Ottawa Senators closing in on relocation: shocking update emerges

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Daniel Lucente
September 16, 2024 (5:36 PM)

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The Ottawa Senators appear closer to moving from the Canadian Tire Centre as a deal to build a new arena at the LeBreton Flats could be announced soon.

The Canadian Tire Centre has been serving as the home of the Ottawa Senators since 1996, when it hosted its inaugural game against the Montreal Canadiens on January 17th of that year. Almost three decades later, word on the street is that the team, along with the National Capital Commission, could be officially announcing any day now they have landed space at LeBreton Flats to house a new arena.

Insiders are saying things are going so fast, that the entire deal on the land lease could get inked soon with a looming deadline in a few days. Still, it is just the first step in a long line of processes, but it appears promising. If everything goes as accordingly planned, then construction may even start before this season ends, with the Senators playing in their new arena by the 2030 NHL season at the latest.

The Canadian Tire Centre had loads of potential when it was first built. The problem was the location. It was pretty far from downtown and rather inaccessible to numerous fans. With this latest update, the new arena will be right in the heart of the city next to the Parliament, making it more handy for anyone. The team even has plans to build shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars right next to the new downtown arena, to turn the entire area into a hotspot for pre-game and post-game fun.

Michael Andlauer purchased the Senators in June 2023 and was given roughly one year to negotiate a new downtown arena with the city. That deadline is closing in, and it finally appears progress has been made. It would appear that everything Andlauer and the fans could hope for is falling in place, with the Senators set to stay in Ottawa for a very long time.

Source: Blades of Steel
Ottawa Senators closer to relocating