Can Ottawa sustain two sports districts?

Good morning! 

I am not a lover of sports, but in this town, many people are. Since I was a kid, I’ve only seen that fan base grow, especially since the Ottawa RedBlacks and then Ottawa Charge were formed. And it is great to see. A Capital city should be rich with sports teams. 

You read a lot here in the Lookout about ambitious developments taking place, and right now two are in the works: A new Sens arena at LeBreton Flats and Lansdowne 2.0. But the two sites are located only an eight-minute drive from each other — 4.8 kilometres to be exact — and that raises the question of how a city of a million could support two sports and entertainment districts. In today’s insider story, experts weigh in. 

Let’s get to it.

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor, [email protected], X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 27 🌡️ 17 | 🌤️

Thursday: 33 🌡️ 23 | 🌤️

Friday: 29 🌡️ 17 | 🌤️

DEVELOPMENT

Ottawa’s Dual Venue Gamble: Can Lansdowne 2.0 and LeBreton Arena Coexist Without Cannibalizing Each Other?

By Kate Chappell

Over a decade from now, after seemingly endless negotiations are complete and contracts are signed, LeBreton Flats will likely be the site of an NHL arena and home of the Ottawa Senators. That means a downtown buzzing with hockey fans and concert-goers, lively restaurants and a busy transit system moving people in and out of Ottawa’s core. For many sports fans, residents and businesspeople in the city, this is an exciting prospect. 

But as the city prepares to launch the $419-million Lansdowne 2.0, what could it mean for this entertainment facility? With a new event centre and north side stands planned, will the two recreational facilities be in direct competition with one another? Or could they complement one another and build on Ottawa’s ability to host events and remind residents that fun isn’t forgotten here?

Related stories

• The cost of building Lansdowne: Can the city support two sports and entertainment districts?

• Lansdowne 2.0 looks to save pennies by scaling back

SPONSORED BY FRANCESCO CAMPANILE PSYCHOTHERAPY

Ottawa Psychoanalytic Group Therapy

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The group is led by Francesco Campanile, a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) at the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario experienced in interpersonal psychoanalysis.

If this resonates with you, visit our website for details and book an intake session here.

THE OTTAWA NUMBER

13

🛟 We’re halfway through National Drowning Prevention Week, and Ottawa Fire Services is calling attention to the particularly dangerous Deschênes Rapids, just downstream from Britannia Beach, where firefighters have already responded to more than a dozen emergency calls in 2025. Last year in total, in the same spot, there were 15 rescues. Read more. [CBC]

THE AGENDA

🛒 It’s the end of an era for the Westgate Shopping Centre, which is closing in October. The mall, which was Ottawa’s first when it opened in 1955, has seen a decline in recent years. Original plans for the site were to build six high-rise towers, but it’s believed those plans have been reduced. River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington said it’s his understanding that a much-needed grocery store will open there. Read more. [Kitchissippi Times]

🥫 Albert and Lyon is getting a Food Basics and Redditors are jazzed. See the thread. [Reddit]

💰 While we’re talking about police, Ottawa police are asking residents and stakeholders to provide input on their 2026 budget. The 2025 Budget Consultation Survey opened yesterday and will close on August 5, 2025. Read more. [Ottawa Police Services]

🚲 A section of Sweetnam Drive in Stittsville was closed Tuesday evening after a cyclist was hit by a car. The cyclist was taken to hospital in critical condition. Read more. [CBC]

👮 A Gatineau man who was arrested in Montreal with 40kg of cocaine in his car was re-arrested a week later in Gatineau when police raided several homes connected to the first incident. Simon-Didier Perron faces a series of firearms and drug trafficking-related charges. Read more. [CTV]

HOME OF THE WEEK

Everyone wants a little slice of tranquillity over in Chelsea, right?

Described as a private retreat, this almost 3,000 sq ft of living space has five bedrooms, four bedrooms and of course a hot tub. The outdoor area really is something else, with a patio and deck that is out of a dream.

How much will this little big slice of paradise set you back?

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

SPONSORED BY ENVIROCENTRE

Award-winning local climate action

EnviroCentre has received the Largest Contributor to Carbon Reduction award from Green Communities Canada, recognizing the highest GHG reductions across the network in 2024. With deep thanks to our team, partners, and community, we helped reduce over 3,500 tonnes of CO₂e—the equivalent of planting 57,000 trees and letting them grow for a decade. As Ottawa advances its climate goals, this award highlights what can be achieved with practical, local action.

