Ottawa Senators LeBreton Arena | 11 Acres | In Planning

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by phil235

This actually does matter. Having a pro sports team does put the city on the map in a way that millions of dollars of tourism advertising cannot. It gives Ottawa credibility as a major centre, which is important in terms of attracting talent, business investment etc. Hard to measure for sure, but it shouldn't be dismissed.

You can see it ranks right up there in 'Top Ottawa Destinations':

https://www.google.com/search?q=top+otta...zJqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Tesladom]

Originally Posted by phil235

This actually does matter. Having a pro sports team does put the city on the map in a way that millions of dollars of tourism advertising cannot. It gives Ottawa credibility as a major centre, which is important in terms of attracting talent, business investment etc. Hard to measure for sure, but it shouldn't be dismissed.

Most studies find that Americans are unaware that Ottawa is the Capital - for example 73% of them think Toronto is the capital. Why Toronto? Because they hear that name all the time (hint? Pro Sports)
https://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/comment...of_americans_think_toronto_is/?rdt=49000

... and before we disparage Americans, how many Canadians can name the capital of Australia? I'd say probably fewer than 10%

Pro Sports = Prestige & Visibility
Who would have ever heard of Green Bay if is wasn't for the Packers??? Nuff said

Bring back the Expos please!

[pattherat]

Mods, can this conversation be moved somewhere else…the recent comments are no longer related to the arena.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

People in Centretown saying Lebreton isn't downtown enough and complaining... yet anytime a Centretown location was discussed same people pearl clutching... this is why Ottawa is a joke.

I for one am glad it is here - best of the inner greenbelt spots.

Absolutely probably the best we could do but but a site that actually is attached to a vibrant area would have been better. 20 minute walk to Kent street isn't it.

It'll still be one of the least urban NHL arenas.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

The government did an estimate like you suggested and the number they arrived at was 1.7 million visitors a year.

But that's just an estimate. For a concrete number, in 2024, 3,540,000 visits were made to OPL's existing branches.

For comparison, the NAC—another landmark public building, recorded 742,000 visitors to its performances and commercial activities (ie the coffee shop) last year— that doesn't count the near constant use of its free public spaces.

1.7 million for the first year or two when people check out the new thing seems reasonable. It seems implausible to me as a long term visitor number. That would mean 50% of all library visits for the entire city would be to the central library.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by acottawa

1.7 million for the first year or two when people check out the new thing seems reasonable. It seems implausible to me as a long term visitor number. That would mean 50% of all library visits for the entire city would be to the central library.

A new library can see a longterm increase in visitors. The current cramped space filled with homeless and nearly homeless isn't a destination for anyone.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Absolutely probably the best we could do but but a site that actually is attached to a vibrant area would have been better. 20 minute walk to Kent street isn't it.

It'll still be one of the least urban NHL arenas.

I don't think that's true. In terms of access to the geographic and cultural centre of the city, most NHL arenas are actually farther from downtown than ours will be. Personally, I don't think we should build large inward-facing buildings that take up multiple city blocks right downtown. They might bring foot traffic on game/concert nights but, overall, they take away from vibrant urban spaces. Luckily, almost every arena I can think of (including Toronto and Montreal) are downtown Adjacent. Yes there has been a lot of development around them in recent years (much like ours will have) but they were not plunked smack in the centre of the CBD or other vibrant areas. In fact, they were both built on relatively undesirable land close to downtown....remind you of anything?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

I don't think that's true. In terms of access to the geographic and cultural centre of the city, most NHL arenas are actually farther from downtown than ours will be. Personally, I don't think we should build large inward-facing buildings that take up multiple city blocks right downtown. They might bring foot traffic on game/concert nights but, overall, they take away from vibrant urban spaces. Luckily, almost every arena I can think of (including Toronto and Montreal) are downtown Adjacent. Yes there has been a lot of development around them in recent years (much like ours will have) but they were not plunked smack in the centre of the CBD or other vibrant areas. In fact, they were both built on relatively undesirable land close to downtown....remind you of anything?

I think in Toronto, New York or Montreal the proximity of a major train station gives the arenas the impression of being more central. Ottawa’s situation is more like BMO field or the Arena and Stadium in Vancouver (or perhaps Dodger Stadium). Close in the sense of a relatively short transit ride, but not really connected to the urban fabric of the city.

