Ottawa residents are "finally getting some idea of the massing of buildings" in Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group's C$300M Lansdowne Park redevelopment project for the CFL RedBlacks, according to Jon Willing of the OTTAWA SUN. The southside stands "have taken shape and steel supports are going up in the retail and residential areas." The stadium is on schedule to open in June for the CFL season, and at that time the "exteriors of the retails building will be done, the Vibe condo tower at Holmwood Ave. and Bank St. will be enclosed and the Rideau tower near the Bank St. bridge will be under construction." OSEG has "set up a temporary executive and team operations headquarters on Industrial Rd. near the Trainyards." The company's marketing team has "taken over an old liquor store at Shoppers City East on Ogilvie Rd. where it will open a 'customer preview centre' next month for more than 10,500 football fans who have committed to buying Ottawa RedBlacks tickets for the 2014 season." OSEG plans to "announce results of its selection process for a food and beverage operator" around that same time. OSEG CEO Bernie Ashe said, "Sponsorship right now is a big priority for me." He added, "We're very encouraged by the reaction we have received so far. What we have, we think, is truly unique. We have a destination within our city where this is more than a sports stadium or a hockey arena." Major retailers "announced so far have included Whole Foods, Sporting Life and Empire Cinemas." Ashe said, "Our retail leasing program is on track and all being done within the guidelines approved by council." OSEG is "hiring sales and marketing reps and a building general manager." Ashe said that the company "still has to hire 60-75 full-time employees and up to 200 part-time staff" (OTTAWA SUN, 8/19).
