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Outdoor game on Parliament Hill? It’s been discussed

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Parliament Hill Ottawa During The Spring Tulip Festival

Getty Images/iStockphoto

When U2 played a show in Montreal a few years back, a temporary outdoor stadium was erected to accommodate 80,000 fans.

The Ottawa Senators say that’s why an outdoor game on Parliament Hill in 2017 is a possibility, though the club also said no formal discussions have taken place.

“A pop-up stadium concept is something we’ve talked about in the past. Parliament Hill would be a unique backdrop if you could do it, but we haven’t done any work on that,” Senators president Cyril Leeder told TSN 1200.

Ottawa’s mayor, Jim Watson, said there have “been a number of discussions that have gone on between the federal government and the NHL about having it on the Hill. And it’s not a far-fetched idea - it’s physically possible.”

Not surprisingly, the Parliament Hill idea has its doubters. The most likely venue for the outdoor game in Ottawa -- a game the NHL has already confirmed will happen -- remains TD Place Stadium, home of the CFL’s Redblacks.

But the temporary stadium idea is worth remembering. Even if it’s not Parliament Hill, there are other intriguing sites that could be explored -- ones that would create buzz for a concept that many feel has been played out.