Look at it this way, if you go for a drink before the game to avoid the crush on the LRT, where are you going? If you aren’t going somewhere owned by the Senators you are probably going to the Orange Monkey or Preston Street, which are hardly “downtown.”

[phil235]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

I don't think that's true. In terms of access to the geographic and cultural centre of the city, most NHL arenas are actually farther from downtown than ours will be. Personally, I don't think we should build large inward-facing buildings that take up multiple city blocks right downtown. They might bring foot traffic on game/concert nights but, overall, they take away from vibrant urban spaces. Luckily, almost every arena I can think of (including Toronto and Montreal) are downtown Adjacent. Yes there has been a lot of development around them in recent years (much like ours will have) but they were not plunked smack in the centre of the CBD or other vibrant areas. In fact, they were both built on relatively undesirable land close to downtown....remind you of anything?

The Montreal and Toronto arenas are both right downtown, and much more downtown than Lebreton is. As are Winnipeg, Vancouver and Edmonton. Of the Canadian cities, it's really only Calgary that is not.

But you are right that lots of rinks are further from the city centre - NYI, Anaheim, Florida, Carolina, Chicago and Philadelphia. Vegas is its own beast, but definitely not more urban. Salt Lake City, L.A, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Denver and Seattle would be similar distance to Lebreton.

It's a bit of an outlier in Canada, but not in the league as a whole.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think in Toronto, New York or Montreal the proximity of a major train station gives the arenas the impression of being more central. Ottawa’s situation is more like BMO field or the Arena and Stadium in Vancouver (or perhaps Dodger Stadium). Close in the sense of a relatively short transit ride, but not really connected to the urban fabric of the city.

Look at it this way, if you go for a drink before the game to avoid the crush on the LRT, where are you going? If you aren’t going somewhere owned by the Senators you are probably going to the Orange Monkey or Preston Street, which are hardly “downtown.”

Based on your drink test, Vancouver is pretty integrated with the urban fabric. It's also less than a kilometre from Granville and Robson (and coincidentally, three blocks from the main library)

[harls]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Look at it this way, if you go for a drink before the game to avoid the crush on the LRT, where are you going? If you aren’t going somewhere owned by the Senators you are probably going to the Orange Monkey or Preston Street, which are hardly “downtown.”

Don't forget Zibi.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by phil235

The Montreal and Toronto arenas are both right downtown, and much more downtown than Lebreton is. As are Winnipeg, Vancouver and Edmonton. Of the Canadian cities, it's really only Calgary that is not.

But you are right that lots of rinks are further from the city centre - NYI, Anaheim, Florida, Carolina, Chicago and Philadelphia. Vegas is its own beast, but definitely not more urban. Salt Lake City, L.A, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Denver and Seattle would be similar distance to Lebreton.

It's a bit of an outlier in Canada, but not in the league as a whole.

I see your point, but if you look at MTL and TOR there was basically nothing around the arena sites for 300+ metres in every direction when they were built, similar to what we have currently at Lebreton.

Maybe it's not fair to compare us to cities of 3-5 million people as well.

I still think they need to lean heavily on transit connections, making sure there is covered (if not indoors) connections to both adjacent transit stops. Then a $6 levy on each ticket sold could allow hockey fans/concert goers to park at downtown lots with excellent connections to transit and then take the train 1-3 stops to the game. Those lots are mostly empty on weekends and evenings as it is, making this all the more appealing. My point is that there are already pubs/restaurants/parking around all major transit stations in the downtown area so what's stopping Ottawans from taking advantage of these before/after games? Saves building a new city at Lebreton (going to take decades) and utilizes our high-frequency transit backbone that the city has invested so much in.

And on nice nights (April to November) many (most) will choose to walk down from their parking spots I would imagine. Remember that the furthest parking spots at the CTC are currrently 470m from the front door!

[phil235]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

I see your point, but if you look at MTL and TOR there was basically nothing around the arena sites for 300+ metres in every direction when they were built, similar to what we have currently at Lebreton.

Maybe it's not fair to compare us to cities of 3-5 million people as well.

