Senators GM Steve Staios: 'I'm certainly not done' making improvements

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When will shovels be in the ground at LeBreton Flats?

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A day after the one-year anniversary of the Senators and National Capital Commission entering into an agreement on the purchase of 11 acres at LeBreton Flats, Leeder addressed the public’s desire for some real, concrete plans.

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“Our goal is to roll out some plans in the new year on timing, when we’ll start, when we’ll finish,” Leeder said, “and be able to actually share some plans with our fans … on what this district and what the building will look like.”

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Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported on Monday that both sides remain confident that the purchase will be completed in the coming months, allowing work on the site to actually begin.

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“Today, we’re a lot further along on planning the district than we are on any individual building, including the arena,” Leeder admitted. “But we’re making good progress here.”

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“Most ambitious” off-season renovations yet

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In the meantime, the organization must continue to make the necessary upgrades to the arena that will likely host the hockey club into the 2030s.

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Leeder unveiled that the entirety of the arena’s 200-level has brand new seats, and work is underway to give Bert’s Bar a “facelift,” including a new name to be announced.

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More initiatives will be rolled out in early September.

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“I can tell you, it’s our most ambitious off-season plan that we’ve ever had,” Leeder proclaimed.

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With the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Ottawa Charge moving to CTC this fall, renovations are also happening in the bowels of the arena.

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“As you can imagine, they would like to have their own player campus and facilities, and that work’s underway,” Leeder said. “We think it will be state of the art. The best setup for any of the teams in the PWHL will be right here at Canadian Tire Centre next year for the Ottawa Charge.”

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Improvements to fan experience

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While walking to the rink won’t be a viable option for downtown residents for a handful of years, it will be easier to get to Kanata on home game days starting in October.

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“For every game, there will be eight buses leaving downtown Ottawa, coming directly to the CTC free of charge,” vice-president of marketing Peter Shier announced, “and returning you back to downtown Ottawa after the game. We think this will obviously alleviate some traffic, but it’s obviously going to also alleviate a lot of stress from people.”

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Shier was bullish on the slate of theme nights — Country Night and Star Wars Night will return — and giveaways the team has cooked up for 2026-27, particularly the bobbleheads.

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“The (bobblehead) we’re going to do in the back half of the season,” he said, “I can’t tell you much about it, other than it’s never been done before in the league.”

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Shier also announced that the creative team will be given more access in 2026-27 in order to film a documentary series.

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“You’ll see more about the players on the road, in the dressing rooms, on the ice, in their own lives,” he said. “They’re going to let us in a little more than they have probably in the past, which is great.

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“People want to see behind the scenes — pull back the curtain. We’re going to double down on that this year.”

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