With a sales agreement in place between the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Ottawa Senators, the plan for a new arena is advancing to the next phase.
The Senators and NCC have reached a last-minute deal regarding land athis Flat for the proposed arena and entertainment district. The memorandum that granted the Senators exclusive negotiating rights was set to expire today.
The deal involves the Senators purchasing just over 10 acres of land, an increase from the original proposal of about six acres. While the sale price has not been disclosed, NCC’s he indicated it would be at a “fair market price” to be determined through an upcoming land assessment.
Key issues that needed to be addressed included parking availability during development and environmental concerns related to site cleanup. While specific parking details were not provided, there were mentions of “transitional elements,” consistent with earlier comments from the GM. Soil remediation remains a topic for negotiation between the parties.
The NCC plans to pursue development in the surrounding area concurrently with the arena project to avoid having just the arena and open space next to the War Museum.
Ottawa player stated that the public is unlikely to support significant city funding for the arena’s construction, acknowledging that the Senators are aware of this stance. Next steps include finalizing designs and funding plans. The Senators are expected to seek external funding opportunities, while city assistance may come in other forms. The involvement of Provincial or Federal governments remains unclear.
he mentioned that detailed design work for the arena and its surroundings has yet to begin, but he anticipates that the arena will feature more in-building amenities and include some public open space. He noted that it will still be several years before construction starts. Regarding the current Canadian Tire Centre site, there are no firm plans yet, although discussions about its future have begun.
After over a decade of challenges, the project for an arena at his Flats is finally progressing to the next stage.
