Eugene Melnyk, Don Garber Meet To Discuss MLS Team In Ottawa
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Melnyk Hoping To Build New
Soccer Stadium For MLS Team |
Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk, who is attempting to win an MLS franchise for '11, Tuesday lined up a series of meetings for MLS Commissioner Don Garber and MLS President Mark Abbott with all three levels of Canadian government, according to Richard Starnes of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. The group met with Canada Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities John Baird, Ottawa Premier Dalton McGuinty and Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien, and stadium financing "was at the top of the agenda." Melnyk "needs public cash to help develop a [C$110M] soccer-specific stadium, surrounded by soccer fields, adjacent to Scotiabank Place." Garber "would not give any hint on whether Ottawa would land one of the two franchises available in 2011, but he did say he believes Ottawa is clearly somewhere MLS wants a franchise" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 1/28).
BUILDING BLOCKS: In Ottawa, Jon Willing writes Melnyk's plan to build a stadium, and "inking the partnerships to build it, appears to be a deal maker -- or breaker -- for MLS executives." Garber: "If Ottawa is awarded an expansion team, our league needs to know that there will be a stadium for that team to play in. It has been a key part of our discussions. We can't come here unless we have a stadium." Willing notes both Melnyk and Garber "predicted that a MLS franchise will come to Ottawa." It is "just a question of when" (OTTAWA SUN, 1/28). Garber said a soccer stadium is "really the biggest hurdle that needs to be overcome for us to be able to approve an expansion team here." The CP's Chris Yzerman reported the city of Ottawa "will have to decide by March" if it will be able to build a stadium, as MLS "needs an answer on Melnyk's proposal for a 20,000-seat stadium then" (CP, 1/27).
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