How an end to the Senators ownership saga affects the city, team and arena

The Ottawa Senators havean agreement in principle with a new owner and observers say they're excited about what this could meanfor the future of the team, the city and a possible new arena.

The franchiseannounced Michael Andlauer's group as the successful bidder on Tuesday after months of speculation, celebrity interestand rumours of tense bidding wars.His ownership still has to be finalized at an undetermined date.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffesaid he sent Andlauera message of congratulationsand expects to have a more fulsome conversation with him in thecomingdays.

"This is somebody who wants to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in our city and sees huge potential here. I think that's very validating and exciting for our city," Sutcliffe said.

Senators defencemanand alternate captainThomas Chabotsaid he's happy to see the end of what's been "a long process" to determine the team's new owner.

"It's pretty amazing. It's something special for the entire team and the entire city of Ottawa and I think a lot of positive will come out of that," said Chabot.

Part of the conversation, of course, will be where the team will play its games in the long term and the possibilityof a new downtown arena.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) met with several prospective buyers of the Sensearlier this year to discuss the possibility of leasingland at Lebreton Flats. This agreement in principle comes about a year after a memorandum of understanding to move there.

The NCC did not confirm whether it had met with Andlauer but said in a statement"we look forward to working with Mr. Andlauer and his partners on a lease agreement for a future major events centre at LeBreton Flats."

The push to move the team downtown has been ongoing for several years, but Kanata-Carleton Liberal MPand former area city councillorJenna Suddsbelieves the team can still excel at itscurrent Kanata home, the Canadian Tire Centre.

"Obviously I'd love to see the team stay in Kanata. Obviously that's where my heart is and I know it means a lot to my constituents," said Sudds.

Quiet owner of other teams

As for the future of the teamitself, Sutcliffe said he's confident Andlauer is the right person to lead the team to victory.

"Michael Andlauer is a guy who wants to win the Stanley Cup. He told me that when I met with him. So he's a hockey guy, he's going to invest in the team and I think we're going to see a winning team going forward," saidSutcliffe.

WATCH | Ottawa's mayor on the new owner:

Andlauer's winning bid 'great for the City of Ottawa,' Sutcliffe says

1 year ago

Duration 0:54

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said Michael Andlauer, currently a minority owner of the Montreal Canadiens and owner of the Brantford Bulldogs, wants to invest in Ottawa and knows how the hockey business works.

Andlauerhas been a minority owner of the Montreal Canadienssince 2009 and owns the Brantford Bulldogs junior hockey team, whichhe bought and moved from Bellevilleto Hamilton in 2015.

The Malhotra family of Ottawa-based developer Claridge Homes and Jeff York, former CEO and current partnerof the Farm Boy grocery chain, are also part of the ownership group, according to sources with knowledge of the bid.

Moshe Landerwith the department of economics atConcordia University in Montreal said the new owner has been "rather invisible" in his other hockey ventures, so it's unlikely Andlauerwill be directly involved in hockey operations.

Lander said "that's probably a good thing" to see an owner trust hockey operations staff to run a team.

WATCH | What happens next after the agreement:

Andlauer's first priority should be new arena for Sens, economist says

1 year ago

Duration 0:41

Moshe Lander with the Department of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal said, while it might take some time to see Michael Andlauer's influence on the ice, he can "deliver a quick win" for Ottawa Senators fans off the ice with a new arena.

While Andlauer could bring in new hires to run the team, Lander said it's unlikely to happen quickly.

That means sticking with a plan for theNHL draft in two weeksthat outgoing ownership has already set in motion, he said.