Odds Long On Ottawa

By Richard Starnes Ottawa Citizen

Eugene Melnyk is planning to build a “world-class” stadium in Ottawa.

The Senators owner will reveal details on Tuesday at the same time as officially launching his bid to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the city.

The stadium must seat at least 20,000 and be soccer-

specific. They are minimum requirements demanded of any group seeking an MLS franchise.

Senators Sports and Entertainment chief operating officer Cyril Leeder would not give any details on the stadium yesterday or provide a timeline. “But I can assure you we are very serious about the stadium and seeking an MLS franchise,” he said.

Leeder was part of the Bruce Firestone team that went chasing a National Hockey League franchise in the late 1980s. Much to the surprise of the hockey world, the Ottawa group landed the franchise in December 1990 and the Senators played their first game in October 1992.

“There were lots of skeptical people then and when these intentions were first revealed in September, there were skeptics,” Leeder said yesterday. “But in the same way as last time, we have a plan. We have been working quietly and extremely diligently on it and we are serious.”

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