NCC hopes to finalize deal with Senators for LeBreton Flats arena by end of 2025

The NCC says it aims to finalize its deal with the Ottawa Senators for a new arena at LeBreton Flats by the end of 2025. CTV's Natalie van Rooy reports.

The head of the National Capital Commission (NCC) hopes a deal is finalized with the Ottawa Senators by the end of 2025 to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats.

NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum provided an update on negotiations with the Senators to reporters following the NCC’s Board of Director’s meeting Thursday morning and planned to provide an update to board members during an in-camera session in the afternoon.

Nussbaum says both sides are engaged as talks continue and the two parties are keen on continuing the negotiations to finalize a deal.

In September, the Senators and the National Capital Commission announced an agreement in principle had been reached for the Senators to purchase just over 10 acres of land to build a new NHL-sized arena. Under the deal, the Senators will pay fair market value for the land just west of downtown Ottawa.

Senators owner Michael Andlauer told TSN on Jan. 9 that he was “optimistic, but I’m cautious as well” in talks with the NCC.

“Like I said, I always want to do what’s in the best interest of the fans, and it’s got to be right for our fans,” Andlauer said in an interview during the Senators game against Buffalo.

“To be continued, but it’s a process. It takes longer than I’d like it to, unfortunately.”

TSN’s Claire Hanna asked Andlauer where the Senators are in that process with the NCC.

“The understanding is there; there were terms in our agreement that talked about fair market value, which I’m totally for, which I want – what’s fair,” Andlauer said.

“Let’s just hope the NCC doesn’t change the rules at the last second.”

Nussbaum told reporters the NCC will not be providing details on the negotiation process with the Senators to the media and the public.

The Senators have previously said the cost of a new arena would be in the range of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion.

The Senators and the NCC initially reached a memorandum of understanding in June 2022 to develop a new event centre along Albert Street, between Preston Street and City Centre Avenue. Andlauer and his group purchased the Senators and Canadian Tire Centre in September 2023, and the NCC extended the memorandum of understanding to September 2024 to allow for negotiations with the new ownership group.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Natalie van Rooy