News Article: NCC putting in a lot of conditions for the downtown site

[jbeck5]

No, but a "downtown" arena will be much more convenient and enticing for the people who live in those neighbourhoods (aka the people who have money to spend).

These are the people have no interest driving out to Kanata and hitting up Centrum before the game, and these are the people the Senators want as their clientele.

Yeah, citizens of different areas will find it easier or harder to get to the game depending on where the arena is...but that's not a problem...that's reality no matter what.

A central location with proper parking and proper transit is the most desirable for the most amount of people. It's the best outcome, generally, which is why almost every city follows that concept.

That being said, there's also a lot of money outside of the greenbelt too, that most people don't know about, because it's only a few streets here or there...but the outskirts of Ottawa has so many hidden gems with these huge mansions...like 2-3-4 million dollar homes.

We have a young daughter so sometimes we have to extend car naps and take a little ride around...we keep finding more and more roads with these massive 3-4 car garages looking like a p Diddy mansion.

The places like that are limited with the greenbelt...we all know where they are...but the ones outside are less known, but when you do look, you start to find mansion after mansion in rural areas.

 

[jbeck5]

Public transport is extremely slow

That's putting it lightly to boot.

 

[aragorn]

This city is overwhelmed with bureaucracy at all levels of government & with the people that live here who have worked in the government that love bureaucracy & red tape. It will be a decade before they build an arena & by then it could be too late.

 

[flyingfingers]

The places like that are limited with the greenbelt...we all know where they are...but the ones outside are less known, but when you do look, you start to find mansion after mansion in rural areas.

I'm guessing the people who live in those mansions would have zero problem springing for valet parking at a downtown arena (which will certainly be available). They'd also probably rather go to Riviera or North & Navy for their pre-game (or post-game) dinner than Jack Astors at Centrum.

The people complaining about not having enough $20 parking spots are probably not the ones living in those mansions.

 

[Masked]

That being said, there's also a lot of money outside of the greenbelt too, that most people don't know about, because it's only a few streets here or there...but the outskirts of Ottawa has so many hidden gems with these huge mansions...like 2-3-4 million dollar homes.

We have a young daughter so sometimes we have to extend car naps and take a little ride around...we keep finding more and more roads with these massive 3-4 car garages looking like a p Diddy mansion.

The places like that are limited with the greenbelt...we all know where they are...but the ones outside are less known, but when you do look, you start to find mansion after mansion in rural areas.

There are a ton of these around Manotick. Driving from Riverside South to Manotick or vice versa and you'll wonder who are the people buying all these mammoth places. South of Stittsville and north of Kanata also has a bunch of these as well.

A really wild one is Kanata Rockeries for how close it is to normal suburban Kanata.

 

[Relapsing]

Ok, I won't. So you're mocking the people who take a piss on your lawn.

I'm sure they care.

Dude, I'm mocking people for a lot more than just that.

This thread is full of people who won't look past their own nose. Those would be the people complaining about ped and bike pathing; demanding the city widen roads and convert the parkway into a highway (f***ing hilarious IMO); how marginalized they are that transit accessed should be prioritized ahead of driving to the rink; that there won't be enough parking; that it will take them longer to get to the rink than it does now (like it's not an hour+ one way now if you don't live near the current rink); or any stupid argument that is so focused on how this affects ~40/365 days of the year because they've seemingly forgot or don't care that this is an Events Centre that will host events year round.

People are providing more than enough reasons to be mocked, and to a man, they are all people who would be inconvenienced by the arena being located anywhere but where it currently is.

Tough. Shit.

 

[bicboi64]

Haha what? Rockliffe? New Edinburgh? Dows Lake? The Glebe? Westboro? Old Ottawa South? Island Park?

That's where the money is, and those are the people that Andlauer and the Senators will try to cater to moving forward. We're talking less seats, higher ticket prices, more amenities. These people want to go to a nice restaurant before and/or after the game, and don't care about parking spots because they'll happily spring for an Uber.

When I worked in Old Ottawa South, I'm surprised at home many upper middle class people that could afford to send their kids to hyped afterschool programs lived considering how many Carleton students plague that area.

