Senators Will Stay In Ottawa

Senators roster

"I'm just delighted to say the Ottawa Senators are remaining in Ottawa and I'm confident it will be for a very long time," team owner Rod Bryden said Friday.

Bryden challenged season ticket holders last month saying that he might have to move the team to the United States. The fans responded and it seems to be enough for Bryden.

Bryden said that 87% of season ticket holders have renewed for next season at higher prices. The team has also sold about 1,500 new season tickets.

The Senators have a four-year old arena and near capacity crowds, but the team has projected losses of $10 million this season.

All six Canadian NHL franchises are suffering financially, because of the low value of the Canadian dollar. The teams get their income in Canadian currency, but pay players' salaries mostly in U.S. dollars.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman lauded the Senators' effort Friday, saying it should be a model for other Canadian teams.

"This effort is going to be something that all of us can look upon, particularly in some of the other Canadian markets where we still have work to do, as to what you have to do to level the playing field to deal with the burdens our clubs have to operate under," Bettman said.