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But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redevelop prime, long-neglected land in the nation’s capital. It is perplexing that it should come to only two proposals — and the fact the non-Senators bid now suddenly proposes an NHL arena smacks of motives rather different than architectural excellence.

If would be one thing if the Senators’ current building were falling down. But on Jan. 15, the Canadian Tire Centre will celebrate its 20th birthday. If it went to a Senators game at Madison Square Garden, it would be too young to buy a beer. Lots of NHL teams manage to tolerate arenas of that vintage — and even older, if you can believe it. The Senators do not “need” a new arena. They sell plenty of tickets where they are. It is perfectly understandable that they wish not to be in Kanata, a legendary game-night traffic jam away from the city centre, and if private interests want to blow several hundred million dollars remedying their buyer’s remorse, then it’s none of anyone else’s business.

LeBreton Flats is owned by the Canadian taxpayer, though. Any deal that might sign it over to a billionaire for the use of his millionaire hockey players must be closely scrutinized both for below-market favouritism and for the opportunity costs of forsaking a different kind of redevelopment.