Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.
The Ottawa Senators-led group planning a new arena at LeBreton Flats has tapped a consulting firm to lobby the provincial and federal governments on the project — including hoped-for discussions with the province on “arena eligibility for infrastructure financing and other government programs.”
The lobbyist registries for both governments list StrategyCorp Inc. as having been hired by Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI) to engage various government departments.
CSDI is a corporate entity led by the Senators team and an arm of the Senators Sports & Entertainment organization associated with the new arena project.
Last August, CSDI inked a deal with the National Capital Commission for the purchase and sale of land parcels totalling approximately 4.5 hectares at LeBreton Flats.
The Ottawa Citizen first reported the news Monday of StrategyCorp’s retention.
In an emailed statement to Radio-Canada, the franchise said StrategyCorp has been asked to keep the government informed about the project and its intended benefits.
Team owner Michael Andlauer told Sportsnet on Monday that the hiring of StrategyGroup is about keeping governments aware of the project “and the economic impact and where the opportunities lie.”
“There’s been no discussions about any type of funding,” he said.
Moshe Lander, a sports business expert at Concordia University in Montreal, said it’s difficult to take Andlauer’s comment at face value.
“There’s no stadium that’s being built these days that’s entirely with private money,” Lander said.
“Calgary just recently secured a downtown arena deal that involves a tremendous amount of public funds. That’s the way things go. The rare exception is in Toronto or Montreal.”
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said in 2023 he’s “not a fan” of putting city money into an arena, but that it depends on many factors.
Talk on ‘infrastructure financing’
Entries on the federal government’s lobbyist registry list several StrategyCorp lobbyists on the new arena file.
“Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI) is engaging with the federal government on a plan to revitalize downtown Ottawa with a world-class mixed-use event centre and entertainment district at LeBreton Flats as the catalyst,” reads the “details” section of those listings.
A panoply of government agencies and departments including Finance Canada are listed as the government institutions being targeted.
Some of those same StrategyCorp lobbyists are also listed on the provincial lobbyist registry as actively lobbying various provincial departments and ministries about the arena project.
They list discussions with government regarding “arena eligibility for infrastructure financing and other government programs” as their goal.
WATCH | Why the Sens say they hired a lobbying firm:
Why did the Sens hire a lobbying firm?
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer says the team is looking to keep governments updated on the plans for a new arena.
‘Not a good political position’
Governments are already under a lot pressure for health-care and education funding, said François Brouard, a Carleton University professor specializing in accounting and taxation.
Asked about the feasibility of either government providing money for the project, he said: “For the arena, I think that’s probably not a good political position.”
CSDI is proposing to build a new Sens arena at LeBreton Flats that would see the team move from its current home at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata. The new arena would also serve as a larger events venue.
Also planned are a new pedestrian and cycling bridge in the Preston corridor, and a mixed-use development. The project would be located on Albert Street, between City Centre Avenue and east of Preston Street.
