Image Credit: Prayitno (CC BY 2.0)
The Ottawa Senators ownership group (RendezVous Group) are following in the footsteps of the Edmonton Oilers and the Detroit Red Wings by proposing plans for a mixed use development and a brand new arena for the team. The project will be built in the LeBreton Flats on the edge of downtown Ottawa and will be called IllumiNATION LeBreton. Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is helping the project gain steam which will cost nearly $3.5 billion to construct. The Senators currently play their home games at the Canadiena Tire Centre in Kanata, just outside of Ottawa.
Melnyk and the RendezVous Group are hoping for the arena to be completed in time for the 2020-2021 NHL campaign but many developers and league officials are skeptical that the project could be completed by then. The new light rail system that will serve downtown Ottawa won't be complete until 2018 but it will serve as a focal point for the LeBreton neighborhood until the arena is complete. Ottawa Senators fans want better access to their team and city officials feel that a new arena could completely revitalize and reinvigorate downtown Ottawa. Here is a brief video further detailing what IllumiNATION LeBreton will do for the city.
The proposal for a new arena has also left many Ottawa Senators fans and area residents scratching their heads, however. The Ottawa Senators organization just recently spent millions of dollars upgrading the arena. Recent additions and improvements include a new LED lighting system and upgraded and revamped concession stands. The team also added the Molson Canadian Fan Deck and Club Bell which are social and bar themed areas inside the arena. Here is a video with an inside look at some of the recent upgrades to the Canadian Tire Centre.
In a perfect world, NHL teams would be able to preserve their old "barns" to the tune of Major League Baseball's Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. However, with the rising popularity of the National Hockey League, it's all about presentation, amenities, what can help grow the sport and make the owners more revenue.
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