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Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988
No doubt a downtown location would be sold out, regardless of how fickle Ottawa fans are.
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Don't be so sure. Landsdowne Park, while not downtown, is not far removed - and twice CFL teams folded in Ottawa from lack of fan support. The triple-A team, also not far removed from downtown, also folded from lack of fan support.
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Not sure whose idea it was building an arena where they did, but it was a major screw up.
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There is a long history about why the arena was put where it was.
Summary: original owners of Senators wanted to build an entire development around the arena. Anti-development and whiners complained to the Ontario zoning board that the river (Carp River) through the arena development was 'navigable' (ha, it's shallow enough to walk across and not get your knees wet) and the area should remain farmland. OMB agreed; arena was reduced in size, no extra development around arena area. So, arena gets built and remains a lone entity out in Kanata. In the meantime, Kanata grows, so does Stittsville and the area around the arena that is not owned by the Senators is developed.
A downtown arena might not necessarily solve the "commuting" issues. 1) The current suggested placement is on Lebreton Flats which will make for tough exits from the arena after events. The new "go nowhere" LRT line will go right by but for cars it will be ugly, especially for the neighbouhoods nearby that will never agree to road changes to aid traffic. 2) Ottawa is unique as the primary employer (federal government) has spread employment throughout the city - 45% of government employees work in the centre of the city: Tunney's Pasture and Place du Portage are the nearby government campuses that would make the arena location good. The remainder work outside the 'downtown' area. 3) The second largest employer in Ottawa is the tech sector which is actually headquartered in Kanata near the arena.