Lease for new NHL arena still set to be signed by the fall, NCC says

The National Capital Commission has met with several prospective buyers of the Ottawa Senators hockey team, and still hopes to reach a deal this fall with new team owners to lease land at LeBreton Flats for a new arena.

The commission's board received a brief update at its meetingThursday about developments taking place at thatlarge site in Ottawa's core, including the parcel set aside along Albert Street for a major events centre.

Even as serious negotiations take place about the sale of the NHL team, the Senators-led Capital Sports Development Inc. is simultaneouslycontinuing its discussions with the NCC about the design of theLeBretonsite, board members heard.Capital Sportssigned a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the NCCin June 2022 to build an arena, before the team was put up for sale.

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Capital Sports hadalso asked the NCC to meet with various bidders to ensure a "smooth transition and working relationship with the new owners," the NCC's chief of planning and consultation for the LeBreton project, Laura Mueller, told the board.

Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, and land developer Chris Bratty of the Remington Group, visitedthe NCC's Elgin Street headquarters on March 30.

They aren't the only ones, but NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum declined to say exactly how many groups have had such talks.

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The MOUfrom last June does allow for flexibility regarding the size of the site dedicated to an arena, Nussbaum said, and he remains confident prospective owners want to build at LeBreton.

"We're certainly hearing a lot of interest from a lot of the groups that are short-listed in the process," said Nussbaum.