Federally indicted Mayor Eric Adams playfully compared himself to Hunter Biden on Tuesday, crowing that the president’s controversial pardon of his son proves the Department of Justice has become politicized. Like a political prop comic, Adams pulled a copy of the New York Times from his lectern during his weekly off-topic news conference to land his not-so-joking point. The Gray Lady’s front page included a line that President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now both agree the “ Biden Justice Department has been politicized .” “Does that sound familiar?” Adams facetiously asked reporters. “I rest my case.” A clearly emboldened Adams then launched into a boastful rant about his unprecedented criminal case’s supposed unfairness — and his lawyers’ directive to stay silent while the federal court process unfolds. Adams, who has pleaded not guilty, compared himself to Muhammad Ali’s classic “Esquire” cover depicting the boxer stuck with arrows. “I’m just a fighter,” he said. “I believe in fighting for my rights. And this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, the onslaught of this,” Adams continued. “And I have to remain silent and I can’t answer and defend myself. That’s the hardest thing.” Federal prosecutors contend Adams took bribes in the form of luxury travel perks and defrauded taxpayers out of $10 million in campaign matching funds. Many in Adams’ camp believe the election of Trump, who has vocally opined that the prosecution is political persecution for the mayor speaking out on migrants, will be a boon for his defense and help resurrect his floundering political career.
The Pittsburgh Steelers take on what is typically an unenviable task -- traveling on a short week for a Thursday night primetime game. However, a few things are playing in Pittsburgh's favor as Week 12 of the NFL regular season kicks off. Namely, the "trip" to Cleveland is a little more than two hours by road and when the Steelers arrive there, they'll be facing a backup quarterback at the helm of a massively underwhelming 2-8 Browns team. The Steelers (8-2) are coming off a huge win over Baltimore to stay atop the AFC North. And Pittsburgh is beginning to set its sights on potential home-field advantage come playoff time. ODDS AND TRENDS The Steelers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 80 percent of the spread-line money. Pittsburgh's -195 moneyline to simply win the game has been even more popular, drawing 95 percent of all money wagered. The Browns enter Thursday night having failed to cover the spread in nine of their past 12 games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have covered the spread in every game during their five-game win streak. The 37.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 65 percent of the money and 70 percent of the total bets. Each of Cleveland's past eight November home games has gone under the total points line. PROP PICKS --Steelers WR George Pickens Over 50 Receiving Yards (-195 at DraftKings): Russell Wilson has thrown six touchdowns in the four games since he took over as the starting quarterback. Two of those have gone to Pickens, who has at least 74 receiving yards in each of those games. There is some concern that Pittsburgh gains a big early lead and turns to a run-heavy attack, but Wilson throws an excellent deep ball and that plays into Pickens' strength. This is the most popular player prop at the book. --Steelers RB Najee Harris Anytime TD (+100 at BetRivers): That potential for a run-heavy approach should benefit Harris, who found the sledding tough against Baltimore with 63 yards on the ground. He was also held out of the end zone for the second time in three games. Keep in mind that Cleveland has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, but the Browns have allowed 12 through the air. Harris has a trio of scores on the ground and receiving through 10 games. KEY STAT The Browns have won the first quarter in five consecutive home games against the Steelers. THE NEWS The Steelers have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday. Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games. Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2). "It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'" Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries. INJURY REPORT The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session. Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and was ruled out by the Steelers along with cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring). THEY SAID IT Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself. "I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all. "I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that." PREDICTION Divisional road games on short weeks typically shape up as a daunting task. That's not the case for the Steelers, who will be hyper-focused to put this one out of reach early before enjoying 10 days ahead of a trip to Cleveland. With a second game against the Browns before a huge game at Philadelphia, this is not an under-manned opponent Pittsburgh will look past. --Steelers 27, Browns 19 This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
