The National Capital Commission (NCC) says plans for a new Ottawa Senators arena at LeBreton Flats are moving forward without delay, though team officials caution that significant infrastructure and engineering work remains before construction can begin.

Speaking after an NCC board of directors meeting on Jan. 22, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum provided an optimistic update on the major events centre, which is set to anchor the redevelopment of the historic site west of Parliament Hill.

“After the agreement of purchase and sale was signed last summer, talks have continued to help the (Ottawa) Senators get to a place where they can move towards shovels in the ground,” Nussbaum told reporters, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. “There aren’t any obstacles that are stopping us or delaying us from moving forward at the pace that we anticipate.”

The NCC and Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI), the Senators’ development arm, finalized a land purchase agreement in August 2025. Since then, the focus has shifted to the complex design and engineering required for the site.

Nussbaum emphasized the commission’s high expectations for the facility’s architectural significance.