Michael Andlauer's Ottawa Senators score downtown LeBreton Flats arena deal after playoff breakthrough
After seven long seasons without playoff hockey, the Ottawa Senators finally punched their ticket to the NHL postseason this year — and for captain Brady Tkachuk, it was a milestone that had been a long time coming.
Since joining Ottawa, Tkachuk had played six full seasons without a single playoff appearance, while his brother Matthew lifted the Stanley Cup. This year changed that story. Under new ownership and first-year head coach Travis Green, the team not only broke its playoff drought but also took a major step toward changing its home ice. The Senators are set to move from their long-time suburban home in Kanata to a new downtown arena at LeBreton Flats, a shift fans believe will redefine both the team and the city.
From Kanata to downtown:
Michael Andlauer
's Ottawa Senators plan move to LeBreton Flats
Earlier this week, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI) approved the purchase and sale of 11 acres at LeBreton Flats to the
Ottawa Senators
. The team has played at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata since 1996, but the arena's location — roughly 25 kilometers from downtown — has long been criticized.
'It had to be done. Transportation to the Canadian Tire Center is abysmal. You build an arena in a good part of downtown Ottawa, and you'll get fans,' one supporter wrote online.
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Another fan called the move 'Great news for my hometown. Common sense prevails.'
The new site sits beside the Ottawa River and within walking distance of Parliament Hill, addressing long-standing transportation complaints. Even fans who liked the Kanata arena see the change as positive. 'I enjoyed being at that arena, but it was pretty far from everything else, and Ottawa has a beautiful downtown and shops to explore,' one hockey fan shared.
Brady Tkachuk, Michael Andlauer and city leaders rally behind Ottawa Senators' downtown arena vision
In a statement on Monday, Senators President and CEO Cyril Leeder said, 'We are pleased to reach an agreement of purchase and sale with the NCC to take the next step in this process. There are still many more hurdles to clear, and we look forward to working with the NCC and other stakeholders to achieve our shared vision.'
NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum echoed the excitement, noting the facility would 'inject new energy and excitement into the core of the nation's capital and further catalyze the development of LeBreton Flats' while also providing 'a lively and convenient attraction for residents and visitors.'
Fans agree. 'This ownership group keeps hitting the mark,' one said after the team's most successful season in seven years. Another added, 'This is going to be such an improvement! It will take time, but so happy to see this progress!' TSN columnist Bruce Garrioch has reported it will take another five to six years before the Senators can take the ice in the new venue.
The Ottawa Senators have pursued the LeBreton Flats project since 2019, but it stalled after a fallout between former owner Eugene Melnyk and business partner John Ruddy. Now, two years into Michael Andlauer's ownership, the deal has grown from the original 5.8-acre site to 11 acres. Coming off their first playoff berth in seven years, Ottawa's momentum is carrying from the ice to the city's core — and fans are already imagining the roar of the crowd in their future downtown home.
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