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Tests keep coming for Auburn and Duke, who collide at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a typical prove-it game in a rare environment on Wednesday night. No. 2 Auburn and No. 9 Duke square off less than one month into the season as two of the most battle-tested teams in basketball. They're matched as one of the marquee games in the crossover showcase known as the ACC-SEC Challenge. Auburn (7-0) jumped two spots in the latest Top 25 poll propelled by its Maui Invitational championship. In one of Feast Week's toughest brackets, the Tigers rallied from 18 points down to beat then-No. 4 Iowa State, handled then-No. 12 North Carolina 85-72 and rolled past Memphis 90-76 in the title game. With a week off to shed any remnants of jet lag returning from the islands, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl is pointing to another potential resume-building win. "The confidence that we're going to get from (Maui) is that we know we can play with anybody," Pearl said. "I promise you this, we'll stay humble and hungry. We will not begin to think too much of ourselves." Helping lead Auburn in Maui was fifth-year power forward Johni Broome. The tournament's MVP, Broome averaged 21.7 points, 15 rebounds, 4.3 assists and three blocks in the three-game sweep. Spearheading a veteran Tigers roster, Broome couldn't care less about individual honors. "I wanted to come to a place where the foundation was already built, and that's why I came to Auburn," Broome said. "Winning player of the year doesn't matter to me. I care about winning games, and making sure I can help my team in any way." Broome's 20.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game lead the Tigers, while Chad Baker-Mazara adds 12.6 ppg and Denver Jones chips in 11.1. Auburn's next roadblock is earning its first-ever win against Duke. The Tigers are 0-3 all-time against the Blue Devils, including a six-point loss in the 2018 Maui Invitational. Duke (5-2) has already been through three games against ranked opponents. The Blue Devils had a 77-72 loss against then-No. 19 Kentucky, a 14-point win at then-No. 17 Arizona and a 75-72 defeat against No. 1 Kansas last week in Las Vegas. "Best team we've played so far," Pearl said of Duke. Bouncing back on Friday, the Blue Devils took down Seattle 70-48, holding the Redhawks to just 10 made field goals on 47 attempts (21.3 percent). Despite the suffocating defensive effort, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer knows his team has a long way to go. "I wasn't really happy with much tonight, to be honest," Scheyer said on Friday. "I thought we rushed some shots, had too many turnovers. We need to finish stronger, drive stronger, make extra passes, there were a whole bunch of things. ... We just need to get back to practice. In fairness to our guys, we've been traveling a lot and we just need practice time." Pacing the Blue Devils in scoring is five-star freshman Cooper Flagg. He's averaging 15.9 points per game to go along with 8.3 rebounds. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel adds 13.4 points per contest. Far less seasoned raw freshman, big man Khaman Maluach has given Duke's interior defense an edge it was lacking last season. A projected lottery pick who can be overshadowed by the Flagg publicity train, Maluach (7-2, 248) is averaging 8.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and has two three-block games. In last year's inaugural ACC-SEC Challenge, Duke lost at Arkansas 80-75 and Auburn topped Virginia Tech 74-57. --Field Level MediaIRVINE, Calif., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inari Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: NARI) (“Inari”), a medical device company with a mission to treat and transform the lives of patients suffering from venous and other vascular diseases, announced today that on December 1, 2024, it received national reimbursement approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for its ClotTriever Thrombectomy System for DVT. This announcement follows the regulatory approval of the ClotTriever system by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in December 2023. Due to ClotTriever’s unique mechanism of action for complete, wall-to-wall thrombus removal in patients suffering from DVT, MHLW created a new functional category that is separate from other catheter-based therapies. This new functional category comes with a reimbursement premium based upon ClotTriever’s wealth of clinical data showing safety and efficacy in removing various types of thrombi. To facilitate commercialization of the ClotTriever system in Japan, Inari has entered into a distribution agreement with Medikit Co., Ltd., a market leading vascular medical device manufacturer serving Japan, the U.S. and over 30 other countries. With this new partnership, Inari plans to accelerate initiation of its 100-patient Post Market Surveillance study, followed by broader commercial expansion. “MHLW’s approval of reimbursement for ClotTriever under a newly designated functional category marks a transformative milestone for Inari in Japan,” said Drew Hykes, Chief Executive Officer of Inari. “This decision underscores the value of ClotTriever in addressing unmet clinical needs, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Medikit to bring this innovative solution to Japanese DVT patients, improving lives and advancing care in the near future. Over time, we look forward to bringing our broader portfolio of purpose-built tools to the Japanese market.” The ClotTriever system is 510(k)-cleared by U.S. FDA and CE-Marked for treatment of DVT. More than 75,000 procedures have been conducted with