Senators complete deal for LeBreton Flats land with plans for new arena

The Ottawa Senators are one step closer to having a new home.

On Monday, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and Capital Sports Development Inc., run by the Senators, announced they have signed a purchase and sale agreement for land in LeBreton Flats.

In a post on the NCC’s social media, a graphic design of the potential new home of the Senators was depicted.

The signing comes almost 11 months after the Sens and NCC signed a lease agreement, allowing the team to build an arena and other amenities on the site. It comes after a nearly decade-long discussion about whether the franchise was going to move downtown near Parliament Hill from its current location, the Canadian Tire Centre in suburban Kanata.

According to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, the Senators have agreed to pay over $30 million for the land.

Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the NCC, says the planned events center will be an attraction in Canada’s capital.

“The promise of a major events centre will provide a lively and convenient attraction for residents and visitors,” Nussbaum said in a release. “Inject new energy and excitement into the core of the Nation’s Capital and further catalyze the development of LeBreton Flats.”

President and CEO of the Senators, Cyril Leeder, recognizes that there’s still a lot of work to be done.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement of purchase and sale with the NCC to take the next step in this process,” Leeder said. “There are still many more hurdles to clear, and we look forward to working with the NCC and other stakeholders to achieve our shared vision of creating an event centre at LeBreton Flats.”

The next steps for the two parties include zoning, designing and getting approval on how to use the 10-plus acres of land in LeBreton Flats. Along with the future of building a new arena, there are plans to create a social district around the venue, enhancing the experience of going to games or other events. It’s similar to what has occurred in newer arenas in the NHL, such as the UBS Center, home of the New York Islanders, as well as the proposed plans for the future home of the Calgary Flames.

The Senators have called the Canadian Tire Centre—formerly known as the Palladium, Corel Centre, and Scotiabank Place—since 1996. The main problem for fans is that the arena is 24 kilometers away from downtown Ottawa, a criticism for many over the years, especially during the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2016, when the team struggled to sell out home playoff games.