Lansdowne Park Redevelopment Phase 1 | Completed

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by phil235

Nice venue for sure, but this I truly don't understand. You gather thousands of people together in person to watch people play online games? I guess this means that I'm old.

Ha --we are all old!!!

You know that esports is big business when investors are putting up $500 million to build a facility around esports in Toronto.

There is a move afoot at uOttawa to develop an interdisciplinary academic program around the business of esports.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/esports-strategy-uottawa-1.5867586

A snippet of the CBC report:

It would support research, teaching and training for a variety of esports related careers, while also providing a physical space where students could practice and compete in popular games like League of Legends, Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

"Creating a new sport institute at the University of Ottawa with one or many teams that would be competing in different video games would be an opportunity to create training opportunities around those teams," said Lillo.

"So the different jobs around these sports, but also research opportunities."

There is already one course on --Video Games and the Law --at uOttawa.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Ha --we are all old!!!

You know that esports is big business when investors are putting up $500 million to build a facility around esports in Toronto.

There is a move afoot at uOttawa to develop an interdisciplinary academic program around the business of esports.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/esports-strategy-uottawa-1.5867586

A snippet of the CBC report:



There is already one course on --Video Games and the Law --at uOttawa.

I don't get it either. But I have no problem with it, except for one thing. Stop calling it a "sport"! It is not an athletic activity. I wish they would call them eGames instead.

[Richard Eade]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Ha --we are all old!!!

You know that esports is big business when investors are putting up $500 million to build a facility around esports in Toronto.

.
.
.

Actually, we don't know if INVESTORS are interested in putting up that much money. The article mentions $80M raised privately. It is likely that they will be asking for a huge chunk of the money (maybe $400M?) from various levels of the public purse.

[silvergate]

This is pretty much your standard, run of the mill convention centre.

" from concerts and esports to conventions and corporate functions."

Live eSports will probably not end up being the main draw.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I don't get it either. But I have no problem with it, except for one thing. Stop calling it a "sport"! It is not an athletic activity. I wish they would call them eGames instead.

Are golf and bowling "sports"?

And before you answer, let's put it this way; are Donald Trump and Fred Flintstone "athletes"?

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by silvergate

This is pretty much your standard, run of the mill convention centre.

" from concerts and esports to conventions and corporate functions."

Live eSports will probably not end up being the main draw.

Yes. It probably will be multi-functional and the hotel will be a major component of the project.

Huge screens in the main arena will probably draw esports fans. There will likely be competitions for prize money. "If" the province allows e-betting during the competitions, it will have a casino atmosphere.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by silvergate

This is pretty much your standard, run of the mill convention centre.

" from concerts and esports to conventions and corporate functions."

Live eSports will probably not end up being the main draw.

Now that you mention that, maybe there is a possibility for something like this at Lansdowne. The Civic Centre seems perfectly configured to have people sit around and look at big screens. Perhaps a complimentary use that could fund a renovation?

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Are golf and bowling "sports"?

And before you answer, let's put it this way; are Donald Trump and Fred Flintstone "athletes"?

As they are both physical activities that require a lot of movement and exertion, and are both scored objectively, then I'd say yes.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

As they are both physical activities that require a lot of movement and exertion, and are both scored objectively, then I'd say yes.

Not sure what burns more calories; hitting a ball and chasing it with a cart or moving thumbs really fast.

Aren't e-sports also scored objectively with points or kills? I don't know. Haven't played video games in a while.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by phil235

Nice venue for sure, but this I truly don't understand. You gather thousands of people together in person to watch people play online games? I guess this means that I'm old.

What's the difference between this and watching people run around on a field? Genuine question.

Originally Posted by rocketphish

As they are both physical activities that require a lot of movement and exertion, and are both scored objectively, then I'd say yes.

So do eSports. The amount of focus and mental preparation is equal to that of any other sport. Yeah, they sit down the entire time, but so do athletes in motorsports.

Ottawa simply doesn't have the financial backing or support in its local eSports community to warrant any sort of facility at this point. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are the only real options at this point for something this large-scale. eSports events can use convention centres and hotels for a lot of their events at current scale, with specific events able to slip into larger arenas.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by JHikka

What's the difference between this and watching people run around on a field? Genuine question.

