Latest news with #CyrilLeeder
Global News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Eco-friendly transportation a condition of planned Ottawa Senators arena: agreement
Public transit, cycling and walking will be the 'primary and preferred modes' of getting fans to and from the Ottawa Senators' planned downtown arena, says a newly disclosed agreement on the project. Under the agreement, a group led by the NHL team would be responsible for designing, building and paying for a publicly accessible cycling and pedestrian bridge linking a major Ottawa street to the LeBreton Flats arena site. In addition, the arena and associated elements would be 'zero carbon' buildings — highly energy-efficient structures with minimal greenhouse gas emissions from materials and operations. The National Capital Commission, the federal agency that controls the land, and Capital Sports Development Inc., led by the Senators, signed a memorandum of understanding last September on the planned purchase of five parcels totalling 10 acres. The sale of the land near Parliament Hill could be completed later this year following finalization of a price based on fair market value. Story continues below advertisement Many Senators fans have long desired a central venue for the team, which has played since 1996 in an arena in the suburb of Kanata about 25 kilometres west of downtown. The proposed arena, billed as a major events centre, would also host concerts and other attractions. The memorandum and documents related to the September 2024 agreement were recently obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act. Some portions of the documents were withheld from release on the basis the information could prejudice a competitive position or interfere with negotiations if made public. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Representatives of the NCC and the Senators declined to answer questions about the documents, citing the ongoing negotiations. At a September press conference to announce the agreement, Senators president Cyril Leeder called the move 'a great first step' but added there was a lot of work ahead. 'This allows that work to take place.' The memorandum of understanding says excavation and decontamination of the soil in one parcel of land must be completed by Capital Sports Development by a deadline after the sale closes, failing which the NCC would have the right to 'take back' the parcel. The emphasis in the memorandum on active and ecologically friendly forms of transport and green building standards flow from the master concept plan for LeBreton Flats drafted by the NCC following extensive consultations. Story continues below advertisement The 175-page master plan 'prioritizes universal accessibility, transit access and active modes. The community design and proposed land uses enable an urban lifestyle that provides for the daily needs of residents without requiring automobile travel.' It notes the site is connected to two light-rail transit stations as well as pedestrian and cycling facilities and roadways to accommodate and disperse large crowds. New links, staircases and underpasses are planned. Capital Sports Development would be obligated to design and construct one such component — a pedestrian and cycling bridge leading from Preston Street over the light-rail tracks into the Flats, connecting communities to the south, the memorandum of understanding says. It also says construction of the arena and associated buildings would be certified to the Canada Green Building Council's zero carbon standard. In addition, all buildings are to be connected to a planned LeBreton Flats energy system. It is unclear to what extent any new parking spaces on the site would be underground or in surface lots. On the question of surface parking, a document prepared by the NCC says the agreement 'contains provisions for temporary parking on nearby NCC lands.' In addition to the new arena, the NCC's vision for LeBreton Flats includes a mix of residential units, retail outlets, restaurants, green spaces and efforts to honour the rich Algonquin Nation presence in the region. Story continues below advertisement The memorandum stipulates the NCC 'shall ensure the continued development' of lands within the master plan. After the announcement in September, Senators majority owner Michael Andlauer expressed optimism about moving ahead with the arena project, saying it could be possible to drop the first puck at LeBreton in five years. He did not seem worried by the breakdowns and glitches that had plagued Ottawa's light-rail system, saying he was confident 'they'll have all the bugs out' by the time the arena is built. However, Andlauer indicated he was taken aback early in the process by the NCC's environmentally friendly requirements, saying the commission could be a bit too 'ideological.' 'They mean well, but … I'm thinking through the lens of the fan,' Andlauer said. In response to questions about the September agreement, including whether the transportation and ecological conditions would be achievable, the Ottawa Senators said the hockey club would 'refrain from making any comments' out of respect for the current negotiations. Valérie Dufour, an NCC spokesperson, said that in order to 'respect the integrity of ongoing discussions, we will not make any further comments at this time.'
