Kanata Central BIA calls Sens downtown arena plans “detrimental” to business community
Posted Jun 24, 2022 04:17:00 PM.
The Ottawa Senators have called Kanata home since 1996, when the arena of the National Hockey League squad was known as the Palladium.
The arena has gone through several name changes, and is now known as the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC).
On Thursday, June 23, the National Capital Commission (NCC) announced that it has reached a memorandum of understanding with Capital Sports Development Incorporated (CSDI), a group led by the Ottawa Senators, to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats.
In a statement to CityNews Ottawa, the Kanata Central Business Improvement Area (KCBIA) said the move downtown would be “detrimental” to Kanata and west end businesses.
“Game nights and concerts fill our businesses and restaurants and generates a significant amount of revenue when these events happen,” said Lauri Moussa, executive director of the KCBIA, in the statement to CityNews Ottawa. “They have no answers to what will happen to the building as it is to early at this stage, but we have the light rail transit (LRT) extension coming with a stop at CTC. It will be a very interesting to see the next steps in this project.”
Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley said the move is good for the team but bad for the local business community that relied on game nights and events at the CTC, but could have a positive impact in the future.
“Alternatives for the future that might even work out better than what's happening today like an entertainment district would bring people out here every single day, with the Sens, it's like 80 days of the year,” he added.
