In their return to the NHL, the Ottawa Senators have undoubtedly seen their fair share of highs and lows. One contentious decision was building their NHL rink in the little town of Kanata, which is located on the outskirts of Ottawa. Given the distance to the rink and traffic delays, many fans have little motivation to attend games.
The NHL anticipates that a considerably shorter journey to the arena will enhance the atmosphere as the majority of NHL rinks are located in the downtown areas of their respective towns. Having gone to many Ottawa games in the past, building a new arena downtown is much more practical.