Senators' owner Michael Andlauer says move to LeBreton in five years 'is possible'

Published Sep 21, 2024  •  4 minute read

Michael Andlauer speaks to reporters. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA

If Michael Andlauer had his way, the Ottawa Senators would open this season at their new downtown arena at LeBreton Flats.

Twenty-four hours after the Senators and the National Capital Commission signed an agreement in principle for the club to purchase 10 acres of land at LeBreton, Andlauer didn’t rule out the possibility of the club moving to the new location for the 2029-30 campaign.

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“I honestly, if I could, I would drop the puck tomorrow,” Andlauer said when asked if he could make his best guess on when the club might move? “It’s a process. I’m going to be diligent and transparent when you ask me what the status and where our hurdles are. But, I think, the sooner, the better.

“I’ve seen some comments, ‘I’m 40-years-old and I’m hoping by the time I’m 50 I’ll see the Senators downtown.’ It takes time. I would love to say that in five years we’re dropping the puck (at LeBreton). I think that’s certainly possible.

“I like to underpromise and overdeliver so once this process gets started, we’ll probably have a better idea as the year goes along.”

Andlauer is aware that this is the first step in what will be a lengthy road to putting shovels in the ground on the site located on Albert Street between Preston Street and the City Centre, just west of Ottawa’s new central library, which is now under construction.

Celebrating his one-year anniversary as the owner of the Senators, Andlauer is going ahead with this project because this is what the fans want. People have made it clear LeBreton is the best place for a new home if the club is going to leave the aging Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata.

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“It took a whole year to do it,” Andlauer said as the club held its annual intra-squad game at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau Saturday. “When I looked at this, the potential was there, I’ve heard everywhere even here in Gatineau, that the desire was here to have an arena downtown.

“When I Iooked at it from the lens of a fan, what the fans wanted, and the original deal really didn’t work whether it was access to parking, the size of the land, the size of the land in order to have activation and what was going to happen on the rest of the property.

“It’s been empty for 60-plus years. I didn’t want to just have an arena and have the rest stay empty. To the NCC’s defence, they recognize that’s a desire and it wasn’t something that was supposed to be a financial play of any sort. I’m here to take care of the Senators, to be part of this community and make a positive difference.

“I’m not in the development business, but I know what our fans want and it was to create an understanding. I think the NCC got it. I’m excited to move forward with the NCC, the city of Ottawa and ourselves.”

As Postmedia noted in its coverage throughout the negotiations, the NCC started talks with demands it eventually backed off on. Andlauer admitted he wondered if they would get this agreement across the finish line after the first meeting with the NCC following his group’s purchase of the club.

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“The initial meeting, when it was basically no parking allowed, the zero carbon … Did it mean the visiting teams weren’t able to fly in because of the carbon count on that? I’m not kidding. It was a bit … I think the NCC can sometimes be a bit too idealogical,” Andlauer said.

“They mean well, but I’m thinking through the lens of a fan. The frustrations wouldn’t make sense. I know everybody talks about the (light rail transit) and their frustrations. I’m sure they’ll have all the bugs out of the LRT by the time we’re in this building.”

But Andlauer said it was important that the NCC is committed to building public spaces around the arena. Yes, the club is closer to downtown, but if the there isn’t bars, restaurants or a hotel near the rink, then it will be in the middle of nowhere and nobody wants that.

“I wanted to hold (the NCC) accountable for the development of the other lands,” he said. “We have a good alignment. We all care. The city cares, the NCC cares and it’s just to make sure that we collaborate to do what’s in the best interests of the city of Ottawa.”

Andlauer had a chat with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe Friday and he’s looking forward to working with the Senators.

“He was so excited about this announcement,” Andlauer said. “He’s implicated in this because the city and NCC are going to have to work closely. I told him the three of us have to sit down and collaborate to do what’s in the best interests of the city of Ottawa.

“All I am as a catalyst get this to get these lands going, and I’m excited about about the future.”

Let the games begin.

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