The owner of the Ottawa Senators says he is “optimistic” about the process of building a new NHL rink in downtown Ottawa. Earlier this summer, the Senators and the National Capital Commission announced an agreement for the NHL club to purchase 11 acres of land at LeBreton Flats for a new major events centre and arena district in the area west of downtown Ottawa. “As an entrepreneur myself, I like to get things done quickly and cut the red tape and do what’s right,” said Michael Andlauer, owner of the Ottawa Senators. “It makes sense to be, close to downtown…or at the foot of downtown and LeBreton Flats has been the opportunity.” Andlauer was in Gatineau Monday attending a groundbreaking ceremony for the Laiterie de l’Outaouais, which is undergoing a $17 million expansion and modernization. At the groundbreaking, Andlauer also announced the return of the Future Sens program, which gives youth hockey teams a gameday experience at the Senator’s rink, including one-hour of pre-Sens game ice time. The Laiterie de l’Outaouais is a partner of the Senators and the Future Sens program. Andlauer said he had frustration about the initially slow pace of the process to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats, but he remains hopeful about the future. “I feel there’s good momentum now, and I think the NCC realizes that there’s a real great opportunity. And the timing is excellent right now to create something special for our capital city, and so I’m optimistic. We’re working hard.” Both the NCC and the Senators said earlier the agreement allows the two sides to begin zoning, design and approvals for the site. Senators President Cyril Leeder told CTV News Ottawa on Monday that plans at Lebreton Flats are “moving along now.” “We’re obviously working away at it,” Leeder said. “There’s a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes, but we’re moved from a land acquisition effort now into due diligence and site preparation. We are doing the work we need to do on site planning and getting it ready to bring to the city for review.” Leeder says the financing of the arena is still something that needs to be worked out. “That’s going to take place over the next years. How do we finance this? It’s $1 billion project. We’ve got to figure that out. We’re ready for it.” Andlauer also says a big part of the process has been meeting and collaborating with the Algonquin people. “This is not my arena, this is Ottawa’s arena… I want to do something that is going to be special for our community,” Andlauer said.
