- July 6, 2022
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Case Studies, Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases
The National Capital Commission and a group led by the Ottawa Senators NHL hockey team have signed a memorandum of understanding toward the development of a major event centre at LeBreton Flats.
Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI) is proposing to build an NHL hockey arena and events venue surrounded by mixed-use development, located on Albert Street between Preston Street and City Centre Avenue. This site was identified for a potential major facility in the 2021 LeBreton Flats Master Concept Plan, reflecting the feedback of more than 5,000 people who participated in public consultations.
This is another important step in the implementation of our Building LeBreton plan: the start of an incredibly exciting and transformative city-building project that will become a landmark and major destination in the National Capital Region. We look forward to working with the team at CSDI to bring this major event centre to life.
The vision is a destination for people to live, work and play. People can visit and Canadians can feel at home.
Today’s announcement marks a significant move toward our long-term vision, a downtown arena at LeBreton Flats. We believe that this development will have a major impact on both the National Capital Region and our franchise, one that will help to shape the future of the city. We thank the NCC for their collaboration and look forward to working alongside them as we take the next steps on this exciting journey.
CSDI’s proposal was presented with the support of Sterling Project Development, a real estate management and advisory group experienced in working with professional sports teams on sports facilities and mixed-use development; Populous, a global firm that has designed major sports facilities, such as Videotron Centre in Quebec City; Tipping Point Sports, a boutique sports finance and advisory firm focusing on public–private partnerships for sports-anchored, mixed-use developments; and Live Nation, a global entertainment company that produces concerts and festivals.
The 2022 edition of ALSD International is being hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium September 19-20, the main focus being optimising revenue through New Builds, Renovations & Service Expansions. Architecture & Design, Fan Experience, Hospitality & Interiors, Premium Seating, Sales & Service, Sustainability and Technology are some of the key pillars. Populous is a Presenting Partner Sponsor for this industry-leading event.
While CSDI elaborates on its concept and creates an implementation plan, the NCC and CSDI will work toward signing a long-term lease agreement by the autumn/fall of 2023. That lease agreement will include commercial terms, as well as clear targets related to sustainability, affordable housing and benefits for the Algonquin Nation. In parallel, CSDI will work with the City of Ottawa to secure the required municipal approvals.
Katie Paris, the director of Building LeBreton for the NCC, said there will be extensive underground parking and that the NCC will work closely with the city to ensure that the surrounding infrastructure can support and accommodate increased traffic.
The NCC’s request for expressions of interest to seek major attractions at LeBreton Flats was launched in December 2021 and garnered multiple submissions.
Supporters of moving the Senators’ home closer to the downtown core have long pushed for an NHL-calibre arena to be a cornerstone of the NCC’s long-term plan to redevelop the Flats.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal (OBJ)
