NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had planned to go to the Canadian Tire Center on Monday night to watch the game between the Senators and the Florida Panthers.
His meeting with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and representatives of the National Capital Commission (NCC) was only a “courtesy visit,” he said.
After spending the day at City Hall and reviewing the proposed site for a potential new downtown arena (LeBreton Flats), Bettman met with the media and offered very little information on the sale of the franchise. of the NHL. He contented himself with saying that there are around half a dozen candidates still in the running to buy the club.
“I would say that both meetings were very constructive in getting to know each other better and making sure the lines of communication are open,” Bettman said.
He described the franchise sales process as “solid” and said the level of interest expressed was “significant”. Bettman added that it would take another six weeks to finalize the sale, with final approval expected in mid-summer.
“I hope that once the lawyers have done the necessary with the winning group, whoever it is, and we have gone through the league approval process, we should complete the process at the beginning or in the middle. of the summer,” he said.
“Just to be clear, and I’ve said this many times, if the team has to move, the only move allowed will be downtown. The Senators will not leave Ottawa. »
The number of potential bidders and their intentions have been the subject of much speculation, but Bettman has repeatedly said the number is around six, and it will be up to the new ownership group to decide where the team will play. in the Ottawa region.
“I don’t direct the process. We follow the process and we are not pressed for time. The goal is to get it right and if it takes a little longer, it will take a little longer. It’s not a race,” Bettman said.
Mr. Sutcliffe has publicly reiterated that he is not in favor of using taxpayers’ money to fund any private arena.
“It’s still too early to know who will own the team and what their plans are. The team could also stay here (in their current location), and build where the parking lot is, and then tear down that building, as many sports franchises have done,” Sutcliffe said.
“There are other sites in Ottawa if the new owners decide LeBreton Flats isn’t for them or if they can’t reach an agreement with the NCC.
“There are a lot of options and it’s healthy for us to look at it that way. However, I have always said, and my position has not changed, that I was not in favor of the City of Ottawa writing a check for tens or hundreds of millions of dollars for a private arena . It’s not something I support, but at the same time I only have one voice on city council and there are many different ways things could go. »