“We met with the NCC this week and made some headway, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Discussions between the Ottawa Senators and the National Capital Commission regarding an arena deal at LeBreton Flats are gaining urgency. Cyril Leeder, the team’s CEO and president, shared with the Ottawa Citizen that negotiations to establish a lease for a new arena just 10 minutes from downtown have intensified recently, especially with a deadline of September 20th approaching.
Leeder expressed disappointment to season-ticket holders last Thursday regarding the lack of progress toward a lease agreement with the NCC. While he’s uncertain if a deal can be finalized, further discussions are planned.
He noted that there has been some flexibility shown in discussions with the NCC, and he remains optimistic.
“We met with the NCC this week and made some progress, so we’ll see,” Leeder stated. “Discussions are ongoing. As I mentioned last week, I’m hopeful we can find common ground, but we have less than three weeks to do it.”
Leeder emphasized that both parties understand the urgency of moving forward with the project.
“This week, it’s clear there’s a sense of urgency to make something happen,” he said. “We have three weeks, so let’s get to work.”
As reported by Postmedia last week, there are still notable obstacles for the Senators and the NCC to overcome in order to finalize a deal. Leeder confirmed that the organization is not considering alternative sites and that LeBreton Flats is their primary focus due to its proximity to downtown and the Gatineau side.
Are we at a point where compromises are necessary to reach a deal?
“Whenever you’re in negotiations, compromise is key,” Leeder stated. “I believe both sides have made some concessions, so we’re working towards making progress.”
The NCC has earmarked a seven-acre parcel of land on Albert Street, located between Preston Street and City Centre, near Ottawa’s new central library currently in development.
The Canadian Tire Centre and its parking facilities cover 75 acres. The initial proposal from the group led by the late owner Eugene Melnyk in 2021 for LeBreton included just a 20,000-seat arena and a hotel.
In a statement to the Citizen on Friday, the NCC expressed its willingness to address any concerns the club may have about the project.
“We continue to show flexibility and openness in our discussions with the Ottawa Senators, and we aim to finalize an agreement by September 2024,” the NCC said.
As things currently stand at LeBreton, sources indicate that the Senators are worried about the lack of public parking and may have to rely on the struggling light-rail transit system.
The club also envisions creating an arena district, similar to what surrounds Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, featuring restaurants, bars, and other amenities for use before and after events.
Postmedia has learned that one of the roadblocks in discussions involves environmental regulations imposed by the NCC on the project.
Leeder mentioned he doesn’t expect around-the-clock negotiations but affirmed that more meetings are scheduled. He believes these discussions are essential for reaching an agreement.
“There are more meetings lined up,” Leeder noted. “There are issues to address and resolve. There’s goodwill to get these done. The question is whether we can find terms that satisfy both the NCC and us.”
“We’ll see. I don’t want to speculate on where this will lead. We’ve made some progress this week, so let’s see what unfolds.”
If you think Leeder is being cautious, he is, but where there’s a will, there’s a way!
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