100% believe that the Glebe, Dows Lake, and Westboro have similar populations too. There's far too much for them to do in those regions than have to drive out to a Sens game so completely makes sense for Andlauer to want to entice them.

 

[jbeck5]

I'm guessing the people who live in those mansions would have zero problem springing for valet parking at a downtown arena (which will certainly be available). They'd also probably rather go to Riviera or North & Navy for their pre-game (or post-game) dinner than Jack Astors at Centrum.

The people complaining about not having enough $20 parking spots are probably not the ones living in those mansions.

Depends if they like driving themselves there. Plenty of rich people are car people and like driving their own 200k car to the game. They would want that parking.. not every rich person wants to pay for valet parking or whatever.

There will be plenty of parking garages nearby the arena, because those make a killing.

$23 parking each day...and then can charge $23 for parking that same evening again...

Why wouldn't a business buy up a spot as close to the rink as they can and pop up a parking garage. Minimum expenses. Lots of revenue.

 

[flyingfingers]

There are a ton of these around Manotick. Driving from Riverside South to Manotick or vice versa and you'll wonder who are the people buying all these mammoth places. South of Stittsville and north of Kanata also has a bunch of these as well.

A really wild one is Kanata Rockeries for how close it is to normal suburban Kanata.

Depends if they like driving themselves there. Plenty of rich people are car people and like driving their own 200k car to the game. They would want that parking.. not every rich person wants to pay for valet parking or whatever.

There will be plenty of parking garages nearby the arena, because those make a killing.

$23 parking each day...and then can charge $23 for parking that same evening again...

Why wouldn't a business buy up a spot as close to the rink as they can and pop up a parking garage. Minimum expenses. Lots of revenue.

I'm sure the Senators will fight to have some onsite parking (probably ~750-1000 spots, similar to TD Place) at significantly higher prices (think $50-75) to accommodate the very well off people who live in those areas and want to drive.

But the people hoping to have a $20 spot right outside the front doors like they have at CTC... you're going to be out of luck.

Like you say, there are lots of options available within ~20-30 minutes walking distance of the proposed site, and more will pop up. City Center, for example, has 350 spots and is a ~20 minute walk away.

 

[jbeck5]

There are a ton of these around Manotick. Driving from Riverside South to Manotick or vice versa and you'll wonder who are the people buying all these mammoth places. South of Stittsville and north of Kanata also has a bunch of these as well.

A really wild one is Kanata Rockeries for how close it is to normal suburban Kanata.

They're everywhere when you look..I lived in Orleans for 35 years before I knew of these couple streets in Orleans.

Googlemap Rivercrest Dr...it's like a little street that extends into the forest and splits off into a couple streets with a dozen or two 1.5-2 million dollar homes in a little pocket of the forest. Cool shit. Don't even have to go out of the suburbs to be surrounded by trees on a little quiet street.

 

[jbeck5]

So is gridlock traffic

Not nearly as slow. Sometimes as little as a third of the time. Like 1.5 hours vs 0.5 hours.

 

[jbeck5]

Dude, I'm mocking people for a lot more than just that.

This thread is full of people who won't look past their own nose. Those would be the people complaining about ped and bike pathing; demanding the city widen roads and convert the parkway into a highway (f***ing hilarious IMO); how marginalized they are that transit accessed should be prioritized ahead of driving to the rink; that there won't be enough parking; that it will take them longer to get to the rink than it does now (like it's not an hour+ one way now if you don't live near the current rink); or any stupid argument that is so focused on how this affects ~40/365 days of the year because they've seemingly forgot or don't care that this is an Events Centre that will host events year round.

People are providing more than enough reasons to be mocked, and to a man, they are all people who would be inconvenienced by the arena being located anywhere but where it currently is.

Tough. Shit.

Don't mistake derision for anger or don't mistake anger for derision.

Haha Jesus Christ man.

 

[Tuna99]

This whole idea of a downtown arena, and Ottawa needing a downtwon arena, is dumb.

Ottawa is not designed for a downtwon arena, and it never will be. It will be a massive collapse of a fan base once they find out they cannot get there reliably and quickly. You cannot unscramble the egg. Greber plan f***ed this city so badly, and now , contravening the design of the actualy city, not this mythical city with this mythical arena with mythical tranist, they want to put an arena downtown in a city dominated by cars, not because Ottawa has some car fanatics, but due to transit sucking balls, unreliable, not enought routes, and very slow and inefficient.

