The National Capital Commission unveiled its Draft Master Concept Plan for LeBreton Flats on Thursday and at this point it feels like the NCC and Ottawa mayor Jim Watson are the only ones in the city keeping the idea of a new arena downtown alive.



Think about that for a minute: the NCC, which once dismissively shot down the idea of an NHL rink on its hallowed grounds, now is keeping the little flame flickering.



Some context:



In the late 1980s, Ottawa Senators founder Bruce Firestone was entertaining the idea of pursuing an NHL expansion franchise and was quietly exploring potential sites upon which to build an NHL-calibre facility. He would drive the city’s major roadways contemplating the possibilities.



He had a meeting with Jean Pigott, then the chair of the NCC, and asked about the possibility of building an arena on NCC lands.



Firestone enjoys retelling the exchange. Pigott told him there was a public and a private answer to...