Save Lansdowne Park Page

In the centre of the city of Ottawa lies approximately 43 acres of undeveloped land, bordering on the famous Rideau Canal. Located on this property are several heritage buildings, along with a 10,000 seat hockey arena and a 30,000 seat outdoor sports stadium, suitable for football, soccer, field hockey and other sporting events.

City government is, at present, entering into a contract with private business, to develop this unique sports, entertainment and green space. The plans include demolition of the outdoor stadium, and a "redesign" of the arena that would shrink its capacity to about 5,000 seats. In their place, the developer wishes to build a commercial building. On the 19 acres of greenspace still left at the site, the developer plans on erecting 660 houses.

The city has repeated said that the chief reason behind their desire to enter into this business arrangement with the developer is to bring about an end to what they say are years of losses incurred by Lansdowne Park and Frank Clair Stadium. Yet, at no time have they considered plans to have a private company operate the facilities. The city claims that the Lansdowne Park facilities are scarcely being used. Below is a table showing just how many people used the facilities for 1997. As you can see, more than 1.7 million people used the facilities in 1997. Scarcely used indeed.

Activity	Arena	Exhibition Hall	Coliseum	Aberdeen	Sprung	Stadium
Consumer shows	49,766	127,781	105,066	112,932	12,200	----
Trade shows	14,050	23,800	2,500	14,000	----	----
Stage shows	62,364	----	----	----	----	16,500
Commercial sports	164,915	3,000	----	3,000	----	8,000
CCEA*	603,970	----	----	----	----	----
Community sports	12,280	----	30,400	----	22,800	4,470
Other/misc.	48,200	51,450	4,000	13,100	3,600	----
TOTAL	955,545	206,031	141,966	143,032	38,600	28,970

* Central Canada Exhibition Association


Imagine what sort of numbers Lansdowne Park would host if the city would actually market the facilities, instead of trying to tear them down.

A group of citizen of Ottawa have banded together to try and get the facts out to their fellow citizens, in hopes that a better solution than tearing down and overdeveloping some of the last Ottawa greenspace can be arrived at.

Please check these pages frequently, as more facts about Lansdowne Park and the proposed development are posted here. Soon, we'll have EMail addresses and phone numbers of contact people, if you should decide that you want to help us Save Lansdowne Park.

Thank you for your time and encouragement.

Additions and corrections are gratefully appreciated. You can EMail them to the Webmaster.



Copyright 1998 Mirroreyes Internet Services Corporation on behalf of the Save Our Lansdowne Park association.

Created: November 12, 1998.


Back to Internet Home Sales