SENSNEWS

The Ottawa Senators and the NCC have formally reached an agreement regarding the building of a new arena in downtown Ottawa.

Ottawa Senators Reach Lease Agreement With LeBreton Flats

The news was broken Friday morning, marking the end of a multi-year negotiation between the Senators and the NCC.

This process originally began and fell apart under the Melnyk regime; however, Michael Andlauer was able to rebuild the broken bridges.

Highlights From The Deal

The following two statements from the NCC and the Senators highlight the new deal:

“This agreement with CSDI and the Senators is great news for the National Capital Region. The major events centre and arena district will bring life and excitement to LeBreton Flats.

This partnership will build on the development phases already announced as part of the NCC Building LeBreton project, which will include 6,000 new housing units with an affordability target of 25 percent.”

—Tobi Nussbaum, Chief Executive Officer, National Capital Commission

“We are pleased to take this next step in the process with the National Capital Commission.

Our ultimate desire is to build a world-class, multi-event centre in the heart of Ottawa-Gatineau that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Today represents an important step towards achieving that goal, and we are committed to working with the NCC and other key stakeholders to make this a reality.”

—Cyril Leeder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Senators

Tobi Nussbaum and Cyril Leeder were available for a press conference to discuss the new partnership between the Senators and the NCC.

The initial questions were regarding the cost and development of the area.

While not going into specifics, Nussbaum mentioned that the land will be sold at a fair value, and that the NCC wants to ensure there are green spaces surrounding the area.

The parcel of land sold to the Senators was stated as being over 10 acres—more than enough room for the Senators to build and develop to a proper extent.

As for the cost of the new arena, Leeder mentioned that they aren’t sure exactly how much it will cost, as the team still needs to work on a design project for the new building.

Leeder also mentioned that the new arena is a unified wish among all parties: “We’re in a position where everybody wants this to happen.

We’re at a point where having an arena downtown is what everybody wants for Ottawa/Gatineau.”

When asked what caused the final breakthrough for the new arena, it was mentioned that the deadline really heated up negotiations. This is no surprise considering the pedigree of both parties.

The NCC also mentioned that the district around the new arena land will be developed on a similar timeline. This will help the Senators follow the model of other teams who went through similar situations, such as the Oilers.

The Senators were also asked about the role the City of Ottawa will play in this project. Nobody went into detail, but of course, there will be negotiations between the two parties.

As for the future of the CTC, Cyril Leeder didn’t go into great detail. However, he did mention that the team plans on doing something “special” with the property.

Regarding the team’s current state: “We’re going to be here for a while yet,” says Leeder of the CTC.

“This hasn’t been a bad location for the last 28 years. We just believe LeBreton is the best location for the next generation, for the next 50 years.”

Next Steps

The closure of the sale is expected to be complete by next year. In the meantime, several studies will take place, including geological, transport, financing plans, zoning, environmental impact, and site cleanup.

Although there are still years to go before we will step into the new arena, a major step has been taken.

From everything we know now, it seems this process is being done with proper due diligence, and no corners will be cut.

More exciting news is just on the horizon as we learn more about what the new building will look like. Keep an eye out for further updates regarding the new arena.