Winnipeg Free Press
19-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Eco-friendly transportation a condition of planned Ottawa Senators arena: agreement
OTTAWA – Public transit, cycling and walking will be the 'primary and preferred modes' of getting fans to and from the Ottawa Senators' planned downtown arena, says a newly disclosed agreement on the project. Under the agreement, a group led by the NHL team would be responsible for designing, building and paying for a publicly accessible cycling and pedestrian bridge linking a major Ottawa street to the LeBreton Flats arena site. In addition, the arena and associated elements would be 'zero carbon' buildings — highly energy-efficient structures with minimal greenhouse gas emissions from materials and operations. The National Capital Commission, the federal agency that controls the land, and Capital Sports Development Inc., led by the Senators, signed a memorandum of understanding last September on the planned purchase of five parcels totalling 10 acres. The sale of the land near Parliament Hill could be completed later this year following finalization of a price based on fair market value. Many Senators fans have long desired a central venue for the team, which has played since 1996 in an arena in the suburb of Kanata about 25 kilometres west of downtown. The proposed arena, billed as a major events centre, would also host concerts and other attractions. The memorandum and documents related to the September 2024 agreement were recently obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act. Some portions of the documents were withheld from release on the basis the information could prejudice a competitive position or interfere with negotiations if made public. Representatives of the NCC and the Senators declined to answer questions about the documents, citing the ongoing negotiations. At a September press conference to announce the agreement, Senators president Cyril Leeder called the move 'a great first step' but added there was a lot of work ahead. 'This allows that work to take place.' The memorandum of understanding says excavation and decontamination of the soil in one parcel of land must be completed by Capital Sports Development by a deadline after the sale closes, failing which the NCC would have the right to 'take back' the parcel. The emphasis in the memorandum on active and ecologically friendly forms of transport and green building standards flow from the master concept plan for LeBreton Flats drafted by the NCC following extensive consultations. The 175-page master plan 'prioritizes universal accessibility, transit access and active modes. The community design and proposed land uses enable an urban lifestyle that provides for the daily needs of residents without requiring automobile travel.' It notes the site is connected to two light-rail transit stations as well as pedestrian and cycling facilities and roadways to accommodate and disperse large crowds. New links, staircases and underpasses are planned. Capital Sports Development would be obligated to design and construct one such component — a pedestrian and cycling bridge leading from Preston Street over the light-rail tracks into the Flats, connecting communities to the south, the memorandum of understanding says. It also says construction of the arena and associated buildings would be certified to the Canada Green Building Council's zero carbon standard. In addition, all buildings are to be connected to a planned LeBreton Flats energy system. It is unclear to what extent any new parking spaces on the site would be underground or in surface lots. On the question of surface parking, a document prepared by the NCC says the agreement 'contains provisions for temporary parking on nearby NCC lands.' In addition to the new arena, the NCC's vision for LeBreton Flats includes a mix of residential units, retail outlets, restaurants, green spaces and efforts to honour the rich Algonquin Nation presence in the region. The memorandum stipulates the NCC 'shall ensure the continued development' of lands within the master plan. After the announcement in September, Senators majority owner Michael Andlauer expressed optimism about moving ahead with the arena project, saying it could be possible to drop the first puck at LeBreton in five years. He did not seem worried by the breakdowns and glitches that had plagued Ottawa's light-rail system, saying he was confident 'they'll have all the bugs out' by the time the arena is built. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. However, Andlauer indicated he was taken aback early in the process by the NCC's environmentally friendly requirements, saying the commission could be a bit too 'ideological.' 'They mean well, but … I'm thinking through the lens of the fan,' Andlauer said. In response to questions about the September agreement, including whether the transportation and ecological conditions would be achievable, the Ottawa Senators said the hockey club would 'refrain from making any comments' out of respect for the current negotiations. Valérie Dufour, an NCC spokesperson, said that in order to 'respect the integrity of ongoing discussions, we will not make any further comments at this time.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2025.
CTV News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Leafs lead Senators 2-1 in Game 6: Live updates on the Battle of Ontario game in Ottawa
CTV's Patricia Boal speaks with Ottawa Senators President and CEO Cyril Leeder ahead of Game 6 in the Battle of Ontario.