This arena has to be put where there is parking and LRT. That's how this will work. I ain't walking 10 minutes anywhere in the winter, f*** that. And all those people in the first bowl won't either. If they don't construct this thing with a stop underneath it, then don't waste your money and time.

This is the stupidest city every designed becasue we let some guy from France dictate to dumb Canadians of the day on how to make Ottawa a capital city, and royally f***ed up with removing what was a transit , train friendly city, streetcar city, into this suburban shitshow because the city loves DC money. They priced people out of the privileged core of within the Greenbelt and forced people to build outside of it. And commute. They should have grenaded that plan and instead of building Kanata, that suburb should be in the bloody Greenbelt. But you cannot unscramble the egg.

No one with any money lives downtown, and the clientele of the Senators resides outside of the Greenbelt. And with the condo market collapse, all those towers that were propsed tobe built will not see the light of day. No one wants shoeboxes downtown . They want homes for families and family sized dwellings in those new downtwon buildings. Byt let's cater to the 1,000 Sens fans in ....Gatineau? Well at least they are closer now.

I hope the NCC delays this thing as it will buy me time to get to the CTC for the next 10 years. Stutzle will never play a game in this new arena. Neither will Sanderson. Fine by me

Agree rhat a family will not spend $500 to go to a Sens game if transit sorndt work even 5% of the time. If the O-train break down in Ottawas first 5 home games fans will stay away to not lose mone

The main upgrade to this stadium will be commenting in and out. If it’s a nightmare and Ottawa fans are looking at 60 years of the worst stadium parking experience I. Human history it’ll sink the franchise literally the Sens will move if the O train Is broken on game nights

 

[jbeck5]

I'm sure the Senators will fight to have some onsite parking (probably ~750-1000 spots, similar to TD Place) at significantly higher prices (think $50-75) to accommodate the very well off people who live in those areas and want to drive.

But the people hoping to have a $20 spot right outside the front doors like they have at CTC... you're going to be out of luck.

Like you say, there are lots of options available within ~20-30 minutes walking distance of the proposed site, and more will pop up. City Center, for example, has 350 spots and is a ~20 minute walk away.

In reality, parking is actually free for many now compared to ~$20 they ask for by parking at the nearby dealership park, for example.

And if they charge $50-75, there will be plenty of cheaper parking lots a 5 minute walk away. People will use those just like they use the dealership.

If the sens limit spots and charge that much, another business is buying a spot across the street or down the street and putting up a parking lot and charging $20...and they'll be full and making a killing and the sens lot will be empty. Then they will have to readjust their prices to sell them, or get rid of the parking lot altogether and let other companies handle parking in and around the arena.

 

[flyingfingers]

People also need to differentiate a little bit here.

Having to depend on public transit (especially in Ottawa) to get to and from work every day absolutely sucks.

Being able to depend on public transit to get to a hockey game (or concert) 5-15 times a year is awesome.

 

[flyingfingers]

In reality, parking is actually free for many now compared to ~$20 they ask for by parking at the nearby dealership park, for example.

And if they charge $50-75, there will be plenty of cheaper parking lots a 5 minute walk away. People will use those just like they use the dealership.

If the sens limit spots and charge that much, another business is buying a spot across the street or down the street and putting up a parking lot and charging $20...and they'll be full and making a killing and the sens lot will be empty. Then they will have to readjust their prices to sell them, or get rid of the parking lot altogether and let other companies handle parking in and around the arena.

Right, so I'm not sure what the debate is about?

- There will almost certainly be a limited amount of parking available at the arena site for the people who are willing to pay the price for that convenience
- There are already a ton of parking options available, at reasonable prices, within a ~30 minute walk of the proposed arena site for those who still want to drive to games (and more will pop up)
- There will be much better public transit options available for those who don't want to drive and are coming from any direction

Seems like everyone would be fine!

 

[jbeck5]

People also need to differentiate a little bit here.

Having to depend on public transit (especially in Ottawa) to get to and from work every day absolutely sucks.

