LeBreton Flats 2.0 (RendezVous LeBreton) | Cancelled

[Acajack]

OK, so say Melnyk doesn't win this thing, and decides to sell the team, could he sell it to Quebecor who would then move it to Quebec City?

Not saying I want this to happen BTW...

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

OK, so say Melnyk doesn't win this thing, and decides to sell the team, could he sell it to Quebecor who would then move it to Quebec City?

Not saying I want this to happen BTW...

He would need league approval, which isn't a simple process, but it is always possible.

Seems unlikely though. The Ottawa market is about 40% bigger and incomes are higher here. The team is more valuable in Ottawa than it would be in Quebec.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Acajack

There is simply way more "stuff" touring in the U.S. that can fill these types of arenas, than there is in Canada.

Most of us would be surprised at how many arenas the size of the CTC with no big-name sports tenant there are all over the U.S.

It's just not the same situation in Canada.

I mean, check this out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOK_Center

Also the venues mentioned in Tulsa and KC are city-owned so the cities have decided there is merit in having a large arena even if it is only used for things like concerts, rodeos and NCAA events. I would doubt the city of Ottawa would want to foot the bill for a concert-only arena.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by Boxster

I can't stop laughing also.

That was a good one.

I don't get it

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by phil235

He would need league approval, which isn't a simple process, but it is always possible.

Seems unlikely though. The Ottawa market is about 40% bigger and incomes are higher here. The team is more valuable in Ottawa than it would be in Quebec.

I doubt that, assuming these facts pan out, that if Quebecor was a serious potential buyer (or maybe the only one?), that they'd be interested in owning a team in Ottawa.

[acottawa]

The assumption by many people has been that if Devcore won they would have Melnyk by the b***s and he would have to sell the team to them. He may decide that relocating the team or selling to an out-of-town buyer would be a better option, both in terms of revenue and sticking it to Devcore (and the NCC).

[AndyZagg]

Originally Posted by acottawa

The assumption by many people has been that if Devcore won they would have Melnyk by the b***s and he would have to sell the team to them. He may decide that relocating the team or selling to an out-of-town buyer would be a better option, both in terms of revenue and sticking it to Devcore (and the NCC).

He's not allowed to relocate or sell without the approval of the NHL BOG who would not allow that. We've already seen that play out in numerous other cities. Pittsburgh, Nashville, Phoenix to name a few. NHL greatly prefers to keep the team in their home city unless it is proven to be financially unviable.

[Acajack]

What happens if Melnyk no longer wants to own the team? Will the NHL force him to keep it and keep it in Ottawa?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

So is Eugene Melnyk planning to be there? The article doesn't seem to say.

He was there at the initial public consultation along with Cyril Leeder and a few other big names in Rendez-Vous' group, so I assume he'll be there during this next window of opportunity.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

It could be taken that way, but it could also be taken several other ways:

1) They are electing (or have been requested by the local contingent) not to attend so as to minimize the appearance of "outsider" involvement. I think the general public is sensitive to this, not to mention that Eugene had also remarked about it some time ago.

2) They are electing (or have been requested by the local contingent) not to attend so as to minimize the appearance of "power and influence".

Just being the devil's advocate, but I tend to agree that not showing up is optically worse than showing up.

I could see that I guess, especially considering Desmarais' relationship with the Liberals, although just the fact that they are part of the group could be viewed the same way.

Originally Posted by Acajack

OK, so say Melnyk doesn't win this thing, and decides to sell the team, could he sell it to Quebecor who would then move it to Quebec City?

Not saying I want this to happen BTW...

The league will take the $CDN 600 million expansion fee before letting any existing team move to Québec.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

I don't get it

Maybe you're not on here often enough. Boxster mentions the VIU condo building in Hull at every opportunity he gets.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

What happens if Melnyk no longer wants to own the team? Will the NHL force him to keep it and keep it in Ottawa?

They can't force him to keep it, but they have to approve the sale. I believe they could also force him to sell it to them.

For instance, the NHL didn't let Phoenix sell to Balsillie when he wanted to move the team to Hamilton, and it was successful in having a court stop the subsequent attempt to do the same thing through the bankruptcy process. They have quite a bit of control over what happens with franchises, in terms of who owns them and where they locate.

Not sure there are any better markets available in North America right now. Possibly Seattle, but that is by no means clear. Somewhere in the GTA potentially, but that brings a whole new set of problems with territorial rights. Melnyk doesn't have a lot of leverage.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Capital Shaun

Huh, Laliberté sounds like a crank. I have a hard time trusting cranks with anything.

So one guy has an apocalypse evacuation shelter in Polynesia; the other guy has a tax evasion shelter in Barbados. Who's to trust?

[Horus]

Melnyk doesn't have to do anything, regardless of tomorrow's outcome. If he wins, he's moving his team downtown. If he loses, he'll stay in Kanata in the building he owns.

If Devcore wins, it will be contingent on them to get the Sens to play in their arena. That's either by offering a sweetheart lease, buying the team from Melnyk, or making some other arrangement by which Melnyk agrees to move the team into that building. They have no leverage on Melnyk whatsoever.

