Senators Announce Franchise for Sale; Club Must Remain in Ottawa

After rumors about a potential sale, the Ottawa Senators have officially been put on the market.

Senators Sports & Entertainment released a statement on Friday announcing the NHL franchise is for sale, with the condition that a sale requires the franchise to remain in Ottawa.

Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico reported earlier this week that Senators ownership retained Galatioto Sports Partners to initiate a sale.

Per Ian Mendes of The Athletic, there are "multiple" groups that have shown a willingness to purchase the franchise to keep them in Ottawa.

Mendes also noted potential buyers are "extremely interested in the prospect of a downtown arena at LeBreton Flats."

The Senators reached an agreement with the National Capital Commission and a group of partners in June for a plot of land in LeBreton Flats with the hope of building a new arena.

Anthony LeBlanc, Senators president of business operations, told reporters in September the franchise hopes to follow the blueprint set by the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.

"They’ve done a remarkable job on a small square footage area, which is going to be our challenge," LeBlanc said of the Seattle arena. "It’s a tight site. I wish we had the 27 acres they have in Edmonton, but we don’t. Rogers Arena blew me away by their sheer size. Seattle was a much tighter bowl, which is what we’re leaning towards."

Eugene Melnyk, who died in March at the age of 62, originally purchased the Senators and their arena in August 2003. The franchise is currently owned by his estate.

Ottawa was awarded an NHL franchise in December 1990, with the 1992-93 campaign being its inaugural season.

During Melnyk's ownership tenure, the Senators made the playoffs nine times and won one division title. The franchise's only Stanley Cup Final appearance came during the 2006-07 season.