Being able to depend on public transit to get to a hockey game (or concert) 5-15 times a year is awesome.

It depends, but I agree I would take rail into the downtown game, by parking at a park and ride. Free parking and a $3 ride in and out? I'm in.

As is, I bus to redblacks games...it's fun because there's stuff to do before and after.

I hate bussing to sens games compared to driving, because there's nothing to do, so I'm trying to get in and out as quickly as possible.

So a downtown arena should get more people wanting to take transit, naturally, as they will want to party before and after and drink.

Way more drinking going on a redblacks games than sens games.

 

[jbeck5]

Right, so I'm not sure what the debate is about?

- There will almost certainly be a limited amount of parking available at the arena site for the people who are willing to pay the price for that convenience
- There are already a ton of parking options available, at reasonable prices, within a ~30 minute walk of the proposed arena site for those who still want to drive to games (and more will pop up)
- There will be much better public transit options available for those who don't want to drive and are coming from any direction

Seems like everyone would be fine!

Everything should be fine, but it's also a perfect opportunity to also improve those things.

It's an opportunity to improve bike paths, improve pedestrian paths, improve roads, improve parking. Etc. we essentially have a blank slate and it's right beside downtown. We could design it for efficient pedestrian, cycling, and car use, by planning smartly.

What's the saying, work smart, not hard?

Getting a proper design that allows for maximizing flow of all 3 is great...even if it means you make pedestrians or cycling bridges over the main road to allow for continuous flow of traffic for all modes. Limit intersections where people have to come to a stop. There are designs for these things. They just take planning.

 

[Relapsing]

If it’s a nightmare and Ottawa fans are looking at 60 years of the worst stadium parking experience I. Human history it’ll sink the franchise literally the Sens will move if the O train Is broken on game nights

 

[coladin]

So is gridlock traffic

Funnily enough, gridlock is the overwhelming choice. Gridlock is still faster by quite a bit.

 

[Relapsing]

This arena has to be put where there is parking and LRT. That's how this will work. I ain't walking 10 minutes anywhere in the winter, f*** that. And all those people in the first bowl won't either. If they don't construct this thing with a stop underneath it, then don't waste your money and time.

OK, so I figured, why not, lets check Maps to see how long the suggested walking time would be from the arena to the furthest reaches of the CTC paid parking (note, even longer for people using the other lots around the building).

12 minutes.

People already walk that distance when they park. But doing off an LRT stop is supposed to be prohibitive?

OK. Sure pal.

 

[coladin]

Haha what? Rockliffe? New Edinburgh? Dows Lake? The Glebe? Westboro? Old Ottawa South? Island Park?

That's where the money is, and those are the people that Andlauer and the Senators will try to cater to moving forward. We're talking less seats, higher ticket prices, more amenities. These people want to go to a nice restaurant before and/or after the game, and don't care about parking spots because they'll happily spring for an Uber.

The lower bowl will be the rich people from the neighborhoods I mentioned, the upper bowl will be young people who have zero interest of schlepping out to Kanata so they can sit in a parking lot and maybe stop by Jack Astors at Centrum after the game.

They aren't concerned about the people who stretched themselves to buy a $700k townhome in Arnprior, took out a 96 month loan on an F150 so they could haul their golf clubs to mens night at Greensmere, and who's biggest priority is leaving the game with 5 minutes left so they can get home and get Netflix on before 10pm.

Rockliffe is full of diehard Sens fans. Or Opera, can't remember exactly lol.

There are affable people everywhere, but Orleans, Kanata and Barrhaven power this fanbase. Check out the census. Barrhaven , Riverisde South, Findlay Creek, Kanata Lakes, etc... all higher than the neighborhoods you mentioned.

I know the affable will love the 10 minute walk trudging through the snow, in their Zegna boots and overcoats.

This around at Lebreton, can take their sweet time . Unless the infrastructure is there, it will become a white elephant

 

[flyingfingers]

Rockliffe is full of diehard Sens fans. Or Opera, can't remember exactly lol.

There are affable people everywhere, but Orleans, Kanata and Barrhaven power this fanbase. Check out the census. Barrhaven , Riverisde South, Findlay Creek, Kanata Lakes, etc... all higher than the neighborhoods you mentioned.

