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Lansdowne aLive? – Metro US

Lansdowne aLive?

The proposed stadium development at Lansdowne Park got a slight edge over the Kanata proposal in a city staff report released yesterday, but both proposals could still collapse under the weight of a $100-million price tag for public funding.

The proposal to redevelop Lansdowne Park received a score of 80 per cent according to the evaluation process while the proposal for a Kanata stadium received 70 per cent, with the city staff ranking the Senators Sports and Entertainment business plan “below expectation.”

Both plans call for $100 million in public spending, but that funding could balloon depending on each scenario.

If the city went with a stadium in Kanata, demolished the one at Lansdowne Park and built a new OHL arena, it could cost $300 million over the next 30 years.

Maintaining the status quo, however, would cost around $24 million over the next 10 years.

While fixing Lansdowne Park is a priority, funding for a new stadium would likely take away from rapid transit projects and replacing sewer infrastructure, said Mayor Larry O’Brien.

“It’s hard to compare those two priority items with an outdoor sports facility,” he said. “As mayor of the city, my first priority is fixing the structures we currently have, but I’m not saying that the Senators proposal won’t be part of the long-term solution.”

SSE chief operating officer Cyril Leeder called the evaluation disappointing.

“The disappointing part from our part is that we’ve been at this a while and we still haven’t had anyone step forward and say this is a good idea from the city’s end,” he said.

Minto Developments chairman and CEO Roger Greenberg was pleased that Lansdowne Live! ranked higher, but he wished the report was more definitive in moving forward.

“Let’s get going,” he said. “We’re not too keen on more studies.”

Capital Ward Coun. Clive Doucet called the economics for the proposal “really bad.”

“It’s $120 million just to rebuild the stadium. Then we hand the whole thing over to the private sector, which should be able to run it at a profit for at least 10 to 15 years with a brand new build. Then as it’s approaching renovation time, guess who gets it back? It’s a bad deal all around.”