A thread so we can follow the adventures of city hall trying to sort out which stadium bid they will be backing...
CFRA online poll today (www.cfra.com) as to where you want the stadium; results so far (11:20PM, 16 feb 2009) : Kanata....... 43,3% Lansdowne. 39,3% Neither....... 11,9% Other......... 5,3%
Did the "Bring the World to Ottawa" group send out an email to vote in this? If so, I didn't get one; if not, it's surprising that CFRA nation would be leaning towards the Kanata stadium. CFRA used to broadcast Rough Rider games.
Boy this just seem to get more twisty every day. Reading todays aticle in the Ottawa Sun, if the Melnyk gets a new MLS team will be the down fall of the Ottawa 67's. http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2009/02/17/8413836-sun.html These guys really don't want to play togather and can be the downfall of both bids.
I know that the Glebe Community Association sent out an email about the poll, but they did not recommend one option or another - they merely said that there was an online poll
I would really hate to see the 67's play out of scotiabank place, but I would really like to see the stadium in Kanata. Is there no way that they can preserve the civic center when demolishing Frank Clair stadium? It seem as though the CFL group has more weapons in its arsenal than Melnyk, if this argument holds up there is no way that the councilors will vote for a stadium that will force the 67's out of Ottawa.
I don't actually know what the Kanata proposal has going for it right now - in particular I think that there is an overwhelming preference to have a stadium downtown. The only negative with Lansdowne is the awful proposed development surrounding the stadium (and I cannot emphasize enough how much I hate the idea of an AQUARIUM in the Cattle Castle, instead of the Farmer's Market) Does anyone think City Hall should be taking a tough line - saying that there is no public money for anyone unless they play nice and work out a stadium that will satisfy both groups? Surely they can find some way to agree on who gets the correct cut of the $10 beers and $8 hot dogs... It is ludicrous to think of puting a single dollar into a brand new stadium that would only do half the job (hopefully) required of it.
There is no way it makes economic sense for Melnyk to put an MLS franchise in a stadium he doesn't control. No matter how much people may want it, MLS is coming to Kanata or it is not coming to Ottawa.
From my understanding the farmers market would be part of the new project.The probleam with the city saying there is not public money is they would have to do that with other groups such as arts etc.So no i can't see them saying this to these 2 groups.What i think may happen is they could approve both projects.
But his plan is for the stadium to be owned by the City so he would not control the stadium regardless. Where he sees his profit, no doubt, will be in the underutilised parking surrounding the stadium. And the pubs and bars he wants to put out there. And in some sweetheart lease that he will then "renegotiate" with the city in 3 years (because if he leaves, the city woul be stuck with a white elephant a la Lynx Stadium) If your statement is true, then I suspect that the MLS is not coming to Ottawa. I think, in any event, a good comparable is the proposed Concert Hall, for which the City was going to put forth $6 Million. Both Melnyk and Hunt want over $30 Million - can anyone see the city giving money to BOTH of them? I am not trying to be a downer, just realistic. Besides, I think we know that in this city, nothing ever gets done
Some things do get done if you have someone with enough drive pushing. People doubted that Ottawa would ever get an NHL franchise and a state of the art arena, but we have the Senators and Scotiabank Place. If anyone can bring MLS to Ottawa, I think Eugene Melnyk can.
I thnk the city will look long term yes its 30 million not but what the make long term is what should be the factor.Take the senators for exzampe they bring in about $20-40 million a year.This will give the city more case to do other things such as giving more to the arts etc.To be honest this city has enough concert hall type venues.
In the end, the decision will be made for what is best for the city. A soccer specific stadium in Kanata right next to Scotia Bank place? Soccer has been growing in Canada and there would be a natural rivalry with Toronto FC. The field they want to use is just a snow dump, and all the roads getting there are already to be used. The parking would be excellent and the plan calls to make this area a Hub of entertainement Or A multipurpose stadium at Lansdowne. Football has a long history in Ottawa and also the largest amateur youth football association in Canada is in Ottawa. The Junior Hockey team would also benefit from a revamped arena and an advantage is being right downtown Ottawa. If I were a city councilor, thinking of what is best for Ottawa for the next 30 years... I would actually vote for both. They both make sense.
The four of us should just meet for a drink... it seems to be our debate here! Anyway, we shall see what comes out of the staff report this Thursday.
I was just going to reply that we are never going to get both, but maybe I was too quick. The best chance of getting MLS seems to be to come up with a plan that does allow MLS, CFL and the 67's to thrive. Hmmm, it's a lot easier to say than to achieve, but worth some thought.
You got love it when a Councillor doesn't want a new staduim in their backyard. Councillor pleads for reopening of design competition http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2009/02/17/8421686.html
You know, you look at Carleton in google Earth, and you can see instantly where they are thinking, right on Dows Lake, with the O-Train right there... I think it has potential. Lots of parking at Carleton, 5 minutes from the Queensway, right on Bronson...
You do realize that Melnyk didn't create the Senators or the building. He bought them both dirt cheap from bankruptcy.
Of course, and I think Melnyk is more likely to achieve his goals than Firestone and the rest, and of course Cyril Leader was part of both groups!
Based on what? Having Cyril Leader in his corner? The original group, with Leader as a main player, didn't have all their capital lined up when they applied for an NHL franchise. They only got in because they said yup to John Zeigler's asinine demands, and it almost did them in. The only talent Eugene Melnyk seems to have is in writing a cheque, which it seems is all that matters to Don Garber and MLS, soccer culture and tradition be damned. Sorry, but I don't see Melnyk as the right type of person for MLS or soccer in Canada. He seems to suffer penis envy.
Melnyk has one thing going for him... Flair. He came up with MLS out of the blue and everyone thought this was not serious. Ottawa never had a great soccer history... You went on the net and Ottawa was absent. Now Ottawa is all over the place. All these people involved in soccer came in and made Ottawa a viable alternative. So far that, he deserves kuddos... He does have the ability to gather people who otherwise would not come together.
They said yup to what the NHL asked for and today we have the Senators. Other groups in the mix, Hamilton I think didn't say yup and where is their NHL team today? Sound anything like Montreal's now defunct MLS bid? If you listen to Melnyk talk I think he has a good understanding of soccer culture and tradition. And why would you add that last comment? What does that add to a discussion of soccer?
This smacks of desperation to me. I mean, Lansdowne Live launched their proposal back in October, and they wait until now to suggest that the 67's future depends on it? If Hunt was really worried about his hockey team, why didn't he mention it from the beginning?