I guess it's the difference between watching people actually do something athletic vs. watching people play on a computer. Athleticism is entirely missing from the e-sports.

Personally, I also like the complexity of team sports, and am less keen on individual sports. I can't say I've really watched an e-sport, but I kind of doubt that the same team dynamic exists, even if people are in a teams of some sort on the screen.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by phil235

I guess it's the difference between watching people actually do something athletic vs. watching people play on a computer. Athleticism is entirely missing from the e-sports.

Sure, but video games are something that (almost) all of us have experience doing, so I guess the comparison would be seeing the absolute best at their craft able to do something that most other people can't. Do you think more kids today play video games or run around on fields, and can therefore associate themselves with one activity more than the other?

Golf is always a great comparator because there isn't much athleticism to it aside from shoulder and upper-body training, but people don't usually run around often saying golf isn't a sport. Those kids sitting at their computers can't be athletes but golfers seem to get a pass, as do motorsports athletes.

Originally Posted by phil235

Personally, I also like the complexity of team sports, and am less keen on individual sports. I can't say I've really watched an e-sport, but I kind of doubt that the same team dynamic exists, even if people are in a teams of some sort on the screen.

Most eSports are team events. Teams of four, five, whatever.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Sure, but video games are something that (almost) all of us have experience doing, so I guess the comparison would be seeing the absolute best at their craft able to do something that most other people can't. Do you think more kids today play video games or run around on fields, and can therefore associate themselves with one activity more than the other?

Golf is always a great comparator because there isn't much athleticism to it aside from shoulder and upper-body training, but people don't usually run around often saying golf isn't a sport. Those kids sitting at their computers can't be athletes but golfers seem to get a pass, as do motorsports athletes.


Most eSports are team events. Teams of four, five, whatever.

I really hope that most kids still play sports. It would be a pretty big failing of our society if we now let our kids play sports virtually as a substitute for actual physical activity. Likewise, it seems to me that there is still a big difference between being part of a soccer team or a hockey team, and sitting around with 4 or 5 other guys playing video games.

I actually put golf more in the category of an activity requiring physical skill than a sport. To me there is still a big difference between watching people actually do something and watching people virtually do things. But to each their own.

But we digress.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

I really hope that most kids still play sports. It would be a pretty big failing of our society if we now let our kids play sports virtually as a substitute for actual physical activity. Likewise, it seems to me that there is still a big difference between being part of a soccer team or a hockey team, and sitting around with 4 or 5 other guys playing video games.

I hear the kids play online now, so no other humans around them, just in their ear set.

I miss the days when your counsel wasn't hooked up to the internet. If you wanted to play with someone else, you would invite them over (or get a nearby sibling).

Originally Posted by phil235

I actually put golf more in the category of an activity requiring physical skill than a sport. To me there is still a big difference between watching people actually do something and watching people virtually do things. But to each their own.

But we digress.

Can't imagine watching someone play a video games for hours on end. Couldn't stand watching someone play a video game for more than 10 minutes as a kid (when it would then be my turn).

Then again, I'm not a big sports guy in general, other than the Sens since there's local pride and nostalgia attached to it. Can't stand soccer of football (though I do follow RedBlacks scores to see how they are doing). I detest American Football. Baseball is fine once in a while since it's outside in a not too crowded stadium.

Golf is the most mind numbing game to watch.

To each their own.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by phil235

I really hope that most kids still play sports. It would be a pretty big failing of our society if we now let our kids play sports virtually as a substitute for actual physical activity. Likewise, it seems to me that there is still a big difference between being part of a soccer team or a hockey team, and sitting around with 4 or 5 other guys playing video games.

I actually put golf more in the category of an activity requiring physical skill than a sport. To me there is still a big difference between watching people actually do something and watching people virtually do things. But to each their own.

But we digress.

For better or worse, the Gee-Gees are the Ontario Post-Secondary Esports champions.

[J.OT13]

Pop-up businesses in store for Lansdowne as OSEG looks to attract more visitors to site

OBJ Staff, June 17 2021

With football set to return to Lansdowne Park this summer, the owners of the CFL’s Redblacks are launching tryouts for more than just aspiring players.

