Relocation: NCC gives Sens until September 2024 to find a new home

Since buying the Senators, Michael Andlauer has been a busy man.

He inherited a team with problems both on and off the ice. One of his first decisions was to fire Pierre Dorion. Now, he has to deal with a head coach who’s in the ejector seat and nothing to say about the location of the next amphitheatre.

Because the project on LeBreton Flats is still a possibility, but according to Renaud Lavoie, the Flats would be too small.

The journalist also gave updates on the team’s hockey operations.

SEE | “Michael Andlauer was like a kid in a candy store!”https://t.co/YpKKDLQRv7

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Ottawa and its owner, who has formed a committee to find a solution, need to come up with one fairly quickly. But at least the decision won’t have to be made in the next few days, as originally planned.

According to Lavoie, the NCC (National Capital Commission) has given the Sens an extension (requested by the owner) of just under a year to make a decision. The organization therefore has until September 2024.

This will give Andlauer time to breathe a little and not rush his decisions. After all, he’s just taken over. Welcome!

It’s worth noting that LeBreton Flats seemed the ideal destination: it’s located in downtown Ottawa, within walking distance of the Quebec border. Of course, more space was needed, and the construction of an arena on the banks of Highway 417 (near the former stadium of the Expos’ training club) would also be a location considered by all those in charge of the project.

The ballpark is now home to the Ottawa Titans, for those interested.

But around the stadium, there are a number of vacant spaces that could serve as housing for the Senators in the coming years. To be continued.

One thing’s for sure, Andlauer is highly motivated to solve this problem. A few days ago, he visited the New York Islanders’ new amphitheatre, and on the sidelines of the governors’ meeting in Seattle, he paid a visit to another of the Bettman circuit’s newest amphitheatres, the Climate Pledge Arena.

Not only does the CH’s former minority owner want the best place to house his Senators, he also wants modern, optimal architecture to satisfy fans. And that’s a credit to him… because more fans at games=more money.