OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators’ arena project on LeBreton Flats could lead to the “revitalization of downtown Ottawa”, but it must be a “collaborative effort”, insisted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Tuesday.
The Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner Bill Daly toured the site located approximately two kilometers southwest of Parliament Hill with Senators owner Michael Andlauer, team president and CEO Cyril Leeder and President and CEO of the National Capital Commission (NCC) Tobi Nussbaum. The group also met with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe in his office before the visit.
On September 20, the Senators and the NCC announced that they had reached an agreement in principle to allow Capital Sports Development Inc., the hockey club’s parent company, to build a new NHL arena on LeBreton Flats. . The Senators expect to own the land sometime in 2025.
“Relocating the team downtown would be great for the fans,” Bettman said before the Senators’ game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Canadian Tire Centre. “It will be great for the surrounding businesses and the use of the building because this building doesn’t host as many events as if it were located closer to downtown because it’s far away (in Kanata ). Rather than hosting 75 events, if it hosts 150, it will stimulate the economy of businesses near the arena – boutiques, restaurants and bars.
“Look at Taylor Swift’s effect on the economy of the places she goes. And I think if you host more shows and events, you increase your tourism. Everything is connected. »
In the past, efforts to move the team downtown have all failed, but the commissioner stressed that this time the scenario could be different.
“Obviously, credit has to be given to Eugene Melnyk (the late owner) for getting this dealership out of a difficult situation,” Bettman said. But in the end, he kept the team here, he was invested in them and the community. And Michael Andlauer is going to take what was started and bring it to another level. They are different owners, but it must be emphasized that it is not all good or all bad. This is an evolution, and we are at the next stage. »
In previous versions of the arena project on LeBreton Flats, the commissioner had expressed reservations about the size of the land. The new agreement includes more than 10 acres for the arena, plans for an entertainment district around the building and 6,000 new housing units, in addition to addressing concerns about available parking at the site.
Related News :