Senators placed on NHL watch list - the story continues

sandysensfan wrote:

Hoags wrote:Maybe I am wrong but I got the impression that most (if not all) the councilors got feedback that the majority of people don't want a casino in this city at all(CLL is fine) and if we must have a casino then just expand RCR.

If Watson & co. got a flood of letters and phone calls demanding a casino at CTC or at least an open bidding process then I am sure they would do so if they want any chance at re-election.

Maybe in the beginning.. but I don't think that is true now.

Watson needs a Casino at RCR so it can fund the harness racing and save that site along with the farmers whose livelihood depends on that being still around.

As I have mentioned before... since March 2013 the slots can't provide financing to the harness racing... only a Casino.

That's why the rush to get the tables in the designate RCR as a Casino...

Until then your guess is as good as mine as to where the funds are coming from to keep the harness racing going.  I have a pretty good idea... and I don't think Watson would ever want to say so publically..

SeawaySensFan wrote:

sandysensfan wrote:

Hoags wrote:Maybe I am wrong but I got the impression that most (if not all) the councilors got feedback that the majority of people don't want a casino in this city at all(CLL is fine) and if we must have a casino then just expand RCR.

If Watson & co. got a flood of letters and phone calls demanding a casino at CTC or at least an open bidding process then I am sure they would do so if they want any chance at re-election.

Maybe in the beginning.. but I don't think that is true now.

Watson needs a Casino at RCR so it can fund the harness racing and save that site along with the farmers whose livelihood depends on that being still around.

As I have mentioned before... since March 2013 the slots can't provide financing to the harness racing... only a Casino.

That's why the rush to get the tables in the designate RCR as a Casino...

Until then your guess is as good as mine as to where the funds are coming from to keep the harness racing going.  I have a pretty good idea... and I don't think Watson would ever want to say so publically..

La Cosa Nostra?!?!?   

wprager wrote:Must be a week since we've heard anything Melnyk-related from Yost.  He's been rehabilitated?

sandysensfan wrote:

wprager wrote:Must be a week since we've heard anything Melnyk-related from Yost.  He's been rehabilitated?

Maybe scared off?

The battle between Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Mayor Jim Watson is heating up.

Senators president Cyril Leeder informed the city by email last week he is resigning from the 2017 task force (put together to celebrate Ottawa's 150th anniversary) and the Ottawa Convention Centre Board.

He also left the National Arts Centre Communications Committee and the Ottawa Tourism and Development Committee.

Watson was informed by letter last Friday that in light of the recent decisions by council, Leeder needs to focus on the business of the organization.

Sources told the Sun the Senators told the city "they would never do anything to disrupt their extensive activities involving children, just reallocating resources.

"When an organization pumps $200 million a year into the economy of a city the size of Ottawa, is responsible for thousand and thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and then donates millions annually to charity - then gets slapped in the face for all of that effort? Mr. Watson probably broke the proverbial camel's back," said a source.

Leeder said in a letter to the city he had no choice but to resign because the club requires his full attention.

The Sun has asked Watson's office for comment.

Melnyk has said all along he was not looking for preferential treatment in the process to select a location for a new casino in Ottawa, but wanted to be seriously considered by council. Instead, council in favour of keeping gaming at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Melnyk's $500 million proposal includes 300,000 sq. ft. of retail, 800 hotel rooms, 900 residential units, an amphitheatre, additional ice pads plus parking spaces moved underground and in parkades.

Melnyk has said his casino proposal was part of his development plan to make the Senators profitable. He said the club loses approximately $10 million annually.

One senior council member who warned colleagues about freezing out Melnyk from the casino process said she's sorry to hear Leeder is resigning from the boards.

"It's disappointing but not altogether surprising," Gloucester-Soutgate Coun. Diane Deans said.

Leeder is well-liked around City Hall. He's the face of the Sens organization at 110 Laurier Ave. and many councillors have spoke favourably about their working relationship with him.

wprager wrote:Just when you thought it was over:

http://m.ottawasun.com/2013/09/09/senators-escalate-battle-with-city-hall

The battle between Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Mayor Jim Watson is heating up.

Senators president Cyril Leeder informed the city by email last week he is resigning from the 2017 task force (put together to celebrate Ottawa's 150th anniversary) and the Ottawa Convention Centre Board.

He also left the National Arts Centre Communications Committee and the Ottawa Tourism and Development Committee.

Watson was informed by letter last Friday that in light of the recent decisions by council, Leeder needs to focus on the business of the organization.

