Press Release
The membership of the Ottawa Association of Exposition Managers (OAEM) opposes Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group’s (OSEG) Lansdowne Live proposal. Further, the OAEM takes strong issue with the recent city staff report and endorsement of the proposal. It is our opinion that:
1. The proposal and report do not properly, adequately or fairly respond to Ottawa City Council's directives to enhance trade and consumer show space at Lansdowne Park and that conclusions in the report are reached without providing accurate or sufficient qualitative and quantitative data to support the recommendations related to trade and consumer show space.
2. The proposal and report do not properly address the value and benefits of the trade and consumer show industry to our city and to local businesses and residents of the National Capital Region.
3. The proposal and report do not provide any city-led commitment to a strategic plan for the short or long-term needs of the trade and consumer show industry.
The proposal (as it exists currently) will remove most public event space from Lansdowne Park, which will effectively cause a dramatic reduction in space available for the trade and consumer show industry in Ottawa.
The OAEM believes that City Council, simultaneous with the approval of any redevelopment of Lansdowne Park (if said development does not satisfy Council’s directive to enhance public event space at Lansdowne Park) should also approve and earmark funds to construct a replacement facility that would be considered an enhancement of the existing space at Lansdowne Park. It is essential that this new facility be constructed to a minimum size of 150,000 square feet, be centrally located with adequate parking, have easy access to major transportation routes and, most importantly, that it must be completed before or coincidently with the closure of public event space at Lansdowne Park. The new Ottawa Convention Centre will not be able to accommodate the vast majority of public events currently held at Lansdowne Park.
Founded over thirty years ago, the OAEM is a non-profit organization of trade and consumer show managers, public event and exposition organizers and related suppliers. Members include representatives of most of the major consumer events at Lansdowne Park and the Ottawa Convention Centre. OAEM member events are Lansdowne Park’s single largest user group in terms of both event days and revenue.
For further information, please contact OAEM President Michael Rodgers (Toll-free 1 877 817 9500). Email: OttawaRVshow@rogers.com.
1010 Thomas Spratt Place, Suite 1, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5L5 • T 1. 613. 739. 0700 • F 1. 613. 739. 8050 • OAEM.org