While Melnyk has been vocal about his lack of desire to sell the team, I'm sure he'd change his mind if Devcore delivers several Brinks trucks to his doorstep. At this stage, he has no other option but to steadfastly state that the team is not for sale. It gives his bid leverage. Similarly, Devcore added an arena to their bid to minimize or negate any advantage the Melnyk group would have had when comparing the bids. If both bids have an NHL arena, there's not advantage to either bid and the decision will then be based on the other factors.

[Acajack]

Well Devcore if they build an arena could make a big dent in CTC's non hockey revenues.

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Well Devcore if they build an arena could make a big dent in CTC's non hockey revenues.

I actually doubt that they would build it without a hockey team, even in their bid, they stated that the arena could be built at a later date or in the final phase of the development, maybe 10 years from now.

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by phil235

They can't force him to keep it, but they have to approve the sale. I believe they could also force him to sell it to them.

For instance, the NHL didn't let Phoenix sell to Balsillie when he wanted to move the team to Hamilton, and it was successful in having a court stop the subsequent attempt to do the same thing through the bankruptcy process. They have quite a bit of control over what happens with franchises, in terms of who owns them and where they locate.

Not sure there are any better markets available in North America right now. Possibly Seattle, but that is by no means clear. Somewhere in the GTA potentially, but that brings a whole new set of problems with territorial rights. Melnyk doesn't have a lot of leverage.

The GTA and Seattle if they ever choose to go there will be through expansion, they would not want to loose that type new revenue that would not be shared with the players. A possibility of a franchising moving is Kansas City, they have an arena but I doubt any owner would be willing to pay the $500M expansion fee when they could get a lower end franchise for less than half.

[eemy]

I'm mildly amused that he built his apocalypse bunker in Polynesian on an island that has got to be one of the most vulnerable places on the planet to sea level rise due to climate change.

[rocketphish]

LeBreton Flats evaluators to reveal preferred bid at NCC meeting today
One team's LeBreton Flats vision won the day with evaluation committee; NCC board poised to vote

By Kate Porter, CBC News Posted: Apr 28, 2016 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Apr 28, 2016 6:17 AM ET

In the quiet couple of months since the public heard two pitches for redeveloping LeBreton Flats and studied splashy images of arenas and museums, five evaluators have been poring over those bids.

Today that committee's "clear recommendation" will go to the National Capital Commission's board for approval, according to the NCC's CEO, Mark Kristmanson.

He was on that evaluation committee, which consulted experts in transportation, soil remediation and other subjects, and ranked the proposals submitted by Devcore, Canderel and DLS Group and by RendezVous LeBreton Group.

"I will say there is a preferred candidate of the two bids and that there was a consensus of the evaluation committee on that," Kristmanson told CBC News, without giving away which team ranked highest.

The NCC's board is scheduled to deal with the LeBreton Flats file after lunch at its Thursday meeting.

LeBreton Flats remains a blustery expanse, where excavators dig near the future light rail line.

But the president of the Dalhousie Community Association sees it as a future neighbourhood where more than 2,000 new housing units could be built.

"The NCC looks at this nationally. People in Ottawa look at it as a huge opportunity for city building," said Michael Powell. "For us it's a lot of new neighbours will be moving in."

Those residents will be the key to making LeBreton Flats lively every day of the year, Powell said.

His eye is not on the big-ticket arenas or museums that took centre stage in the two proposals, but rather on the cafés and schools that will make the area more than just a place to visit. Powell wants to see LeBreton Flats connect seamlessly to neighbourhoods around it.

"We look forward to working with whoever's selected to make sure that we can get these nitty-gritty details right, to make sure we can get the best LeBreton we possibly can, because certainly we've been waiting long enough," he said.

Kristmanson said he heard about the desire to balance the national picture with the local fabric during public consultations — feedback that will be summed up in a report to the NCC board Thursday.

He thinks the NCC can deliver on both at LeBreton Flats in upcoming negotiations, which will be followed by federal and municipal approvals.

Kristmanson acknowledged residents are expecting the NCC to get the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats' right.

​"I think there is an ethical obligation or debt that the commission owes to bring back a lively, vibrant community to the LeBreton Flats," he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lebreton-flats-top-bid-revealed-1.3556025

[daud]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

[B]LeBreton Flats evaluators to reveal preferred bid at NCC meeting today
One team's LeBreton Flats vision won the day with evaluation committee; NCC board poised to vote


Today that committee's "clear recommendation" will go to the National Capital Commission's board for approval, according to the NCC's CEO, Mark Kristmanson.

"I will say there is a preferred candidate of the two bids and that there was a consensus of the evaluation committee on that," Kristmanson told CBC News, without giving away which team ranked highest.

Kristmanson said he heard about the desire to balance the national picture with the local fabric during public consultations — feedback that will be summed up in a report to the NCC board Thursday.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lebreton-flats-top-bid-revealed-1.3556025

"Clear recommendation" I'll be watching twitter at 2PM. One way or the other, I am sure we'll hear an earful from Mr. Melnyk.