DEVELOPMENT

A look inside Ottawa's desperate push for transit-oriented development

Ottawa is set to grow by 400,000 residents over the next few decades. To meet that demand, development is popping up around transit stations

Read the story

DEOTTAWA ARTS GUIDE SPONSORED BY OTTAWA CHAMBERFEST

Performance

We’re closing out Chamberfest with a stellar lineup you won’t want to miss! Pianist Illia Ovcharenko joins Ironwood Quartet for a powerful night of Ukrainian and German Romantic works, Montréal Guitare Trio lights up the stage with cinematic flair, and trumpet star Jens Lindemann leads a tribute to Oscar Peterson and more. It’s five final days of unforgettable music – get your tickets while they last! [Sponsored]

NAC’s Music on the Canal continues this month. The Lionyls will perform on July 26 at this free event along the canal at 6:30 pm. They showcase a mix of rock, soul, funk, and R&B. 

In the first of two comedy shows we’re highlighting, Comedy Culture Club, come see Aseem the comedian, hosted by Ottawa’s own influencer, Reggie Cash, on Aug. 30. 

Over at Yuk Yuks, you can catch The Jewish Comedy Show with Mikey Greenblatt, who’s made a name for himself down south, on Aug. 18. 

Art

Ever wanted to learn how to draw? Art House has multiple Life Drawing events for all skill levels who are looking to learn more drawing skills. 

Two shows caught our attention over at the National Art Gallery. Over at the library and archives, art historian John O’Brian is exhibiting his collection of atomic era ephemera from the nuclear age. And Joyce Wieland has a vignette exhibition of lipstick/lip-synch prints. 

One show we haven’t featured that’s running over at the Ottawa Art Gallery is Grotto, a collection of artists donated to the gallery with a focus on Ottawa’s queer community. 

Movies 

Two films that are getting a lot of positive reviews lately are Sorry Baby, the breakout Sundance screenplay award winner about a woman before and after trauma, plus Ari Aster’s Eddington, which tackles the surreal experience of COVID. Catch them both at ByTowne Cinema all week long. 

Music

The Lazys hit The 27 Club on 24 July. This hard‑rock Aussie trio delivers high‑voltage riffs and gritty swagger. Tickets  $39. 

Primary Colours performs for free at the NAC on 26 July. The Ottawa‑born electro‑acoustic jazz trio weaves compelling grooves and lush improvisation along the Rideau Canal. Free Show.

Banggz headlines Club SAW on 26 July. The electronic artist brings Afro‑fused rhythm, soulful vocals, and dancefloor-ready beats to kick off the Side by Side Weekend festival. Tickets $50+.

Naghmeh and Uñas Escondidas come to the Art House Café on 26 July. These two multi-lingual female-fronted indie-folk acts blend powerful voices and poetic storytelling. Tickets $10.

Irish Millie plays Irene’s Pub on 27 July. The fiddle prodigy mixes East Coast, bluegrass, and contemporary folk with vibrant energy and multiple Canadian Folk Music Award nods. Tickets  $20.

Listings for music shows are provided by Ottawa Gigs, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

ON THIS DAY

July 23, 1955: Controller Donaldson suggested that a tunnel be built under the Ottawa River instead of another interprovincial bridge. He said it could be located at the foot of King Edward and Cumberland Streets. The comptroller also had a few reasons why it was more practical to go underground: inaccessibility in the event of an air raid, lower maintenance costs, and safety. 

July 23, 1963: Threats of a tax increase loomed when the city got a financial “kick in the face” over the cost of the future Queensway Highway getting built. Instead of $31,250,000, the cross-town throughway was expected to come in between $46 million and $47 million.   

July 23, 1973: Four firemen were injured while fighting a seven-hour blaze near Bank Street and Hopewell Avenue. The fire destroyed five apartments and three businesses in the Old Ottawa South community, leaving eight people homeless.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 5 Days of Chamberfest Left – Don’t Miss Out! Illia Ovcharenko, Montréal Guitare Trio, and a grand Oscar Peterson finale await. Grab your tickets now! [Sponsored]

• The Shore Club and Zoe’s have been chosen as two of Canada’s top 50 restaurants located in hotels by travel companies KAYAK and OpenTable. [CityNews]

• Looking for some great East Coast food? This place out in Manotick has you covered.

• This young man is slinging some popular ice cream over in Hintonburg [Ottawa Citizen]

• A new tour is available for residents and visitors to learn about Black History in Ottawa. [CBC]

• A new web application has launched to help people find trails that are accessible to them in and around the City of Ottawa. [CBC]

OTTAWA GUESSER