The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group said Thursday it will offer small businesses a chance to open short-term pop-up storefronts at Lansdowne starting this fall.

“This is a great opportunity for small businesses and individuals that might not have thought it possible to establish a business at Lansdowne,” OSEG president and CEO Mark Goudie said in a statement.

“We are one of the Ottawa region’s top destinations for folks to eat, shop and play, and I’m excited by the prospect of adding to that with some interesting new attractions that our guests will enjoy. We’re going to play an important role in bringing people back together and putting smiles back on faces.”

In a news release, the organization said it is “particularly interested in proposals that will add fun activities, interesting things to see or perhaps unusual crafts and treats from local artisans.”

The Lansdowne Live district, which attracted more than four million visitors in 2019, is currently 94 per cent leased to a variety of businesses, including shops, restaurants and other services. The new pop-ups will operate for six to 12 months in partnership with OSEG, with a targeted launch date of Sept. 1.

5M visitor target

Prospective businesses can submit their ideas at TDPlace.ca/pop-up-at-lansdowne-live from now until July 15.

Goudie said the storefronts could play a key role in helping OSEG reach its goal of drawing more than five million visitors a year to the 40-acre site, which is home to the TD Place stadium and arena complex.

“I think the pop-up concept will help us meet that objective and also help some innovative small businesses get up and running with their concepts,” he said.

The announcement follows the CFL’s decision earlier this week to resume play in August after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The Redblacks, who play out of 24,000-seat TD Place stadium, are slated to host the B.C. Lions in their home opener on Aug. 28. The provincial government says it’s still in the process of determining guidelines for in-person attendance at games.

Financial shortfalls

Football’s return is welcome news for OSEG, which has yet to see the expected financial returns it expected from Lansdowne Park and has taken a particular hit over the past year while the area’s two sports venues sat empty.

Goudie told OBJ last November the organization – which owns the Redblacks as well as the OHL’s 67’s and manages the stadium, arena and retail and commercial spaces at Lansdowne Park – expected to start breaking even by 2022, but those projections were derailed by the pandemic.

He said OSEG partners Roger Greenberg, William Shenkman, John Pugh and John Ruddy are willing to pump an additional $40 million into the project over the next five years to cover expected losses.

Last December, city council agreed to amend the organization’s 30-year partnership with the city, extending the agreement by another decade to give OSEG’s owners more time to recoup their investments. A working group made up of city and OSEG officials was also struck “to study opportunities to enhance and broaden Lansdowne’s appeal.”

https://obj.ca/article/local/pop-businesses-store-lansdowne-oseg-looks-attract-more-visitors-site

[rocketphish]

City recommends replacing north-side stands and arena in 'revitalization' of Lansdowne Park
The current structure dates back to 1967, and, while the city has determined it's structurally sound, it has also realized the facility is approaching "functional obsolescence."

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jun 25, 2021 • 8 minutes ago • 4 minute read



Finally, an admission when it comes to the Lansdowne Park stadium: the north side sucks.

In a report released Friday, the city recommends replacing the north-side stands and Civic Centre arena at Lansdowne, completing the overhaul of sports assets in a second wave of transformation at the historic municipally owned site.

Only seven years after Lansdowne emerged from a $425-million redevelopment, the city and Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group are talking about “revitalization.”

It was the original south-side stands, of course, that first met their doom when they were deemed condemned, leading to the demolition and rebuild of the seating structure as part of the Lansdowne redevelopment with OSEG.

In assessing what Lansdowne 2.0 would look like, the city has concluded it’s not worth rehabilitating the aging north-side stands and arena, which make up a single building. It also opens the door to building homes above a new north-side stands and arena complex.

The current structure dates back to 1967, and, while the city has determined it’s structurally sound, it has also realized the facility is approaching “functional obsolescence.”

In other words, it’s way too old to meet the expectations of modern entertainment customers, like football fans and concertgoers.

Plus, it’s no dream to operate.

The arena roof leaks and the washroom capacity is so poor that OSEG needs to bring in dozens of portable toilets on game days. There is no press box. On top of that, there are regular mold outbreaks. The arena is home to the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67s, but the facility has been deemed inadequate to hold a Memorial Cup tournament.