I know the affable will love the 10 minute walk trudging through the snow, in their Zegna boots and overcoats.

This around at Lebreton, can take their sweet time . Unless the infrastructure is there, it will become a white elephant

The affluent people will take an Uber, or will happily spring for the inflated (~$50-75) limited parking that will be available at the arena site (likely 750-1000 spots, like at TD Place). The even more affluent will be further accommodated with valet.

The commoners who want to park right outside the doors for $20 will have to park somewhere else and trudge 20 minutes through the snow, though. Or they can take the train for $3.

 

[Wondercarrot]

edited to reply

 

[Wondercarrot]

It’s Time for the Ottawa Senators to Ditch the NCC and Build a New Arena

For over a decade, the Ottawa Senators have been mired in talks with the National Capital Commission (NCC) to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats, a prime downtown spot that could revitalize the team’s fanbase and Ottawa’s core. But the NCC’s endless bureaucracy—endless consultations, environmental demands for carbon-neutral designs, and eco-friendly transport plans—has turned this dream into a quagmire. The Senators need a home closer to the city’s heart, not another decade of red tape. It’s time to cut bait, abandon LeBreton, and move forward with alternative sites that don’t involve the NCC’s stranglehold. Ottawa has viable options, all city-owned or private, that can get this arena built faster and smarter.

First up is Bayview Yards, a 13.5-acre city-owned site just west of LeBreton, near the Bayview LRT station. It’s got the space for a modern arena, parking, and an entertainment district—everything the Senators need to compete with NHL heavyweights. With direct LRT access connecting east, west, and south, fans can ditch their cars, easing traffic woes. The city’s control means no NCC hoops to jump through, just straightforward municipal negotiations. Sure, relocating existing facilities might be a hassle, but it’s a small price to pay for progress.

Then there’s the old RCMP site on Vanier Parkway, a stone’s throw from the Queensway and St. Laurent LRT. At 4-5 km from downtown, it’s closer than the current Canadian Tire Centre and has room for a multi-purpose complex. Highway and transit access make it a fan-friendly choice, and its non-NCC status sidesteps federal delays. Some environmental cleanup might be needed, but that’s a simpler fix than the NCC’s zero-carbon mandates.

RCGT Park, home to the underused Ottawa Baseball Stadium, is another contender. Just 5 km from downtown, it’s got LRT and highway access, and as city property, it’s free of NCC oversight. The site’s smaller size might limit extras like retail, but redeveloping it for hockey could breathe new life into Vanier. The baseball team? They’ll survive a move.

Hurdman Station, near a major LRT hub, offers transit galore and a central location, 6 km from Parliament Hill. It’s a bit of a wildcard—land ownership needs clarifying—but it’s a non-NCC option with potential for a big arena project. Lansdowne Park, home to the outdated Civic Centre, is closer still, at 3 km from downtown. It’s city-run, with existing sports infrastructure, but its small size and transit limits make it a tougher sell unless the Glebe’s NIMBY crowd can be won over.

The Senators can’t afford to wait out the NCC’s glacial pace. Bayview Yards and Vanier Parkway are the clear frontrunners—spacious, transit-rich, and free of federal gridlock. The city’s ready to deal, and private land could be an option if Ottawa steps up. Fans deserve a downtown arena that’s more than a pipe dream. It’s time to ditch LeBreton, pick a site, and build. Let’s get with it.

While agree with the issues around LeBreton and the NCC’s unique ability to f*** everything up rather than take advantage of a unique opportunity - I don’t like any of the spots you are suggesting/have been floated.

The idea is to tap into existing Ottawa infrastructure/entertainment venues - Ottawa can’t support another “entertainment” district the pop just isn’t there and won’t be for a long time.
I would loathe seeing the Kanata problem replicated on a smaller scale.
“Games over let’s get in our cars and drive around!”

This needs to be in the heart of the city.
Make DND space work, or Esplande Laurier area.

It all feeds out into multiple existing entertainment areas which would become further revitalized and improved
The Market.
Elgin St.
Sparkes St
Even Lansdowne isn’t that far.
Confederation sq could also get far better use

IMO we should focus on concentrating the core and make it world class rather than another bleh district.