OSEG promises to keep Redblacks, 67's here until 2032

The Ottawa Redblacks and 67's are here to stay or at least until 2032, according to the business group that owns the teams that play at TD Place at LansdownePark.

Roger Greenberg, the frontman for the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), responded Monday to a lettersent by Mayor Jim Watson last week asking for aguarantee that the sports teams would stay in Ottawa an additional decade.

In its 30-year dealwith the city, OSEGhad initially promised to keep the football and hockey teams at the stadium until 2022.

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In addition to owning the teams and operating the stadium, OSEGalso runs the commercial sector at Lansdowne, which has been struggling to attractenough foot traffic,losing$11 million last year alone.

The pandemic has renderedthe financial situation at Lansdowneeven more dire, and last month OSEGaskedto extend itspartnership with the city for an additional 10 yearsto 2054, in order to give it more time to recoup some of its losses.

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Members of the finance and economic development committee (FEDCO)approved the changes to the partnership, but the contentious issueis set to go to full council Wednesday.

In his letter to the mayor and Coun. Mathieu Fleury,who co-authored the letter to OSEGin his role as sports commissioner,Greenberg said that if OSEGgets the help it needs from the city, the group will guarantee to keep its teams here longer.

"I'm happy to confirm that if the measures recommended by FEDCO to ensure OSEG's survival and protect the city from risk are approved by city council, we will extend our commitment that both teams will continue operations for an additional ten-years," Greenberg wrote.

"It is also our intention for the teams to continue playing on for many decades beyond that.

It's unclear how OSEG can guarantee the teams' survival over the next 12 years. No one at OSEG was available for immediate comment.