I still think they need to lean heavily on transit connections, making sure there is covered (if not indoors) connections to both adjacent transit stops. Then a $6 levy on each ticket sold could allow hockey fans/concert goers to park at downtown lots with excellent connections to transit and then take the train 1-3 stops to the game. Those lots are mostly empty on weekends and evenings as it is, making this all the more appealing. My point is that there are already pubs/restaurants/parking around all major transit stations in the downtown area so what's stopping Ottawans from taking advantage of these before/after games? Saves building a new city at Lebreton (going to take decades) and utilizes our high-frequency transit backbone that the city has invested so much in.

And on nice nights (April to November) many (most) will choose to walk down from their parking spots I would imagine. Remember that the furthest parking spots at the CTC are currrently 470m from the front door!

Interesting point on the transit levy. The Sens have resisted that to date, but with move I would expect that they will be much more amenable to including transit fare in the price of tickets, which is good for everyone.

I think you are right about parking. I expect that except in the very worst weather, most people driving will park (or stay parked) downtown and just walk to the rink. It's really not far at all from the parking garages in the Lyon-Kent corridor. My office is further east than that, and I wouldn't think of doing anything but walking to the arena site. It might take me 15-20 minutes from Bank, but the time savings taking transit would be minimal.

It's also getting to be quite a nice walk from downtown along Albert since the street reconstruction. I can see it being part of the game experience. And no doubt a few more bars and restaurants will pop up on that route once the arena gets closer.

[OTownandDown]

One can simply look to Bluesfest as an example of the outreach a large event has on the surrounding neighbourhoods.

I've definitely joined the 'parade' of people when Bluesfest lets out, walking down Wellington to the Byward Market.

Just to reiterate, I've walked to the Market from Lebreton after spending the day at Bluesfest, with little thought to 'omg how far is this' and ended up drinking at The Hot and Crowded with other concert-goers all wearing our bracelets from the festival.

Bank, Elgin, Market, they're all WELL within a reasonable distance for your average 18-50 year old to walk, either before or after a game at Lebreton.

Not to mention the number of people who park downtown and walk to Lansdowne for a football game. The entire length of Bank street is awash with red and white, from Billings Bridge to Bank and Laurier, every single game day.

[skyscraperaccount]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Does anyone here define LeBreton as downtown? It seems more like a close suburban location. I really noticed that the last few years with Canada Day there. (This will be even further West). 20 minutes to Preston or 30 minutes to Bank street is outside of the especially winter walking radius for most.

As a Kanata resident, yes, Lebreton is 'downtown' to me and i would not think of it a suburban or close suburban at all.

[skyscraperaccount]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Useless library? Seriously?

I wouldn't say useless, but I do not like that city taxpayers have tied themselves into a shared federal facility and would have much prefered a building we fully control.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

One can simply look to Bluesfest as an example of the outreach a large event has on the surrounding neighbourhoods.

I've definitely joined the 'parade' of people when Bluesfest lets out, walking down Wellington to the Byward Market.

Just to reiterate, I've walked to the Market from Lebreton after spending the day at Bluesfest, with little thought to 'omg how far is this' and ended up drinking at The Hot and Crowded with other concert-goers all wearing our bracelets from the festival.

Bank, Elgin, Market, they're all WELL within a reasonable distance for your average 18-50 year old to walk, either before or after a game at Lebreton.

Not to mention the number of people who park downtown and walk to Lansdowne for a football game. The entire length of Bank street is awash with red and white, from Billings Bridge to Bank and Laurier, every single game day.

Have you walked during hockey season?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by harls

Don't forget Zibi.

Is there anywhere to drink at Zibi? I didn’t see anything last time I was there, but wasn’t really looking either

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Have you walked during hockey season?

Living in Kanata I've walked from home (about 25 minutes) and driven to a friend's house just off Terry Fox and walked (about 15 minutes) many times. Due to the location of our arena and the fact everyone drives there (90+%) I think people underestimate how much of our hockey season is actually quite a comfortable walk (Oct-Dec, April-June). Not to mention all of the concerts and other events throughout the summer where people will walk. It's why I'm super excited about the move despite it being much further from my house. I love going downtown to the NAC for a show or the Market for dinner and this will be one more reason to make a night of it.

My favourite stadium walk is the walk from the Montreal Metro and downtown hotels to the Als games at McGill Stadium. No other option really so it's like 30000 people marching the streets (RedBlacks fans chirping the whole way). So fun on a nice weather day.

[harls]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Is there anywhere to drink at Zibi? I didn’t see anything last time I was there, but wasn’t really looking either

By the time the arena gets built I am sure there will be.