A lot of folks are talking about the bold plan to build a fancy new Sens rink on LeBreton Flats. But it’s not just a new NHL arena. The plan calls for a hotel, restaurants and housing (think 2,000 condos), with much hope it’ll rejuvenate The Flats.
The area used to be a vibrant working-class neighbourhood. It was a hardscrabble, tight-knit community with a hotel and taverns. It was also industrial, with the railway (Canadian Pacific) and a paint factory. Federal politicians said it was an eyesore. Too many rundown houses and too close to Parliament Hill. So the federal government/NCC expropriated it and demolished the entire neighbourhood. All the residents, around 2,800, and hundreds of businesses were told they had two years to get out. The National Capital Commission sent them all a letter in 1962, forcing everyone to pack up and leave their community. Then they bulldozed every home and business.
It was described as a crime against poverty at the time.
The NCC and the federal government said back then they were going to build a Department of National Defence complex at the site, but they never did, and instead they built DND HQ downtown, across from the Rideau Centre.
Today, LeBreton Flats, named after an 1812 war hero, is getting closer to huge changes with hopes of making it a big-style destination.
Does the recent news of a sale agreement mean the Sens will finally get a downtown rink?
Well, it’s just west of downtown and plenty of Ottawans — from the suits to those in sugar shacks — have said a National Hockey League arena should have been built on The Flats in the first place.
But it’s going to be a long road.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says: “This is one step in a long process toward building an arena in the centre of the city. There are still many details to work out. But it’s a positive step.”
Ontario’s ministry of sport has been having meetings with the Ottawa Senators to understand the full scope of the big project, notably its infrastructure.
Neil Lumsden, the minister of sport, has three Grey Cup rings as a Canadian Football League champion. He played for Hamilton, Toronto and Edmonton and he’s down with sport.
Here’s his take on the plan to build a new Sens rink on The Flats:
“This new facility is going to be great for the city — not just for Ottawa Senators fans who will be able to enjoy the hockey game in the heart of our nation’s capital, but for downtown businesses, restaurants and hotels that will benefit from this fresh boost to the Ottawa sport tourism sector. From my days as a professional athlete — and now my time as a fan — I have always appreciated being close to the energy that the downtown core brings for both hometown and visiting fans.”
How is the latest news different from September 2024, when the Sens and the NCC said they had an agreement in principle for the NHL club to buy the land?
The only difference appears to be they settled on a price for the 11 acres: around $35 million, according to Postmedia.
What steps are left before the deal becomes final?
This comes down to financing, and a lot of it. The Senators’ owner, Michael Andlauer, has said the team would need public funding. He once said it was not something where you could just dip into your pockets and cover the bill. It’s too much money.
The new build for the Calgary Flames’ rink comes in at $1.22 billion. In that case, the cost was split three ways. City taxpayers coughed up $537 million (44 per cent) and the Alberta government kicked in another $330 million, with Flames ownership covering the remaining $330M.
There’s also an expensive issue about the contaminated soil on The Flats. It needs to be hauled out and disposed of under strict government regulations.
And there’s an insurance issue, which means you might see two construction companies combine their efforts.
How long does it take to build a new arena?
Three to five years.
Will the new rink be built using taxpayer dollars?
Premier Doug Ford has so far been quiet on whether Ontario will kick in taxpayers’ money for the new NHL rink in Ottawa. (He’s a football guy, and so was his late brother, Rob Ford, a revered high school football coach and a Toronto mayor.)
Premier Ford is a sports fan, right down to wearing a Team Canada jersey on the hustings, but so far he’s not publicly talking about helping out with Ottawa’s new rink.
Ottawa’s mayor, a successful business and newspaperman, is not mum. Mark Sutcliffe is out in the community all the time and doesn’t think the public has an appetite for funding a new rink for a successful NHL club.
“I don’t think the public wants to see taxpayers’ dollars going toward the construction cost of building an NHL arena. There are many other priorities the city is working on right now and our finances are very tight,” Sutcliffe said.
Besides a new hockey rink, what else would be built in the district?
They want to make it a destination. Think hotels, restaurants, and a lot of condos with 25 per cent for affordable housing. We don’t know how affordable that will be, but we’ll see that down the road.
Under the NCC master plan, the Preston Street extension would be closed. Instead, the NCC envisions replacing that arterial road with two local roads that would be connected by a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the LRT.
What will happen to the Canadian Tire Centre?
Nobody knows, but the mayor says it’s an important question.
Without the arena, the biggest footprint in the area is taken up by car dealerships and a massive RV lot. What happens to all those businesses if the Senators leave Kanata for downtown?
The mayor had this to say:
“This is an important question. The Canadian Tire Centre is an important economic driver for Kanata and the west end of our city. If someday there is no longer an event centre on that site, there must be a plan for that site that continues to stimulate the economy and create jobs,” Sutcliffe said.
Does the deal in any way impact Bluesfest being held at LeBreton Flats?
Good news. It won’t mess with your beloved Bluesfest. (Don’t Mess With Bluesfest.)
It’s at a different location (phew), and founder Mark Monahan says he’s stoked about the proposed plan for the rink-based project.
“It’s a great thing for Ottawa. We’re excited about it, and everyone should be. No effect because the rink is not by the Bluesfest site. We look forward to working with them to help rejuvenate LeBreton Flats to make it a world-class destination,” Monahan said.
The NCC said the agreement with the Senators “marks an important milestone and is a clear signal that this project is moving forward. This is a major, complex project and our focus now is to maintain momentum.”
How much do the Sens pay in property and education taxes?
Capital Sports Management Inc. has paid $5.17 million in property and education taxes over the past five years for the Canadian Tire Centre and its surrounding parking lot.. That’s according to the guy who knows the file intimately: Deputy City Treasurer Joseph Muhuni.
Here’s the breakdown:
Year Tax levied
2021 $972,307.58
2022 $1,006,704.76
2023 $1,041,478.34
2024 $1,066,516.61
2025 $1,083,842.59
Total $5,170,849.88
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