Sources told the Sun the Senators told the city "they would never do anything to disrupt their extensive activities involving children, just reallocating resources.

"When an organization pumps $200 million a year into the economy of a city the size of Ottawa, is responsible for thousand and thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and then donates millions annually to charity - then gets slapped in the face for all of that effort? Mr. Watson probably broke the proverbial camel's back," said a source.

Leeder said in a letter to the city he had no choice but to resign because the club requires his full attention.

The Sun has asked Watson's office for comment.

Melnyk has said all along he was not looking for preferential treatment in the process to select a location for a new casino in Ottawa, but wanted to be seriously considered by council. Instead, council in favour of keeping gaming at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Melnyk's $500 million proposal includes 300,000 sq. ft. of retail, 800 hotel rooms, 900 residential units, an amphitheatre, additional ice pads plus parking spaces moved underground and in parkades.

Melnyk has said his casino proposal was part of his development plan to make the Senators profitable. He said the club loses approximately $10 million annually.

One senior council member who warned colleagues about freezing out Melnyk from the casino process said she's sorry to hear Leeder is resigning from the boards.

"It's disappointing but not altogether surprising," Gloucester-Soutgate Coun. Diane Deans said.

Leeder is well-liked around City Hall. He's the face of the Sens organization at 110 Laurier Ave. and many councillors have spoke favourably about their working relationship with him.

wprager wrote:Watson could have also grown some balls and told the Finance minister to p*$$ off about not having two casinos -- what jurisdiction does he have at the municipal level?  Why can Winnipeg (population 664K versus Ottawa's 884K -- that's excluding Gatineau) have two?  Or Edmonton (817K) with six?

I'm actually not in favor of any but, surely, Watson could have pointed to those two examples.

sandysensfan wrote:

wprager wrote:Watson could have also grown some balls and told the Finance minister to p*$$ off about not having two casinos -- what jurisdiction does he have at the municipal level?  Why can Winnipeg (population 664K versus Ottawa's 884K -- that's excluding Gatineau) have two?  Or Edmonton (817K) with six?

I'm actually not in favor of any but, surely, Watson could have pointed to those two examples.

IF the City would have done it's due diligence in doing some research on the Casino.

Maybe the Casino could be located at CTC but still be able to financially support the Raceway.  Then Council could have repaired some of the damage to the relationship with Melnyk and the Sens and Watson could have saved his racetrack.  Maybe they could have made a deal with OLG to have the tables at RCR on a temporary basis to fund the racetrack while Melnyk built the new Casino.

This whole process speaks of a rush job or total incompetence.

Speaking on the Sportsnet Radio The Fan 590 in Toronto Tuesday night, the Senators owner told the station he’s just “getting warmed up” in his fight to get a fair bid to get a casino and fired darts at Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

“The Mayor,” said Melnyk. “I don’t know what planet he has flown in from ... His deputy mayor Steve Desroches says in a big big meeting, ‘There’s too much competition in the world right now.’

“I said, ‘You know what, they should have named Neptune after you because that’s where you belong. What did you just say. Tell me again how you got elected.’ At the end of the day, it’s all going to come out. You can’t get away with that.”

Asked if the place is a dump, Melnyk said: “I wouldn’t go there without an army.”

Melnyk maintained Rideau Carleton “is a little tiny ‘C’ track that wouldn’t even make it in the Idaho State fair.”

NEELY wrote:It's a joke what they are doing to RCR, nothing much else to say.

Hoags wrote:http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/09/10/sens-owner-fires-shots-at-mayor-jim-watson-and-rideau-carleton-raceway-during-toronto-radio-chat''

Speaking on the Sportsnet Radio The Fan 590 in Toronto Tuesday night, the Senators owner told the station he’s just “getting warmed up” in his fight to get a fair bid to get a casino and fired darts at Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

“The Mayor,” said Melnyk. “I don’t know what planet he has flown in from ... His deputy mayor Steve Desroches says in a big big meeting, ‘There’s too much competition in the world right now.’

“I said, ‘You know what, they should have named Neptune after you because that’s where you belong. What did you just say. Tell me again how you got elected.’ At the end of the day, it’s all going to come out. You can’t get away with that.”

Asked if the place is a dump, Melnyk said: “I wouldn’t go there without an army.”

Melnyk maintained Rideau Carleton “is a little tiny ‘C’ track that wouldn’t even make it in the Idaho State fair.”

Looks like the battle is on