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- 2002-10-07
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Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk says it is “unjust” and “unfair” for Ottawa’s major daily newspaper to insinuate he doesn’t care about the city because he has yet to commit to another venue for an outdoor NHL game, a week after the federal government refused to have it on Parliament Hill.
Melnyk’s comments come in response to an editorial published Monday by the Citizen suggesting the Sens owner should endorse a plan to move the NHL outdoor game to TD Place at Lansdowne Park.
The outdoor game would mark Canada’s 150th anniversary, the NHL’s centennial and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.
In a two-page rebuke, Melnyk says while the federal government’s decision was “disappointing,” it’s not because of a “shortage of effort” on his part to try to make it happen.
“We rolled up our sleeves and worked hard to support an effort to bring this vision to reality and invested hundreds of hours of collective work over 18 long months with a singular focus to bring the grandest game of all time to Canadians.”
“It would have been a worldwide event that would have put all eyes on Canada – and our capital. That is what I wanted for Ottawa and all Canadian hockey fans,” Melnyk said.
The Citizen’s editorial board wrote Monday:
“As originally conceived, the game would have been played before about 6,000 fans, just like the first NHL game here. That would have been fun. However, it wouldn’t have been the 35,000-seat cash cow that the NHL and Senators owner Eugene Melnyk preferred.
“Mayor Jim Watson is working to get the Senators to support a game at TD Place. Melnyk hasn’t rushed to endorse the move, but he should,” the editorial board said, adding that “A smart businessman says yes to a good deal. This is a good deal.”
In his response, Melnyk said: “And so it seems, rather than applaud our attempts to do something spectacular for Ottawa and our hockey loving nation, your editors would rather point a finger of blame – squarely on the Senators and me.”
“The blame and criticism is quite honestly difficult to endure as it unfairly suggests I don’t care about the city, nor do enough to support it. Really?”
Melnyck points to the numerous community initiatives he has supported over the years in an effort to bring in national and international events and his recent efforts to move the Senators arena downtown.
He also says an outdoor game is “not a ‘cash cow,’ as the Citizen suggested.
“I take all this on because I know how important this NHL team is to the economic and social fabric of the city,” Melnyck said.
“It is unjust, unfair and misrepresents everything that my ownership and the Senators mean to this city.”
Melnyk does not say whether he would support moving the NHL game to TD place, saying there are multiple considerations at stake.
“As the owner of Senators, I have an inherent responsibility to ensure that all decisions made are in the best interests of not just hockey fans and people of Ottawa, but also in the short and long-term interests of the Senators organization.”
smas@postmedia.com
twitter.com/susanamas
查看原文...
Melnyk’s comments come in response to an editorial published Monday by the Citizen suggesting the Sens owner should endorse a plan to move the NHL outdoor game to TD Place at Lansdowne Park.
The outdoor game would mark Canada’s 150th anniversary, the NHL’s centennial and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.
In a two-page rebuke, Melnyk says while the federal government’s decision was “disappointing,” it’s not because of a “shortage of effort” on his part to try to make it happen.
“We rolled up our sleeves and worked hard to support an effort to bring this vision to reality and invested hundreds of hours of collective work over 18 long months with a singular focus to bring the grandest game of all time to Canadians.”
“It would have been a worldwide event that would have put all eyes on Canada – and our capital. That is what I wanted for Ottawa and all Canadian hockey fans,” Melnyk said.
The Citizen’s editorial board wrote Monday:
“As originally conceived, the game would have been played before about 6,000 fans, just like the first NHL game here. That would have been fun. However, it wouldn’t have been the 35,000-seat cash cow that the NHL and Senators owner Eugene Melnyk preferred.
“Mayor Jim Watson is working to get the Senators to support a game at TD Place. Melnyk hasn’t rushed to endorse the move, but he should,” the editorial board said, adding that “A smart businessman says yes to a good deal. This is a good deal.”
In his response, Melnyk said: “And so it seems, rather than applaud our attempts to do something spectacular for Ottawa and our hockey loving nation, your editors would rather point a finger of blame – squarely on the Senators and me.”
“The blame and criticism is quite honestly difficult to endure as it unfairly suggests I don’t care about the city, nor do enough to support it. Really?”
Melnyck points to the numerous community initiatives he has supported over the years in an effort to bring in national and international events and his recent efforts to move the Senators arena downtown.
He also says an outdoor game is “not a ‘cash cow,’ as the Citizen suggested.
“I take all this on because I know how important this NHL team is to the economic and social fabric of the city,” Melnyck said.
“It is unjust, unfair and misrepresents everything that my ownership and the Senators mean to this city.”
Melnyk does not say whether he would support moving the NHL game to TD place, saying there are multiple considerations at stake.
“As the owner of Senators, I have an inherent responsibility to ensure that all decisions made are in the best interests of not just hockey fans and people of Ottawa, but also in the short and long-term interests of the Senators organization.”
smas@postmedia.com
twitter.com/susanamas
查看原文...
