Groups headed for mediation in Senators' downtown arena dispute

The trio of entities involved in the Ottawa Senators' ongoing arena impasse will head to mediation to try to salvage a bid for a new downtown facility.

GBA Development and Project Management president Graham Bird was able to get the three parties - including Senators owner Eugene Melnyk's Capital Sports Management, and Trinity Development Group's John Ruddy - to agree to mediation, according to The Canadian Press.

Bird did that on Friday, which is when he also filed a statement of defense against Melnyk's lawsuit.

Melynk is suing the Trinity Group and Bird for $700 million over the LeBreton Flats project, which he deemed a "failed" venture in November.

Mediation with members of RendezVous LeBreton is scheduled to take place before a Jan. 19 deadline imposed by the National Capital Commission for the parties to reach an agreement.

The crown corporation will look into other options if no agreement is reached before the deadline.

The Senators have played at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, Ontario since 1996.