While OSEG sunk millions into repairing the roof of the arena, a consultant discovered it wasn’t enough to address issues related to structural overload.

Then there are the city’s heritage buildings: the Aberdeen Pavilion and Horticulture Building.

The city knows it needs to repair the roof and shell of the Aberdeen Pavilion and beef up air conditioning in the newly refurbished Horticulture Building. But even the recent renovation of the Horticulture Building wasn’t enough to keep the sun from baking the interior, so the city is looking at ways to improve the thermal resistance of the windows.

In terms of the city-run urban park, the city acknowledges it needs to provide more shade, greenery, seating, art and, generally, more interesting things.

Replacing the north-side stands and arena would be the major infrastructure project in a second phase of redevelopment. The report considers building a smaller “event centre” arena than the 10,000-seat Civic Centre — something in the range of 5,000 seats.

There’s a possible way to pay for a new arena and stands: selling the air rights above the new complex for homes in a high rise, which would generate more property tax money. It could also help businesses at Lansdowne if more people are living at the site, the report notes. There would likely be an affordable housing component.

Not doing anything to the north-side stands and arena would mean continuing to sink $1.4 million annually on average into the facility until 2054 just to maintain it.

It would be up to OSEG to put together a formal proposal, followed by a due-diligence exercise by the city to make sure taxpayers wouldn’t be hit up for more money for a replacement project for the stands and arena.

The city says it needs $675,000 for its share of the work, plus another $200,000 for a public consultation strategy for the revitalization of the entire Lansdowne site.

It was clear to the city and OSEG even before the COVID-19 pandemic that Lansdowne still seemed incomplete. The site was bumping on Redblacks game days and during other large events, but it lacked similar zest the rest of the time, especially in winter.

Last year, the city and OSEG agreed to take a close look at their partnership, spurred by the economic devastation caused by the pandemic.

In December, council added another 10 years to the Lansdowne partnership with OSEG, hoping to give the company more time to recoup its investment. The deal now expires on Dec. 31, 2054. Council also permitted OSEG to access $4.7 million in an OSEG-fed account reserved for asset maintenance as a way to help the company pull through the pandemic.

The report had no cost estimates for improving the stadium and arena, or the urban park and city heritage buildings. For now, council will be asked to approve a framework for deciding what a revitalization would look like.

According to the report, whatever comes out of the negotiations between the city and OSEG must either have a material or financial benefit for city taxpayers and must ensure no city funds are used to backstop OSEG operations.

If council on July 21 approves the framework to improve Lansdowne, staff expect to come back with a final proposal by the end of March 2022 en route to a project agreement being considered by a newly elected council after the October 2022 municipal election.

But, first, the finance and economic development committee will consider the proposed framework during a meeting on July 6.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...rena-in-revitalization-of-lansdowne-park

[rocketphish]

North side sucks, and so does the arena at Lansdowne, report says
Council to consider rebuilding stands and arena, add housing to help Lansdowne

Joanne Chianello · CBC News
Posted: Jun 25, 2021 5:32 PM ET | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Ottawa city council should look into rebuilding the 54-year-old north-side stands at TD Place stadium, as well as replace the former Civic Centre with a scaled-down new arena, and add housing on top of it all to improve the long-term viability of Lansdowne, according to a new city report.

The report from city staff encouraged "demolishing the existing arena" and north-side stands with an "entirely new structure."

The report also calls for, among other things, the safety of the Lansdowne site to be improved for pedestrians and cyclists, for public areas to be more welcoming by adding more seating and shade, and to install more air conditioning in the Horticulture Building.

The report will next go to the finance and economic development committee on July 6 — and then to full city council later in the month.

Staff have asked city council members to only agree to a more formal proposal for the re-imagining of Lansdowne, which means there are no cost estimates attached to this report. However, the city would likely be asked to contribute tens of millions of dollars to the new project.

Taxpayers have already spent $210 million on Lansdowne, including $135 million to renovate the stadium and another $75 million for the city-run urban park, which includes the Horticulture Building and the Aberdeen Pavilion.

If council gives the idea the green light, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) is expected to prepare a formal proposal, which the city would review. The public would also be consulted in the fall on possible changes to Lansdowne.

