National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed optimism that the vision of a centrally located arena for the Ottawa Senators will come to fruition after a day filled with meetings, visits and discussions.
Bettman said progress has been made through the Senators’ recent letter of intent with the National Capital Commission regarding the LeBreton Flats site, a prime location near downtown Ottawa.
However, he warned against looking too far into the future.
“There are still many steps to take and no one should get too far ahead,” Bettman advised.
“There are a lot of things that need to come together to make this work and no one, again, should rush out and assume that this requires one more thing. »
The commissioner stressed the importance of public/private partnerships and “making sure people are comfortable at all levels and constituencies to make it work.”
Bettman highlighted the potential economic benefits of a downtown arena, insisting that a central location would likely attract more events, which would foster an entire economy including restaurants, shopping and tourism.
He said people need to understand that a project of this magnitude has many steps. There will be the involvement of provincial and municipal authorities, the need to gain support from the business community, as well as the overall vision of the Senators ownership group.
In addition to meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and touring the proposed site on LeBreton Flats, Bettman met with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and was encouraged by his support for the project.
“It’s not just taking a building and putting it somewhere else,” Bettman illustrated.
“That’s not what this is about. It’s about having a building and a place that can make a real difference in a positive way. »
This isn’t the first time Bettman has raised the possibility of a downtown arena for the Senators, but he believes new owner Michael Andlauer is a key factor in moving things forward this time around.
“I know Michael Andlauer is committed to doing the right thing,” Bettman said, “and doing it in a way that makes people feel good.”
Bettman also paid tribute to the late Eugene Melnyk for his efforts in keeping the team in Ottawa, noting that this new phase represents an evolution for the organization.
“Michael Andlauer is going to take what has been started and take it to the next level. »
Bettman said with the right partnerships and community support, Ottawa can look forward to a brighter future for the Senators and the city itself.
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