enders and fans in valley towns like Arnprior, Renfrew, and Pembroke won’t love the new location, most everyone else will. That includes Ottawa’s mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, who’s been quite vocal about how a rink closer to the city’s core will help revitalize the downtown area.
The Senators are expected to announce the decision this afternoon at 1pm and at least some of the details of the pact. One of those details is how much actual land the deal will include for things like parking, which has been a priority for owner Michael Andlauer.
Ideally, light rail would mitigate some of that concern but reliability remains an issue, as does the answer to a very simple question that isn’t talked about nearly enough: How much interest do wealthy Senator season ticket and suite holders, many of whom never use public transit, actually have in cramming themselves onto a train?
11:24 am Update: According to TSN 1200’s John Rodenburg, the parking issue has been resolved, the parcel of land has been extended and the Sens have an option to buy the land and not lease it .
There’s a lot still to be done, not the least of which is the use of public money for the massive project. It’s not a question of if it will be needed, it’s a matter of how much.
“This cannot happen without public support,” Andlauer told Bruce Garrioch at Postmedia. “I’m fully going to do my part. It’s not like I feel like I’m privileged and I’m sitting there saying, ‘Do you know who I am? I’m the Ottawa Senators and therefore I should be getting (this all paid for).’
“This is about what the fans want. As I said at my beginning press conference, I’m just holding the torch for a period of time, hopefully a long time, of this hockey club and I just want to do what’s right for our fans.”
But today is a step in the right direction. There may be some bumps and inconveniences along the way, but an arena closer to downtown and Gatineau should make the NHL club an even healthier franchise.
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