The Senators last Tuesday confirmed that they "will be taking a shot at relocating to LeBreton Flats," a neighborhood in central Ottawa, according to the OTTAWA CITIZEN. The club in a brief statement "confirmed earlier reports that it will make a preliminary submission to the National Capital Commission to assess its qualification to be part of future LeBreton redevelopment." The club "declined to discuss details of its submission." Many "have complained" for decades that the current arena's location in the suburb of Kanata "is inconvenient, if not a downright barrier to attendance" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/24). In Ottawa, Corey Larocque noted the team's announcement "confirmed weeks of speculation that the hockey team will pitch a plan to build a new rink downtown and leave Kanata, the Sens' home for nearly 20 years." If the move happens, it "could put the team on the edge of downtown Ottawa, something observers say could bring in more fans and give a shot in the arm to area businesses" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/24).
TRY, TRY AGAIN: In Ottawa, Don Brennan wrote, "Without any real understanding of the process or the rationale of government deep-thinkers, consider this a bet we'll all be going to NHL games in downtown Ottawa just as soon as the red tape is eliminated and the construction of one of those 'world class facilities' is completed." Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk "was furious when he lost out on his bid to bring pro soccer to Kanata." It "was a risky proposition to begin with -- the idea of an MLS team way out in the west end had attendance problems written all over it -- but the swing and the miss would not have sat well with him." The "bigger loss, however, was his failed attempt to build a casino at Canadian Tire Centre." Brennan: "I don't know what other groups or organizations will apply for redevelopment rights at Labreton before the Jan. 7 deadline, but I do believe the Senators should have had that address right from the start and it's not too late to right the wrong. An NHL team belongs in the core of its city, not the outskirts" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/24).
