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Listen on Lansdowne – Metro US

Listen on Lansdowne

Motions coming to city council tomorrow could see the city enter into a sole-source partnership with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to redevelop Lansdowne Park, but proponents of that stadium plan are not celebrating just yet.

“I would have liked to have had some sense from councillors where they stood,” said Roger Greenberg, chairman and CEO of Minto Developments Inc., speaking on behalf of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) after yesterday’s joint meeting of the city finance and planning committees.

“We’ll all have to be patient and wait and hope that council will emerge from the debate Wednesday with a clear direction.”

More than 50 public delegations addressed councillors during the 12-hour meeting, including OSEG and Ottawa Senators Sports and Entertainment (SSE) chief operating officer Cyril Leeder.

The motions would set a number of conditions on any developments at the park including a 60-day negotiation deadline, no housing component or big box stores and a guarantee that the city’s contribution not exceed an amount that would increase the overall cost to the taxpayer.

There is also a motion to work with SSE to help it secure a Major League Soccer franchise, but Leeder interpreted the events of the meeting to indicate that a Kanata stadium is not the preferred option.

Leeder said he would have to discuss with Senators owner Eugene Melnyk before taking their next step.