ClotTriever globally. Recently, two-year outcomes were reported from the 500-patient ClotTriever CLOUT Registry showing a strong safety profile, significant clot removal, and low rates of post-thrombotic syndrome.1,2,3 ClotTriever is the most studied thrombectomy device for DVT, including the ongoing Randomized Controlled Trial, DEFIANCE, comparing ClotTriever to anticoagulation alone for patients with DVT.4 About Inari Medical, Inc. Patients first. No small plans. Take care of each other. These are the guiding principles that form the ethos of Inari Medical. We are committed to improving lives in extraordinary ways by creating innovative solutions for both unmet and underserved health needs. In addition to our purpose-built solutions, we leverage our capabilities in education, clinical research, and program development to improve patient outcomes. We are passionate about our mission to establish our treatments as the standard of care for venous thromboembolism and four other targeted disease states. We are just getting started. Learn more at www.inarimedical.com and connect with us on LinkedIn , X (Twitter) , and Instagram . About Medikit Co., Ltd. Medikit Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, established in 1973, is a global medical device company and is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code: 7749). Medikit’s mission is to deliver the highest standards of excellence in operating as a health care company whose products and services help to enhance healthy life by minimizing unnecessary suffering and death from disease. Medikit is a market leader in Japan in interventional products, including vascular access devices such as hemodialysis catheters, intravenous catheters, sheaths, and guiding catheters. Medikit products are sold in Japan, the United States, and over 30 other countries. The company has sales, R&D, and manufacturing capabilities with more than 1,300 consolidated employees. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.medikit.co.jp . Investor Contact: Neil Bhalodkar IR@inarimedical.com 1 Bisharat, et al. One-Year Clinical Outcomes Following Mechanical Thrombectomy for Deep Vein Thrombosis: A CLOUT Registry Analysis. JSCAI. 2024. 2 Shaikh, et al. Six-Month Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy for Treating Deep Vein Thrombosis: Analysis from the 500-Patient CLOUT Registry. Cardiovasc Int Rad. 2023. 3 Dexter, D. Interim two-year outcomes from the fully enrolled CLOUT registry. Presented at AVF 2024 (Tampa, FL). 4 Abramowitz, et al. Rationale and Design of the DEFIANCE Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Anticoagulation Alone for Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis. American Heart Journal. doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2024.10.016
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WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning "things do change." Here's a look at some of the issues covered: Trump hems on whether trade penalties could raise prices Trump threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn't believe economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. an households won't be paying more as they shop. "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow," Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying that tariffs are "going to make us rich." He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. "All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field," Trump said. Trump suggests retribution for his opponents while claiming no interest in vengeance He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. "Honestly, they should go to jail," Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump's role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: "I have the absolute right. I'm the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I'm the president. But I'm not interested in that." At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. "Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee," Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, "No," and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. At another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. "I want her to do what she wants to do," he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, "I'm not looking to go back into the past." Swift action on immigration is coming Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. "I think you have to do it," he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end "birthright" citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — though such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and were shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, "I want to work something out," indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not "want to be breaking up families" of mixed legal status, "so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back." Trump commits to NATO, with conditions, and waffles on Putin and Ukraine Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he "absolutely" would remain in the alliance "if they pay their bills." Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies' commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated "fairly" on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin's invasion. "Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure," Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump called for an immediate cease-fire. Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged. "I haven't spoken to him recently," Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to "impede the negotiation." Trump says Powell is safe at the Fed, but not Wray at the FBI The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy, including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: "Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious" that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as Trump's pick for FBI chief, then "he's going to be taking somebody's place, right? Somebody is the man that you're talking about." Trump is absolute about Social Security, not so much on abortion and health insurance Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. "We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient," he said. He added that "we're not raising ages or any of that stuff." He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would "probably" not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, "Well, I commit. I mean, are — things do — things change. I think they change." Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had "concepts" of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called "lousy health care." He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for "better health care for less money."Saanich police are warning residents to stay vigilant as thieves and scammers will be out in full swing for the holiday season. When online shopping, the Saanch Police Department says to watch out for porch pirates and for those expecting deliveries to make sure to have a plan to safely receive them. Online shoppers are advised to watch for fraudsters posing as genuine sellers who post fake ads for items that do not exist. And for those heading to brick-and-mortar stores, shoppers should "never leave packages that can be seen in your vehicle. Make sure to lock them in your trunk," according to a news release. As giving is part of the holiday season for many, police urge donors to make sure they aren't donating to fake charities. "Charity/donation scams involve misleading or fraudulent solicitation for a donation to a charity, association, federation or religious cause. Refuse high-pressure requests for donations, ask for written information about the charity and do your own research. Remember to always ask for the charitable tax number and confirm their registration with the Canada Revenue Agency or by phone at 1-800-267-2384," noted the release. Additionally, gift exchange posts on social media feeds may seem like a fun activity where participants only have to send one gift and receive multiple in return, however, these exchanges often hide the fact that they are pyramid schemes, where only those at the top profit. "Holidays are a busy time for everyone. However, if you remember to slow down, take a breath, do a bit more research, or check in with someone you trust, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding fraud, and have a happier holiday," noted the release.
Patrick Fishburn leads at Sea Island as Joel Dahmen keeps alive hopes of keeping his jobNone
Share this Story : The Arena at TD Place, as it stands, is hosting its last big event - and that's good news for Ottawa Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Business Real Estate Entertainment Travel Ottawa Politics Sports Basketball Hockey Soccer The Arena at TD Place, as it stands, is hosting its last big event - and that's good news for Ottawa A celebration is in order, both for the storied building's 57-year past and the exciting future of its reincarnation a stone's throw from the current location. Author of the article: Don Brennan Published Dec 27, 2024 • Last updated 26 minutes ago • 8 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Renderings of Lansdowne 2.0, which will be the new home of the Ottawa 67's, Ottawa Charge and the Ottawa BlackJacks. It will also provide upgraded seating and added viewing points for the Ottawa Redblacks, as well as the Atletico Ottawa and the newly born Ottawa Rapid FC. Photo by Handout / Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group Article content Unless city council has a disappointing change of heart 10 months from now, the world junior hockey championship is the last hurrah, in terms of major events, for the Arena at TD Place formerly and originally known as the Civic Centre. Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . The Arena at TD Place, as it stands, is hosting its last big event - and that's good news for Ottawa Back to video Article content Indeed, a celebration is in order, both for the storied building’s 57-year past and the exciting future of its reincarnation a stone’s throw from the current location. