Senators reach agreement to build arena on LeBreton Flats

The Ottawa Senators made a major leap Friday toward getting the downtown arena the organization and fans have long coveted.

The Senators-led Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI) and the National Capital Commission (NCC) have reached an agreement in principle regarding the sale of the land to bring an arena district and major events center to LeBreton Flats, the team announced Friday.

Friday was the deadline, as a memorandum of understanding - signed back in 2022 - was set to expire.

There are still several more steps that must be completed before shovels are in the ground, though.

"We are pleased to take this next step in the process with the National Capital Commission," Senators president and CEO Cyril Leeder said. "Our ultimate desire is to build a world-class, multi-event centre in the heart of Ottawa-Gatineau that can be enjoyed for generations to come. Today represents an important step towards achieving that goal, and we are committed to working with the NCC and other key stakeholders to make this a reality."

The 10-acre plot of land will be sold to Capital Sports Development at "fair market value," NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum said.

LeBreton Flats is located just two kilometres (or 1.24 miles) southwest of Parliament Hill and three kilometres southwest of the ByWard Market.

The franchise has been seeking an arena near the downtown core for at least a decade but failed to secure a deal in multiple previous attempts, most of which came under the previous ownership of Eugene Melnyk. Securing the bid was one of Melnyk's final acts before he died.

A new arena deal has been one of Michael Andlauer's top priorities after he purchased the team in 2023. The owner praised LeBreton Flats as "the best piece of land available in any major city in North America" during an introductory press conference.

"This agreement with CSDI and the Senators is great news for the National Capital Region," Nussbaum said. "The major events center and arena district will bring life and excitement to LeBreton Flats. This partnership will build on the development phases already announced as part of the NCC Building LeBreton project that will see 6,000 new housing units with an affordability target of 25 percent."

The Senators have played their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre in rural Kanata - about 27 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa - since 1996.