Lansdowne Live group seeks soccer franchise

A group pushing its redevelopment plan for Lansdowne Park isshooting for a professional soccer team to help fill its proposed new stadium.

The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group announced Tuesday that it is applying fora United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) franchise.

The team wouldplay at a new sports venue tobe built atthepark in central Ottawaas part of the group's Lansdowne Live proposal.

The bid is being made in partnership with John Pugh, owner of the Ottawa Fury soccer club, whose players compete in the USL's lower-level divisions. USL-1 is considered one division below Major League Soccer.

"From a business standpoint, professional soccer is a tremendous asset for the stadium," said Jeff Hunt, owner of the Ottawa 67's Ontario Hockey League team and a member of the Lansdowne Live group, in a statement Tuesday.

"Our application for a USL franchise, at this point in time, ensures that soccer-specific elements will be incorporated into the stadium design to optimize the experience for soccer fans and players."

The Lansdowne Live group has already been awarded a Canadian Football League franchise conditional on reaching a stadium agreement with the City of Ottawa.

2nd group to seek soccer franchise

Its revised proposal was scheduled to be reviewed by city council Wednesday.

The original plan included an updated football and soccer stadium, a refurbished arena and exhibition hall, an aquarium and a retail and restaurant complex. The group is promising $130 million in private financing.

It is the second time in the past year that an Ottawa business group has applied for a professional soccer franchise.

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk applied for an MLS expansion franchise in the fall. He proposed that the team would play at a new $110-million stadium near Scotiabank Place, the Senators' home in Kanata.

However, he had still not managed to secure the land and partial funding from the city to build the stadium during the bid process, and the MLS awarded its new 2011 expansion teams to Vancouver and Portland earlier this year.

Vancouver and Montreal,which also originally made an MLS bid, both already have USL-1 teams.

The most recentpush to redevelop Lansdowne Park began after cracks were found in the lower southside stands of Frank Clair Stadium, which hadsupported thousands of fans during thesold-out FIFA U-20 World Cup soccer games just months before. The stands were later demolished.