Ottawa

Lebretton Flats makes very little sense to me. There is no infrastructure there, and with the current (and near to medium future) transit plans, it would only be served by buses. If people are going to drive there you will need a huge parking lot, and Melnyk's proposed location already has the largest parking lot in Eastern Ontario ready and waiting.

I like the idea of the baseball stadium area, but there is not enough empty land around there, certainly not for the four or five soccer pitch complex that Melnyk is proposing. You cant beat a location in the suburbs just off the main highway, with an established parking lot.

I think that is the smartest thing O'Brien has ever said as mayor. I never thought Kanata was a great location, but I'd take it there if that's what it takes to get MLS into Ottawa.

Lebreton Flats has the space, is central to the entire city (unlike Kanata), has a lot of room for parking (unlike Bank Street), and is in the heart of the transitway (unlike either location). It doesn't have the restaurants yet, but Preston St. and Somerset aren't far away either. It would also speed up the beautification of the area, something that is sorely needed. It has great access to Quebec, and isn't far away from the Queensway.

slightly off topic, but welcome to all the new guys I've seen from Ottawa who have joined up in the past month.

Obviously Lebreton is perferable, great site for any stadium especially with LRT going there. Baseball stadium is a big c*cktease of the location, right off the Queensway but no space for parking,etc etc..... but both these locations just aren't in the cards for this though.

A four part series exploring the Ottawa bid:
Part 1: Can it work
http://24thminute.blogspot.com/2009/02/ottawa-to-mls-part-1-but-can-it-work.html
Part 2: What’s in it for MLS
http://24thminute.blogspot.com/2009/02/ottawa-to-mls-part-2-whats-in-it-for.html
Part 3: Football Vs. Football
http://24thminute.blogspot.com/2009/02/mls-in-ottawa-part-3-football-vs.html
Part 4: What’s going to happen
http://24thminute.blogspot.com/2009/02/ottawa-to-mls-conclusion-whats-going-to.html

It just doesn't make sense that the two sides can't agree on one site for one stadium for both sports. It seems frustrating

x2. I think it's starting to hit home that Ottawa might actually have a shot at this thing, and the local soccer community is starting to take note. It's great to see.

Anyway, Lebreton Flats would be ideal:

- Downtown: check. Plus, just a stroll from Gatineau (Hull) accross the bridge;
- Mass transit: check. Right on the Transitway, with future light rail (2 lines);
- Parking: meh. No room for a big lot, but plenty of small lots already scattered around downtown.

In an perfect world, Scotiabank Place would have been built there.

BTW, I think O'Brien was probably referring to the snow dump by Bayview station on the eastern side of the Flats, which would put it Hintonburg. Still very central, in a neigbourood that's on the upswing.

That said, the battle lines have been drawn, and just as it was with the Senators, it looks like it's Kanata or bust.

This Melnyk guy seems like a nice dude!

I have been following this bid from the beginning but only just yesterday have become active on this board with the recent developments of this bid, and I think it is getting others in Ottawa more excited as well.

I totally agree with you that Lebreton is an excellent site for a stadium, but is has potential for many other things as well. There are so many options open when it comes to development of the land at Lebreton. I think that larry O'brien's mentioning of Lebreton flats is just a ploy to delay the MLS bid because the stadium would be so far out.

I really hope that city council sees through the ploys of the CFL bid and realizes the urgency behind the MLS bid and approves the stadium, because this could be very good for Ottawa.

Toronto's FAN590 Soccer Show includes an interview with Cyril Leeder of the Ottawa bid

5min50sec it starts the segment.

http://www.fan590.com/onair/soccer/media.jsp?content=20090212_211918_9936

The CFL deadline is March 18, but all deadlines are flexible and the CFL have hinted that it could be pushed back if there were signs of progress.

In the Ottawa Sun Today.

And out of the blue the CFL commissioner Mark Cohon was in town yesterday.

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Football/2009/02/13/8374621-sun.html

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Football/2009/02/13/8374621-sun.html

Btw, with all these new developments and the good amount of fans that they seem to have here, doesn't the Ottawa bid deserve its own sub-forum by now??? Certainly makes more sense than Milwaukee...

If anybody in Ottawa hears about any council discussions on MLS vs. CFL, please post the details here. I have e-mailed Larry O'Brien (Larry.OBrien@ottawa.ca) to ask, but have not had a reply yet. Thanks.

The Ottawa Sun is reporting today that the city will define the rules of the fight today "The city manager is expected to release today the process by which the proposals for a new stadium and outdoor concert facility will be evaluated."

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Football/2009/02/13/8374621-sun.html

"by keeping the football/soccer option open for Lansdowne, the Hunt group is taking the high ground against Melnyk's "pick one" stance."

This, along with the much more urban location (transit, etc.) is why I would vote for the Lansdowne option if I was on Ottawa council.

As both an MLS and CFL fan it's actually what I'd like to see. I realize a shared venue would be an imperfect solution but it would be so much better to get both teams than to have to pick one.

Is the red spot on the map the Bay Yards location?

also indicate the location of the downtown core (Parliament Bldg) please

I respect your opinion but I have never understood people who say it is easier to get to Landsdowne Park than ScotiaBank Place. I fully understand the appeal of Landsdowne if you live in the Glebe. It must be great to be able to walk to restaurants and bars before and after the game, and to walk to the game itself, but wherever you build a stadum the majority of people will have to travel to the game.

I live in the west-end of Ottawa, so obviously I find Kanata locations easy to get to, but it is also quicker for me to get to somewhere in the far east-end like Place D'Orleans shopping centre than it is to get to Landsdowne, because a few more junctions on the Queensway are always quicker than fighting my way down Bank Street, which is crowded and slow even when there is nothing happening at Landsdowne Park.

I also live in the west-end (Pinecrest area), well Scotia is easy to get to you'd never hear me say something as silly as it's quicker to get to Place D'Orleans then Landsdowne. I would suggest not trying to fight your way down Bank next time

So we finally hear something from Bob Lenarduzzi after months of silence.

I can see Greg Kerfoot nervously pacing the floor this morning:

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2009/02/13/8374416-sun.html

OMG did you see the monster they have as "SUNshine girl" today?

Careful, she might hear.... and eat you.

woof

The only thing good about it is she is from Toronto!

It would be good to get another rivalry with Toronto going!