LeBreton Flats DCDLS bid includes underground arena, 'Brewseum'

The group competing against the Ottawa Senators for the right to redevelop LeBreton Flats is backed by a pair of Quebec-based billionaires, and plans to build an underground,NHL-style arena, CBC News has learned.

DCDLS, led by Devcore Group, is competing against Rendez Vous LeBreton Group, led by Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, for the right to redevelop the 9.3 hectares of land just west of downtown Ottawa with the option of taking on an additional 12.3 hectares.

• Ottawa Senators sale a key factor in Lebreton Flats bid
• Senators won't play at arena built by competing bidder,Melnyk says
• Lebreton Flats redevelopment down to 2 proposals

CBC News has learnedDCDLSincludes billionaireAndrDesmarais,the son of the late PaulDesmarais, once the richest man in Quebec, whose estate was worth about $5.6 billion US in 2015.

Major players in the bidding process sayGuyLalibert, founder of Cirque duSoleil, alsobacks theDCDLSbid.

According to Forbes,Lalibert wasworth $2.1 billion US in 2015, and recently sold most of his shares in Cirque duSoleil.

DevcoreGroup also features Montreal-based developersBroccoliniandCanderel, construction firmPomerleau, plusthree architects RichardBrisbin, ClaudeProvencherandMoriyama&Teshima.

Both bids includea sports and entertainment centre and a new main public library, whilesources familiar with the DCDLS bid told CBC News that plan recentlyincluded the following:

• Central library/National Archives building up to 200,000 square feet.
• NHL-style arena almost entirely underground (two storeys above ground).
• Automotive museum.
• 'Brewseum' beer museumsponsored by Molson Coors Brewing Company.
• YMCA.
• Farm Boy.
• Skydiving simulator.
• Botanical garden/man-made beach.

LeBreton Flats plans revealed Tuesday

DCDLSplans to meet with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on Monday, justone day before presentations to the National Capital Commission, CBC News has also learned.

The two competing groups will present their bids to the NCC board of directors before public consultations on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Canadian War Museum a building coincidentally designed by one of the architectsinvolved withDCDLS.

Rendez Vous Lebreton Group also reportedly includes Windmill Developments, which is building the Zibi Development on the shores of the Ottawa River.

Rules stipulate neither group can reveal details of their plans to the public or any third partybefore the presentation to the NCC on Tuesday.

The NCC is expected to announce the successful bid in early 2017.

Below are recent projects built by members of the DCDLS bid.

• Saputo Stadium(Montreal Impact) by Broccolini.
• Casino du Lac-Leamyin Gatineau, Que.,by Pomerleau.
• Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Que., by Pomerleau.
• Export Development Canada headquarters in Ottawa by Broccolini and Canderel.
• Tour des Canadiens (sports-themed skyscraper) in Montreal by Canderel.
• Bell Canada campus in Montreal by Canderel.