Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and the City of Belleville have confirmed a three-year lease extension to at least the end of the 2029-2030 season. In effect, since Andlauer owns both versions of the Senators, the extension also applies to the NHL-AHL affiliation between the two clubs.
The deal includes a five-year option that could extend the AHL club’s stay through the 2034-2035 season.
That means Ottawa's top prospects will continue their development just a couple of hours down the road at the CAA Arena, an ideal location that allows for convenient player movement and an easy trip for Ottawa fans looking to catch future Sens stars in action.
“It’s great news for hockey fans around the Bay of Quinte,” Andlauer said in a press release on the B-Sens website. “The connection between the City of Belleville and the Senators Hockey Club is truly a mutually beneficial one that will only continue to improve and prosper in the years to come. We are committed to seeing hockey thrive in this ‘613’ market as well as being good corporate citizens in the community we serve – and Belleville plays an important role.”
“The City of Belleville is thrilled to extend our partnership with the Belleville Senators,” said Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis. “We are proud to be the home of the Senators and to continue to host them at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre for years to come. Since they arrived in 2017, their presence and involvement in our community has made a significant impact.”
Back in January, there were rumours that Andlauer might be kicking the tires on a relocation of his AHL club. Andlauer had moved a team out of the city once before, buying the OHL's Belleville Bulls and moving them to Hamilton ten years ago. But times change, and he put those rumours to rest during a TSN intermission interview with Clare Hanna last season.
“When I hear things that are not right, I like to speak up. I owe it to the fans,” Andlauer said. “613 is Sens Country, as far as I’m concerned. When I bought the Belleville Bulls, I was loyal to my community in Hamilton, and today, that’s a different story.”
In 2023, Andlauer moved the Hamilton Bulldogs to Brantford and then sold them earlier this year to Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman and his family.
Since the B-Sens moved from Binghamton to Belleville for the 2017-18 season, their attendance has fluctuated. Their rink seats 4,365 fans, and the numbers have slowly crept upward since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last season, according to HockeyDB.com, the club averaged 2908 a night, their best in six years. The Cleveland Monsters, playing in an NHL-sized rink (Rocket Arena), lead the AHL with an average attendance of 11,438.
The B-Sens will open the new season on Saturday, October 11, 2025, with a road matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers). They return home to CAA Arena for their season opener on Saturday, October 18, 2025, against the Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs).
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News – Ottawa
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