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. Ottawa Senators player Parker Kelly skates as projections of the team's logo spin on the ice before an NHL game against the Boston Bruins in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
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
