GARRIOCH: Michael Andlauer celebrates first year as Senators' owner in style

'It's my first anniversary on this day and what a great present to get yesterday with the signing of the agreement with the NCC.'

Published Sep 21, 2024  •  4 minute read

Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addresses the media Saturday morning in Gatineau. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

Michael Andlauer wore a wide smile as he entered the press room at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau on Saturday morning.

Why not? The sun was shining, the Ottawa Senators’ training camp is ramping up with the first exhibition game set for Sunday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs and it was the one-year anniversary of the 58-year-old Andlauer’s purchase of the franchise.

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And, the icing on the cake was the fact the Senators and the National Capital Commission reached an agreement in principle only 24 hours earlier for the club to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats.

“It’s my first anniversary on this day and what a great present to get yesterday with the signing of the agreement with the NCC,” Andlauer said.

There is plenty of work ahead, but to get to the next step, the Senators and the NCC had to take this one. The decision by the club to purchase 10 acres of land on the site located west of Parliament Hill is significant because it allows the Senators to be accessible to both sides of the river.

Andlauer has been clear since he was introduced as the club’s owner on this day a year ago that he wants this to be a regional team. That’s why the club went to Gatineau on Saturday to show the fans here that they want them to be part of this even while they remain at the Canadian Tire Centre.

“Shame on me for not realizing how close Gatineau and Ottawa are. It took me 15 minutes to get here from my house near Dow’s Lake. It’s so close,” Andlauer said. “We’re connected. We basically touch each other.

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“I was at the Royal Ottawa (golf club), which is Gatineau, and the people I spoke with either work in Ottawa or Gatineau, or live in Ottawa. I couldn’t believe as I came in here as I talked to fans on the concourse at how excited they are. They’re so excited to have a venue at LeBreton Flats, with how close it is. That should answer why I’m excited and it makes so much sense.”

Still, the weeks, months and years ahead will present challenges.

Cyril Leeder, the Senators’ chief executive officer and president, told reporters Friday the organization has a number of issues it has to work through before it can even think of putting shovels in the ground.

He didn’t get into details on how the club is going to pay for this project, but Andlauer has stated in the past he’ll need help from all three levels of government, including federal, provincial and the City of Ottawa.

Naturally, Andlauer was asked if he’ll be looking for a handout from the city.

“Cyril talked about that. It shouldn’t cost taxpayers money. There’s a nice balance about economic output,” Andlauer said.

The price tag of a new arena could top $1 billion.

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Andlauer has suggested in the past that a model similar to the funding of Rogers Place arena in Edmonton might be a good way of building a new rink in Ottawa. Under that scenario, the city chipped in more than $300 million through a community revitalization levy and the team paid $165 million.

The federal government and a city surcharge also helped to pay for the rink.

He certainly hinted, and so did Leeder on Friday, that the Senators may try to work out a deal that involves a public/private partnership for the building of the new rink.

It would be similar to the way the ownership of the three Sensplex locations in the city are structured.

“It’s worked out extremely well for all,” Andlauer said. “There are benefits for all. I’m not looking at that and I’m not looking at a money grab. It’s got to be sustainable as well. I also don’t want our fans paying $200 for a ticket, 30 bucks for a beer and $50 for parking.

“But in any event, that’s to be looked at. I want everybody to feel optimistic that we’re going to do this together.”

There will be a lot of work to get there.

The Senators have to work on concepts and designs for the new rink.

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Andlauer and some of his partners in the project have visited other cities to get a look at their facilities. They’ve been to Seattle to see Climate Pledge Arena plus toured Edmonton, Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit and the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

He was in Quebec City on business last week so he went to have a look at the Videotron Centre. That rink was modelled after the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh and was bulit in case the National Hockey League ever wanted to return to the city.

All of the ideas the Senators liked can be used in the new rink.

“We’ve looked at all the facilities. I’m a big rip-off and duplicate guy so I like to do that where I see fit,” Andlauer said. “We want this to be something that people in the capital of this country can be proud of when they go see shows or come to watch hockey.”

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