Senators unveil plans for new arena in downtown Kanata

by Mike Wheeler

Earlier today, Cyril Leeder, the president of Senators Sports & Entertainment, invited the media to a press conference promising to make an announcement about the team's home that "everyone has been waiting for for a very long time." Leeder, along with team owner Eugene Melnyk, announced that the final plans had been approved for a brand-new arena in downtown Kanata.

"The new arena is going to be right in the heart of downtown Kanata. Just in between the Tanger Outlets and Kanata Centrum Shopping Centre," Leeder continued. "The new building is going to reinvigorate nearby small, local businesses like Crazy Horse and Costco while giving the great city of Kanata the downtown arena it's been waiting for."

Leeder admitted that downtown Kanata wasn't the only area they considered for the construction of the new arena. "We carefully considered all of our options: Barrhaven, Nepean, Stittsville, we even looked into Orleans. In the end though, none of us wanted to relocate this team that has, throughout its history, been so strongly associated with one city: Kanata."

Melnyk then spoke and explained ways in which the move was beneficial to the Senators organization, "As soon as I found out that it's illegal to place bets against a team that you own, it became clear that having a newer, larger building that will attract more fans would be a viable way to generate revenue." Melnyk stood silently waiting for an applause that never came and then gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "I just want to thank you all for coming out today, and I also just want to tell Russia to get out of Ukraine. GO SENS GO!"