Ottawa Senators to set up camp in Gatineau

Neighbouring NHL team, the Ottawa Senators, are looking to cross over the bridge and build a new home—or Sensplex in the Outaouais. So far, the idea is received with enthusiasm.

Djeneba Dosso

In pursuit of “ways to get closer to our supporters in Gatineau,” President of the Ottawa Senators Cyril Leeder says the hockey team is actively looking into the construction of a Sensplex somewhere in the Outaouais.

“The construction of a Sensplex is one of the ideas we are currently studying,” he said. An idea that the mayor of Gatineau has already welcomed with enthusiasm by scheduling a meeting to reach the Senators’ outstretched hand.

“When you have major partners like that, with whom we’ve done projects in the past that have benefitted citizens, [naturally] we’re very open,” Maude Marquis-Bissonnette commented.

Opening a new recreational sports facility equipped with Olympic-standard ice rinks, indoor and outdoor fields, dedicated rooms for meetings and events and restaurants and bars could generate major profit for the city. It would also allow Gatineau to become home to tournaments across various sports disciplines, positively improving tourism simultaneously.

However, to make money you must first spend some and one can only imagine the bill for this project will be steep. Naturally, seeing as this initiative is still on the drawing board, details such as financing and the possible location of this Sensplex are still up in the air.

Nonetheless, Gatineau’s mayor says possibilities are on the table.

Photo caption: The Ottawa Senators are looking to expand over the bridge and into Gatineau with the possible construction of a new Sensplex location. The NHL team already owns three Sensplex facilities on the outskirts of Ottawa (Bell, Richcraft and Cavanagh) in Stittsville, Gloucester and Kinburn respectively. Pictured is the Bell Sensplex. 

Photo credit: Courtesy of Sensplex.