From Laura Osman / CBC News:
Mayor Jim Watson says he doesn’t want to repeat the mistake other cities have made by leaving Ottawa’s NHL arena vacant when the team moves into a new downtown rink.
Watson, who’s preparing to take a seat at the negotiating table to hash out details of the LeBreton Flats redevelopment, said Tuesday the future of the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) in Kanata must be considered before the Senators move to a new arena.
The worst case scenario, according to Watson?
“That it remains vacant and empty and no activity happens there for years and years.”
In September Senators president Tom Anselmi said the organization hadn’t settled on a plan for the CTC after the team moves out. Watson said Tuesday as far as he knows, there still isn’t one.
“My concern is that [the Senators] would move ahead with LeBreton and tie up that land, that very important piece of property for the west end, tie it up for years by doing nothing with it.” – Kanata North Councillor Allan Hubley