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content Shed no tears over the old girl’s ultimate destruction. She’s had an incredible life. Everyone has cherished memories of games, concerts, and a variety of events they’ve attended at the building that was born in 1967 and had a serious makeover to become the home of the Ottawa Senators for the first 3.5 seasons of their existence. Everyone has stories to tell, whether they’re from classic moments provided by the Day 1 main tenants, the beloved Ottawa 67’s, or by seeing all-time greats like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux display their dazzling skills, or being on the floor or field for one of the hundreds of top-level bands that have played Lansdowne Park, a Hall-of-Fame list that includes Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Snoop, Bon Jovi and Willie Nelson and can be found in its entirety as wallpaper in a TD Place meeting room. Hundreds of top-level bands have played Lansdowne Park, a Hall-of-Fame list and can be found in its entirety as wallpaper in a TD Place meeting room. DON BRENNAN/POSTMEDIA Photo by Don Brennan / Postmedia But upcoming is also an important time in the history of the Bank St. facility. The fact of the matter is that council has to give final approval to a $420 million budget it has already delivered a green light for the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to continue its role as a key player in this city’s flourishing tourism industry. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content When the grand plan is rubber-stamped on Oct. 22, 2025, the wheels will immediately be set in motion on Lansdowne 2.0, the construction of a spectacular new facility that will be a much-needed new home for the Ontario Hockey League’s 67’s, as well as the Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, while providing upgraded seating and added viewing points for the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Redblacks, as well as the Atletico Ottawa of the Canadian Premier League and the newly born Ottawa Rapid FC, a professional women’s soccer team in the fledgling Northern Superior League. It will also allow the nation’s capital to keep attracting tournaments that grab international attention like the world juniors, as well as shows too big for the NAC and too small for Canadian Tire Centre. Of the 9.8 million visitors that spend $2.6 billion in the capital – numbers reported by Ottawa Tourism in the 2024 Economic Impact Study – 187 events have attracted four million people and generated $400 million of economic activity this year at TD Place, which has also created 4,000 full and part-time jobs. Evening Update The Ottawa Citizen’s best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Evening Update will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Most recently, the arena was jam-packed for WJC pre-tournament games Canada had against Switzerland and Sweden over the past few days, and thousands more will pour through the doors to watch battles that will help determine the participants in the gold medal showdown for global supremacy on Jan. 5 at CTC. In total, the two-week tournament is expected to be worth about $100 million to the city while filling Ottawa hotels that are usually suffering through a relatively dead period of the winter. Those are revenues that will be realized despite the arena showing age spots that had Ottawa’s bid for the world juniors looking very much like a longshot. “We don’t meet the specifications for international tournaments,” said Mark Goudie, OSEG’s president and CEO. “We don’t have enough dressing room space, enough storage space, enough media space, enough any space. And it rains in the rink and all of that stuff. “Hockey Canada just said, ‘one last time, let’s just go with it. They were anxious to get back to Ottawa, and a little bit to our surprise, they kind of just figured out how to make it work. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “The early plan had them building a tent from this rink across the field so that teams could use the dressing rooms over on the (football stadium) side,” continued Goudie. “Between periods the teams would have to get on golf carts and get driven over. Now we figured it out. We built a dressing room down with the women’s team. We figured stuff out. And Hockey Canada was good about going ‘we’ll just do the best we can and kind of drive on.’ A tent was built and heaters were put in it so teams would have a place to warm up “It’s not world-class. It’s a makeshift,” said Goudie. “The facilities will be a problem going forward. We’ll never get another one of these.” At least not one that Ottawa wouldn’t have to share with a city that has a smaller arena to meet qualifications for games not involving Canada, like the Slush Puppy Centres in Kingston and Gatineau. Through the years, it’s been done much more often than not. Of the 17 world juniors played in Canada, 13 times there have been co-hosts. From 1978 in Montreal and Quebec City (260 km apart) to 2003 in Halifax and Sydney (400 km) to 2012 in Calgary and Edmonton (300 km) to 2015 in Montreal and Toronto (543 km) to 2019 in Vancouver and Victoria, which are only 115 km apart but with a travel time of over three hours because they’re separated by water unless you’re taking a 30-minute flight. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content On four occasions, three different Canadian cities have joined forces to host the WJC: 1986 (Hamilton, Toronto, London), 1995 (Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer), 1999 (Winnipeg Brandon, and Selkirk) and 2006 (Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops). In 1982, it was hosted by four cities in two different countries – Winnipeg and Kenora in Canada and Bloomington and Duluth, Minn, in the U.S. Edmonton was co-host of the WJC with Red Deer in 2022 because the cities were scheduled to have the 2021 tournament but instead had to be played behind closed doors only in Edmonton due to the COVID pandemic. In fact, only two other times was the tournament hosted by one Canadian city – 1991 in Saskatoon and 2009 in Ottawa, which was won by the home team and stands as the most profitable, memorable and dramatic of all world juniors. “The 2009 tournament was the change in the trajectory of the junior tournament,” said Goudie. “That’s when it became big scale. They set records here in 2009 in one market. It kind of changed the world juniors.” A Hockey Canada report said the WJC was “the largest single sport event ever held in Ontario” with the total economic activity generated for the province estimated at $80.5 million, while the total GDP (gross domestic product, the monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period) was $32.6 million in the province, with $18.4 million occurring in Ottawa. Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Fans not only supported the event in record numbers at the games, with 453,274 tickets issued for the 31 games, but more than 1,500 volunteers chipped in to make it “the best event ever for Hockey Canada”. This year’s world juniors promises to be even better. But Lansdowne 2.0 is an extensive project that goes well beyond hockey games. As you can see among the striking images accompanying this piece that were obtained by Postmedia before their release to the public, it also impacts the outdoor stadium. Along with the arena’s three-level viewing of the field, the decrepit north side stands will get a direly-needed renovation that will initially set the Ottawa Redblacks back a few steps but ultimately lead to them and the city hosting another Grey Cup. The step-by-step process starts with the building of the new arena – with luxury boxes that don’t currently exist – that will seat 6,200 fans. That will take two years, during which the stadium and arena will run business as usual until the end of 2027. The day after the beautiful new structure is finished, the north side stands and the arena under it will be demolished. Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content It will then take two more years to rebuild the stands, the retail podium that’s behind it, and the extension of the parking. During Phase II the football stadium will require makeshift stands and have a reduced capacity, from 24,000 to approximately 14,000, which will be a costly hit for the Redblacks but should create a demand for tickets. All in all, it’s more than a worthwhile venture. It’s a necessity if Ottawa is to attract prestigious events, international and otherwise, that aren’t quite big enough for CTC. “We can’t risk going into the last day of an internationally televised event and having it canceled because there’s leaking happening onto the ice, right?” said Goudie. Totally on board are the restaurants, bars and stores both in the Glebe and the rest of the heart of the downtown area. “The business community rallies behind it,” said Janice Barresi, the senior vice president, brand and social impact, at OSEG. “They know this is an economic driver. From a tourism perspective, the local businesses are stoked. I sit on the Glee BIA (Business Improvement Area) and it knows this is a boom for business. Advertisement 9 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “That’s what it’s all about. This place is vibrant when TD place is alive and attracting these events.” Ottawa wouldn’t be able to host mid-sized concerts and comedy shows without a functioning arena, which is just barely the case now. “We’re meeting a sweet spot in Ottawa’s venues (between the NAC and CTC),” said Barresi. “We’re able to attract these events. “We’ve talked to all of the international sporting events we can still attract (and the new facility) will be meeting all of their needs to be able to accommodate and continue delivering their product here.” The finish line is near. Last year, the plan was approved and the $420 million budget was approved. City staff was told to build a plan, do the architectural drawings, get the zoning and site plan approval, what goes where ... do all the costing and send it out to market to see who wants to build an arena and the north side stands. Come back with a quote, and then, if its within budget, the plan goes back to council for final approval next Oct. 22. “After that, we’re done,” said Goudie. “We start digging a hole.” It’s been a long wait already. Advertisement 10 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content An aerial view of Lansdowne at the turn of the century is a reminder of what the area looked like before the new football stadium and surrounding entertainment district were built. You almost expect to see a horse-drawn carriage going down Bank St. The reality is OSEG’s discussion with the new facility began in 2006, when it was thought that it would take two years of planning and two years to build. Instead, the stadium opened in 2014. “We started talking about Lansdowne 2.0 in 2017,” said Goudie. “And in 2024, we’re almost there.” But the plug could still be pulled. With council, there’s no sure thing. A ‘thumbs down’ now would be a shame. Ottawa deserves this. This is what Ottawa needs going forward. Lansdowne has been a success. While continuing to drive tourism and attract events like the world juniors to a centrally located venue, Lansdowne 2.0 can expect to be as well. Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : The Arena at TD Place, as it stands, is hosting its last big event - and that's good news for Ottawa Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. 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