So much has happened lately with Eugene Melnyk and the Ottawa Senators, but Jim Watson would be doing the city a favour if he piped down on LeBreton Flats and all things Melnyk. Same with the rest of the city. Let’s not turn the owner of the city’s hockey team into a bogeyman.

Last week, Watson waded into the LeBreton development issue, calling out Melnyk and demanding a reaffirmation of his commitment to the project. “My first question is, are you serious? Are you dead serious that you want to continue with this process…?” Watson asked.

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“We are not going to waste our time and waste their time and waste the public’s time if Mr. Melnyk keeps changing his mind whether he wants an arena downtown or he doesn’t want an arena downtown.”

Watson sure made headlines with his confrontational remarks, but why he chose to take on Melnyk so aggressively is hard to fathom. LeBreton is not Lansdowne. It is a federal government project that is being driven by the National Capital Commission. It was the NCC – not the city – that picked Melnyk’s RendezVous LeBreton to carry out the redevelopment and is currently engaged in negotiations with the group. The NCC, whose neck is really on the line, has not raised any alarm about the project, so why is Watson taking it upon himself to confront Melnyk so publicly?

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Why is Watson raising hackles? What’s to be gained?

Yes, the city owns some land and road allowances in the area and would play a significant role when it comes to construction of infrastructure services. It also will review development applications. But there can be no meaningful discussion on those issues until the NCC and RendezVous reach an agreement to move forward with the project. That’s the most important thing to focus on right now, and Watson should wait his turn.

Watson’s tough talk was obviously triggered by Melnyk musing about staying in Kanata because the downtown plan might not work out as originally thought. Among other things, the Senators’ owner worries that other housing projects around LeBreton might undercut his own residential project. This is an expensive undertaking and Melnyk is right to raise issues he believes could undermine the viability of a downtown arena. The NCC doesn’t appear worried about Melnyk’s comments. “Whatever comments might be made, as far as we are concerned, we are on track and the project is moving ahead pretty well,” said NCC CEO Mark Kristmanson.

So why is Watson raising hackles? What’s to be gained?

Without doubt, disgruntled Senators’ fans have every right to speak out if they think the team is not going in the right direction. It happens quite often sports. But being a supporter is not just about yelling and putting up billboards demanding the ouster of the team owner. It is about showing up at game after game to support your team, no matter what.

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For some time now, supporters of English Premier League soccer clubs West Ham United and Newcastle United have been warring with their team owners. They want the owners to sell and leave town. Liverpool went through the same pain between 2007 and 2010. The difference in all this is that even as they sought ownership changes, supporters of the soccer teams never stopped going to the games. They filled the stadiums on game day to support their teams.

Not Ottawa Senators’ fans, apparently. Many in the city got mad at Melnyk when he criticized them for the team’s failure to sell out a playoff game last season. But he was right. How can a team be playing in the Eastern Conference semifinals and not sell out? The poor attendance continued this season, with the team averaging 15,829 a game.

This is a small market and if supporters won’t go to games, how can the club generate funds to help pay for the star players everyone wants? How can the team survive? Those who antagonize Melnyk at every opportunity and want him out should be careful what they wish for.

They may come to regret it.

Mohammed Adam is an Ottawa writer.