The current timeline has a memorandum of understanding coming back to council early in 2022 and if the city and OSEG can agree, a final deal would be brought to council early in the next term.

The preliminary plan to re-think Lansdowne comes just seven years after it was redeveloped. This is because the city's business partner, OSEG, rang the alarm bells last year. They run the commercial sector, the arenas and own the sports teams that play there.

COVID-19 hammered OSEG revenues, as pandemic restrictions led to the cancellation of events and shut down much of the commercial activity at Lansdowne for large swaths of the last 15 months.

OSEG also struggled well before COVID-19 hit posting an $11-million loss for its previous fiscal year that ended March 31, 2020 — red ink that was not pandemic-related.

OSEG has always maintained it needed five million people to visit Lansdowne every year to make it financially viable, but was one million visitors short in 2019, and is looking for ways to induce more people to come with new attractions, events and ambiance.

"Lansdowne Park should be a cornerstone in a true live, work and play 15‐minute neighbourhood and to be successful, the site needs sustained activity in all seasons," according to the report.

When the city entered into its partnership over Lansdowne almost a decade ago, it spent $135 million to renovate the stadium, which remains publicly owned but is operated by OSEG. The city was forced to replace the decrepit south-side stands, but kept the north-side ones to save money.

Engineering reports confirm the north-side stands, built in 1967, are structurally sound, but they have a long list of problems.

The arena ceiling leaks. There are persistent mould outbreaks. There aren't enough washrooms on Redblacks game days, and there isn't enough accessible seating. It's also not energy efficient.

The age and design also means the former Civic Centre, now TD Place arena, no longer meets the current standards and technical requirements required for many sports and music events, the report says.

It's currently not possible to host events in the stadium and arena at the same time.

"Concessions are small, below requirements of a modern facility and lack proper ventilation, creating inefficiencies in food services and offerings," the report adds.

A new north-side complex could including a 5,000-seat event centre — about half the size of the current arena — which is more appropriate for junior hockey games played by the Ottawa 67's, as well as for "mid-sized music and cultural events."

Adding market-rate housing on top of the structure could help pay for it, and would bring more residents to the site who would be more likely to spend their money at the shops and restaurants at Lansdowne, the report added.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lansdowne-survival-new-north-side-stands-arena-1.6080375

[rocketphish]

How bad is the arena at Lansdowne Park? Sports facility expert paints an ugly picture
During a finance and economic development committee meeting on Tuesday, the mayor and other high-ranking councillors will decide if there should be another wave of redevelopment at Lansdowne.

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jul 05, 2021 • 1 hour ago • 4 minute read

Hockey fans and concertgoers probably don’t need a fancy analysis by a U.S. expert to know that the aging arena at Lansdowne Park has reached “functional obsolescence.”

But sports facility experts at Rossetti (the same firm that helped design the Canadian Tire Centre) took a deep dive into the layout and structural capabilities of the arena and north-side grandstand at the request of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group so the city can understand how outdated the structure is.

The November 2019 report is part of a bundle of information recently released ahead of a finance and economic development committee meeting on Tuesday, when the mayor and other high-ranking councillors will decide if there should be another wave of redevelopment at Lansdowne.

Tearing down the arena and north-side stands before building the structures anew is the city’s favoured option for responding to a rundown structure that can’t compete in today’s entertainment market. The city wants to make sure no taxpayer money will fund the rebuild, so it’s eying the potential of selling development rights above the new structure to fund the project.

The Rossetti analysis of the arena paints a picture of a sports complex with few redeeming qualities, concluding that the facility is “antiquated in the realm of its relationship to its surrounding neighbourhood and potential contribution as valued communal asset.”

While old hockey “barns” are often celebrated for their old-timey charms, with their lingering smells of popcorn topping and Zamboni fumes, fans will know the Lansdowne arena is behind the times of modern sports venues.

The north stands and the Civic Centre, which became the Arena at TD Place in the OSEG era at Lansdowne, date back to 1967. They make up one big building.

OSEG operates TD Place and owns the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League in addition to the Ottawa Redblacks Canadian Football League club. The arena is also a key concert venue for touring acts that don’t require an 18,000-seat indoor facility.

