Ottawa Senators get another chance at a LeBreton Flats arena

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has once again inked an agreement with the Ottawa Senators that would bring a new NHL arena to LeBreton Flats near downtown Ottawa, years after the collapse of its plan to do the same.

It announced a memo of understanding with the Senators-led Capital Sports Development Inc. to work toward a mixed-use development on Albert Street between Preston Street and City Centre Avenue.

Work remains to be done on the plans by the chosen group. The NCC said it has a goal of autumn 2023 to reach a long-term lease. The City of Ottawa will have to approve the plans as well.

A previous arena plan fell apart in 2018.

In April, amid rampant speculation that an arena could be on the way, the NCC said only that "multiple pitches" for "major attractions" had been submitted after its request for proposals in 2021.

"We have a lot of interest in getting this right.... Expectations, I think, on the NCC are high for these sites, so we want to be sure to take the time to get it right," NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum told reporters at the time.

Thursday's announcement came after the NCC finalized its evaluation and due diligence process, and entered 60 days of negotiations with potential proponents.

Residents weren't given a chance to weigh in ahead of the NCC's selection of a preferred proponent, but Nussbaum noted in April that residents had already discussed what they want to see at LeBreton during public consultations for the LeBreton Flats Master Concept Plan in 2019.