What will it take for all of Ottawa's pro sports teams to thrive?

The number of professional sports teams in Ottawa is growing, and each one is vying for the hearts —and disposable income— of fans. 

Ottawa's Professional Women's Hockey League franchise is a fresh new team in the market, boasting the fledgling league's second highest average attendance.

The recently announced Ottawa Black Bears will also mark the return of National Lacrosse League action to Ottawa, after a short-lived stint in the early 2000s.

It has some fans wondering whether this is a mini boom for pro sports here, or is it a delicate balance of potential bankruptcies? 

Ottawa's sports history is littered with failed franchises. Remember the Ottawa Rough Riders and Renegades of the Canadian Football League? Baseball's Ottawa Lynx and Ottawa Champions, soccer's Ottawa Fury, and lacrosse's Ottawa Rebel? And of course the original Ottawa Senators, who made their expansion return to the National Hockey League back in 1992.

While there are more than enough defunct sports teams to legitimize those worries, people in positions of influence on Ottawa's current teams, say times have changed.

"I don't see other teams as my competition," adds Hunt, "we're competing more with Netflix and the couch."

So, can the new teams succeed where others failed? Of course, says Hunt.

"I've said this for years, it's not that much different than saying to me, 'Do restaurants work in Ottawa?' I'd say this, good restaurants work in Ottawa."

Restaurants that succeed have great food, great surroundings and great service, he says. And the price has to be in line with what's on the plate. 

It's similar for sports teams, says Hunt: the fan experience and playing facilities have to be exciting. The ticket prices and concessions have to be reasonable