Somewhat paradoxically, the old arena is both too cramped and too bloated to be considered a credible entertainment complex.

If people feel squished in the main concourse compared to other arenas, it’s because the modern benchmark is to allow at least four or 4.5 square feet of space per person in that area. The main concourse at the Lansdowne arena provides 3.2 square feet per person, according to Rossetti’s analysis.

Feel a bit cramped climbing the steps to your seat? That’s justified, too.

The review discovered that the aisles are just under one metre wide, but the current building code says the aisles should have a 1.1-metre width.

There are 45 fewer accessible wheelchair-accessible spots than what the building code calls for in a facility like the Lansdowne arena — the north stands for football also have a deficiency in accessible spots. And the only elevator doesn’t provide access to every floor.

The arena misses the premium seating, like box seats, often desired by corporate customers. The suites are condemned because of they don’t comply with building codes and the Rossetti report suggests it’s not worth trying to remediate all the problems. One of the main reasons why a Memorial Cup major-junior hockey championship tournament wouldn’t be held at Lansdowne again is because of the state of the arena suites, the report says.

Keeping water out of the arena also seems to be an ongoing struggle. The leaks are so bad that maintenance crews have to replace ceiling tiles before every event, the report says.

The structure’s inability to handle heavy weights is impacting the spectator experience, too. Hanging a scoreboard above centre ice can’t happen because of load limits, which also prevent some concert setups.

The arena can feel too cold because of maxed-out mechanical systems. There are no dehumidifying systems, leading to challenges in maintaining high-quality ice. When the heating and cooling system is on, it’s so loud that it plays havoc with the sound during concerts, Rossetti learned.

There’s also a huge imbalance in the number of toilets: There are 85 “fixtures” for men, but only 25 for women, with no universal washrooms. The building code minimum for the arena is 34 each for men and women, the report says.

Hockey players might also be longing for some better digs. When it comes to the 67s’ locker room, the Rossetti report notes that “multiple toilets, grooming areas, drying areas and multiple sinks would be required to make it meet expected standards.”

A new arena, if council pursues that option, would likely be much smaller than the current one, which can hold 9,500 for hockey and 10,585 for concerts. Rossetti believes capacity of 5,500 for hockey and 6,600 for concerts are the winning sizes for those uses in the Ottawa market.

Deciding those design details probably won’t come until next year. First, council needs to decide if it should pursue a complete swap-out of the complex as part of a larger Lansdowne “revitalization.”

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...s-facility-expert-paints-an-ugly-picture

[rocketphish]

Finance committee hears calls to curb police budget in approving 3% tax increase, endorses Lansdowne 'revitalization'

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jul 06, 2021 • 4 minutes ago • 4 minute read


<snip>

Lansdowne Park should receive more improvements, committee says

The committee agreed with staff that the city should work with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to come up with plans and cost estimates for a “revitalization” of Lansdowne Park and report back to council in the first quarter of 2022.

The work would include the cost implications of replacing the north-side stands of the football stadium and the arena. The city-owned structure dates back to 1967 and is out of date.

The analysis would look at adding a residential building, potentially with some affordable housing, and using the “air rights” revenue as a way to cover construction costs of the new stands and arena.

The scrutiny of the city and OSEG will extend across the Lansdowne property to see how the site can be improved. The city would also examine how it can make the urban park better.

The city says it needs to spend $675,000 for its share of the study on the revitalization, plus $200,000 for a public engagement strategy.

The committee heard deputations from residents and the tourism industry, all acknowledging shortfalls with today’s offerings at Lansdowne.

Glebe resident Sheila Vaselenak said Lansdowne didn’t attract different types of users, observing that events usually happen in the evening. It’s a “ghost town” during the day and “party central” at night, Vaselenak said.

Mark Monahan, producer of Bluesfest and the Lansdowne-hosted CityFolk Festival, supported establishing a new 5,000-seat arena since the current Civic Centre “is not attractive to put shows in there.” He also called for major improvements to Aberdeen Pavilion because the historic building isn’t usable for extended events — the building doesn’t have heating or air conditioning.

Council will consider the recommendations on July 21.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...crease-endorses-lansdowne-revitalization