Melnyk is leading the RendezVous LeBreton Group, which is proposing a concept called IlluminNation LeBreton that has an 18,000-seat arena as its main feature. There would also be an adjacent open square that could accommodate 28,000 people, a two-rink practice facility and a 250,000-square foot multi-purpose recreational facility. The proposal would also include retail space (2.8 million square feet) and five neighborhoods with 4,400 residential units.
The other group, Devcore Canderel DLS, is backed by Andre Demarais of Power Corporation and Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque de Soleil, among others. It is also proposing a state-of-the-art arena and an aquarium along with retail and residential spaces.
However, Melnyk said he is wondering what hockey team is going to play in the group's building. If his competitors won the bid, Melnyk said he would not consider selling them the Senators, nor would he consider having the Senators play in a building owned by someone else.
"I have no idea what they're doing," Melnyk said in an interview on TSN 1200. "I haven't talked to them. I don't have any intention of selling the team at any price. That's not just talk. They'll find out in the first meeting. I'll be glad to meet with the guys if they're buying lunch. Why not? They're nice people. They want to get into the hockey market. We're in the hockey market.
"We want to win this. I think we will win this."
Daniel Peritz, vice-president of Canderel, said the Devcore Canderel DLS group wants the Senators to play in its building if it has the winning bid.
"We firmly believe the Senators should be downtown," Peritz said. "We'll welcome all forms of discussions with the current owners of the Senators."
Melnyk said the profits that would be generated by the retail and residential parts of his proposal would be invested in the Senators and would be critical to keeping the team competitive.
"We need more than just ticket revenue and sponsorship and that kind of stuff to be able to compete with the big markets. It's as simple as that," Melnyk said.
"[Renting the building from someone else] is a non-starter for a couple of reasons. One is the other revenues from the whole site get plowed into the Senators. I don't need this project for myself. I need it to make a success and my benchmark for success is winning a Stanley Cup. We're 13 years in and I haven't won a Stanley Cup yet. I think Ottawa deserves it. I want them to win. I want us to win and I want my name on the Cup, why not?"
Melnyk said no taxpayers' money would be involved in his proposal.
Senators president Cyril Leeder said if the RendezVous LeBreton bid is accepted, the team could be playing downtown as soon as 2021.
"The timing is not as important as getting the plan right," he said.
He said the construction of a light rail system in Ottawa, which would include two stops at LeBreton Flats, makes the timing right for the Senators to consider moving downtown.
"It's going to change the way people get around the city and you want to have your team and arena on that [light rail] line," he said.
The Senators celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of Canadian Tire Centre on Jan. 15. It is located 16 miles west of downtown.
Leeder said the Senators would have to invest "seven figures" in refurbishing Canadian Tire Centre within the next 10 years, which also makes a move downtown to a new arena an attractive option.
Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki, who grew up in the shadow of Canadian Tire Centre, said he was in favor of a move.
"I think it would be great for downtown. I'm all for it if it's going to pump energy and a bit of a life, sports wise, into the downtown area," he said. "Every city we pretty much go to has a rink downtown and it's always a great atmosphere. I think it would definitely be good for Ottawa."
He did have one reservation, however: "I just bought a nice house out in the west end. That's just the way she goes, right?"
