Not to be left out of all the MLS expansion talk and recent developments in other bid cities, Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk made a rare appearance at City Hall on Wednesday to remind city officials of his experience in establishing a healthy NHL franchise and basically guarantee that an MLS team would be successful under the "determination and fervor" of his management.
Melnyk's meeting with the council represented yet another attempt to pitch a proposed $110-million soccer-only stadium in Kanata that would mostly be funded by local government finances.
"I do not believe there is any other stadium model that could serve the community better and be as financially viable," said Melnyk, arguing that a MLS and a large outdoor stadium would bring in more consistent revenue than that of a proposed Canadian Football League franchise.