NHL’s Senators, NCC call press conference as arena deal deadline arrives in Ottawa

By The Canadian Press on September 20, 2024.

OTTAWA – The National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators and the National Capital Commission have called a joint press conference on the deadline date to finalize a deal to build a downtown arena.

The reason for the press conference was not disclosed in a Friday press release, but the Senators have long been interested in building a downtown arena to replace the Canadian Tire Centre.

The team had entered a memorandum of understanding with the NCC to develop the downtown LeBreton Flats area, with a deadline of Friday to reach a deal.

The Senators have played at the Canadian Tire Centre in the western suburb of Kanata since 1996.

The 25-kilometre drive from Ottawa’s downtown to the Kanata facility, often made longer due to traffic, has been cited as an obstacle for attracting walk-up crowds – an issue teams with downtown arenas don’t face.

A previous deal to redevelop LeBreton Flats and build an arena under former owner Eugene Melnyk collapsed in 2019 following a fallout between Melnyk and business partner John Ruddy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024

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