Calgary Herald
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Canadian Tire Centre to host outdoor watch party for Game 6 of Senators-Maple Leafs
The Ottawa Senators will host an outdoor watch party for Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, team president Cyril Leeder confirmed Wednesday morning. Article content Article content The event will take place outside Gate 1 of Canadian Tire Centre in the CIBC Red Zone, where a large screen will broadcast the game live. Admission is free, but fans are encouraged to carpool or use alternative transportation, as parking will be limited, Leeder said. Article content Article content While the Senators hosted pre-game festivities outside the arena for Games 3 and 4, this marks the first time during the series that fans will have a dedicated space to watch a game without a ticket to enter the building. Article content Article content Article content 'We just let the series breathe a little bit and we wanted to make sure we were encouraging folks to go to their local bars and pubs,' Leeder said. '(They) have had a tough go through COVID in the last few years.' Article content Bars and restaurants along Elgin Street's Sens Mile have absorbed most of the city's playoff energy so far, serving as the de facto viewing hub for Games 1 through 5. But with Ottawa now halfway to what would be a historic reverse sweep against their provincial rival, the team felt the time was right to bring the party to the arena. 'People are asking for it and they really want to do it,' Leeder said. Article content If the Senators force a Game 7, which would be played in Toronto, Leeder said the team is considering opening the interior of Canadian Tire Centre to fans for a large-scale indoor watch party — similar to what the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets have done during their own road games this post-season. Article content 'We'll make that decision if we're lucky enough to win Game 6,' he said. Article content Leeder added that should Ottawa advance beyond the first round, more outdoor watch parties are on the table, but the organization is 'taking everything game by game at this point.' Article content Outdoor playoff events have a strong precedent in Ottawa. During the team's 2007 and 2017 runs to the Eastern Conference final, such gatherings became a signature part of the Senators playoff festivities. Still, Leeder said this year feels different. Article content 'We didn't do it early on (in 2007 and 2017), but this is a little bit different,' he said. 'The Battle of Ontario, we haven't been in the playoffs in a while, so there's an unusual excitement around the series right now.' Article content For now, the team's focus is solely on Game 6. The Senators are releasing a limited number of Game 6 tickets to the general public at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Vancouver Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canadian Tire Centre to host outdoor watch party for Game 6 of Senators-Maple Leafs
Article content The Ottawa Senators will host an outdoor watch party for Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, team president Cyril Leeder confirmed Wednesday morning. Article content Article content The event will take place outside Gate 1 of Canadian Tire Centre in the CIBC Red Zone, where a large screen will broadcast the game live. Admission is free, but fans are encouraged to carpool or use alternative transportation, as parking will be limited, Leeder said. Article content Article content While the Senators hosted pre-game festivities outside the arena for Games 3 and 4, this marks the first time during the series that fans will have a dedicated space to watch a game without a ticket to enter the building. Article content Article content Article content 'We just let the series breathe a little bit and we wanted to make sure we were encouraging folks to go to their local bars and pubs,' Leeder said. '(They) have had a tough go through COVID in the last few years.' Article content Bars and restaurants along Elgin Street's Sens Mile have absorbed most of the city's playoff energy so far, serving as the de facto viewing hub for Games 1 through 5. But with Ottawa now halfway to what would be a historic reverse sweep against their provincial rival, the team felt the time was right to bring the party to the arena. Article content 'People are asking for it and they really want to do it,' Leeder said. Article content If the Senators force a Game 7, which would be played in Toronto, Leeder said the team is considering opening the interior of Canadian Tire Centre to fans for a large-scale indoor watch party — similar to what the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets have done during their own road games this post-season. Article content 'We'll make that decision if we're lucky enough to win Game 6,' he said. Article content Leeder added that should Ottawa advance beyond the first round, more outdoor watch parties are on the table, but the organization is 'taking everything game by game at this point.' Article content Outdoor playoff events have a strong precedent in Ottawa. During the team's 2007 and 2017 runs to the Eastern Conference final, such gatherings became a signature part of the Senators playoff festivities. Still, Leeder said this year feels different. Article content 'We didn't do it early on (in 2007 and 2017), but this is a little bit different,' he said. 'The Battle of Ontario, we haven't been in the playoffs in a while, so there's an unusual excitement around the series right now.'
