While speaking to members of the local construction
association last night, Senators Chair Rod Bryden "all but
declared victory" in the team's campaign to remain in
Ottawa, according to Murray & Roik of the OTTAWA SUN.
Bryden: "I think it's highly likely by next Tuesday ...
we'll be able to say the problem is behind us and it's
resolved. ... [Now] I think what we need to do is let the
city relax and enjoy this team." Bryden said that he "still
has some issues -- such as taxation -- to settle with the
province, or else risk having fans absorb the costs."
Bryden: "The city, I believe, is now past the point where we
have to struggle to keep the team, but not past the point
where we can take it for granted." Murray & Roik add that
as of last night, only 91 new season tickets had to be sold
and an additional 7% of season-ticket holders needed to
renew in order to reach Bryden's goals of 1,500 and 90%,
respectively. Also, GM of Canada announced yesterday that
"it has expanded and increased all of its programs" with the
club, including a 10% increase in sponsorship funding
(OTTAWA SUN, 2/17). Corel Corp. CEO Michael Cowpland said
the company "will make a one-time contribution of more than
[C]$50,000 because the Senators give Ottawa an international
profile." Meanwhile, Nortel exec Paul Goyette said that the
company will increase its annual spending on Senators
suites, signs and advertising by 10%. These announcements
were made after the corporate community was criticized by
the Ottawa Senators Community Coalition in a full-page
newspaper ad "for not matching the pace of ordinary fans" in
renewing or buying new tickets. The ad named 120 companies
that had increased their commitment (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 2/17).
CASH IN ON YASHIN?: NHL VP/Legal Affairs Bill Daly
"confirmed last night the league has filed papers" with an
arbitrator asking Senators holdout C Alexei Yashin for
[C]$7M in damages on behalf of the Senators. Daly, on the
legal filing: "We said from the start of this process that
we were going to seek damages" (OTTAWA SUN, 2/17).
