OSEG wants to take over city-run side of Lansdowne

Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group has made a pitch to expand its roleat Lansdowneand take over the city-run urban park, butthe local councillor fears public space will be commercialized ifthat happens.

OSEGalready runsTD Place stadium and arena, owns the three sports teams housed there, and managescommercial leases at Lansdowne.

But in a report released Friday, city manager Steve Kanellakos now endorseshanding over the operation ofthe urban park, too.

That would include taking over thejob ofbooking events for the Aberdeen Pavilion, the Horticulture Building, the Great Lawn and the outdoor plaza, where the Ottawa Farmers' Market is held a job currentlydone by city parks staff.

• What do you want to see at Lansdowne Park?

"[OSEG] believes this will help enhance the Lansdowne community and visitor experience as a regional gathering place and sports and entertainment venue, and help to increase the annual attendance on the site from 4 million to approximately 5 million," staff write of theproposal, which they received Sept. 24.

The public would do well by having a single contact for Lansdowne, staff add, noting thatOSEG promises to keepcommitments to community programming.

Lansdowne is a tremendous public asset, and yetthecityseemseager to turn itallover to a private entity.- Coun. Shawn Menard

They recommend council allow the general manager of facilities,Dan Chenier, to holdpublic consultations and start negotiating with OSEG. One goal would be to eliminateoperational expenses to free up money to repair the Aberdeen Pavilion.

OSEG said it would not comment until Nov. 5, when its proposal goes before the finance and economic development committee.

Menardfears commercialization

The councillor for the area,Shawn Menard, is wary.

"Lansdowne is a tremendous public asset, and yetthecityseemseager to turn itallover to a private entity, whose primary objective is to make profit, with little public oversight or scrutiny," Menardsaid in a statement.

No business plan has been presented, Menard wrote, and no consultation has taken place.If council were to transfer operationsto OSEG, it would be a "acommercialization ofthe remainingpublic spaceat Lansdowne," he added.

Menard doesn't even think there's been an issue coordinating events between the two parts of Lansdowne.

From from January 2018 to March 2019, Lansdowne held 98 free events including movie nights and a pumpkin derby which drew 28,000 people. The city alsomade $425,000 by renting space for private events.

Lansdowne reboot

Last spring, OSEG officials promised city hall they would come up with ideasfor makingLansdowne a draw beyond Ottawa Redblacks or Ottawa 67's game days.

For instance, Lansdowne will host a European-style Christmas market at the outdoor plaza thisholiday season, and the plaza will get a new stage for performances and big-screen gatherings.

• Lansdowne rethink could include new north stands, canal access

OSEGhad raised expensiveideas like rebuilding the north-side stands at TD Place or talking with the National Capital Commission about opening up Lansdowne to better face the Rideau Canal, but any major capital projects appear to be a discussion for a later date.

15-month net loss

The staff report also gives a snapshot of the financial status of the Lansdownepartnership. It postednet loss of $12.7 millionfrom January 2018 to March 2019.

It's difficultto compare those results to the $7.9 million net loss of 2017 the year TD Place hosted the Grey Cupbecause the latest figures reflect a change in OSEG'sfiscal calendar.

Staff suggest revenues from its partnership with OSEG have grown by $2 million year over year, when the Grey Cup boost is set aside. The retail area is 98 per centleased.

Thecommunity associations for the Glebe, Old Ottawa South and Old Ottawa East are holding a public meeting at the Horticulture Building on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in order to discuss OSEG's proposal.