Lansdowne plan may leave trade shows homeless

There may be no place in Ottawa to hold trade shows if Lansdowne Park is redeveloped, since a proposed alternative venue doesn't seem financially viable.

Many trade shows now take place at Lansdowne Park, but city council will vote in November on a redevelopment plan that does not include space for such shows.

Meanwhile, Shenkman Corp., has proposed building and operating a $20-million trade show centre at the Ottawa airport — a plan the Ottawa Airport Authority has been looking into.

But Shenkman recently told trade show managers that the plan has financial issues.

"It's going to be tough to make it a viable case," said Ian Forsyth, a spokesman for the Ottawa Association of Exposition Managers. 

That doesn't mean the development won't go ahead, he said, but "we are without a home as it stands right now."

Kevin McCrann, president of Shenkman, confirmed Wednesday that "at this time, we can't guarantee a trade show development will happen."

Taxpayer funding

Rob Jellett, city councillor for Cumberland ward, suggested taxpayer funding may be necessary to get the proposed new trade show venue off the ground in partnership with Shenkman or another developer.

"My position is that look, we need to speed this up a little bit," he said. "And if the city needs to step up to the plate and be one of the partners in that development, then we should do it."

Jellett estimated $3 million might get the job done.

Diane Deans, councillor for Gloucester-Southgate, said the city is already effectively subsidizing trade shows by spending $3.8 million annually to run Lansdowne Park.

"They're big for the city in terms of economic development," she said. "They've been important partners for the city for a long time."

This could change after council votes on whether to move forward with the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. The proposed public-private partnership between the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group and the City of Ottawa would renovate Frank Clair Stadium, add greenspace to the park and build stores, restaurants, condo towers and townhouses at the site on Bank Street, north of the Rideau Canal.