Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) confirmed Monday that Adrian Sciarra is leaving his role as president of the Ottawa Redblacks, prompting a search for new leadership at one of the city's most visible sports organizations.
What's changing
Sciarra, who has been a familiar face around TD Place and a key figure in the Redblacks' front office, will not disappear from the organization entirely. According to OSEG's announcement, he's set to stay on as president and alternate governor with the Ottawa club, meaning his day-to-day involvement with the team's football operations and league representation continues even as his broader presidential duties wind down.
The move comes as OSEG begins the process of identifying a successor to steer the Redblacks through the next chapter of the franchise's history. No timeline for naming a replacement has been made public yet, and OSEG has not detailed who will handle presidential responsibilities in the interim.
Why it matters for Ottawa
OSEG isn't just a football operation — it's one of the primary drivers behind the Lansdowne Park redevelopment and the broader entertainment district that includes the Redblacks, Ottawa 67's hockey club, and Atletico Ottawa soccer. Leadership shakeups at the top of OSEG ripple outward, affecting everything from season-ticket relationships to how the organization negotiates its next steps on stadium upgrades and community programming around Lansdowne.
For Ottawa sports fans, the Redblacks have been a source of both pride and frustration in recent years, and questions about front-office stability tend to follow any high-profile departure. Sciarra's continued presence as alternate governor suggests OSEG is aiming for a measured transition rather than a clean break, which should offer some reassurance to fans worried about instability heading into the offseason.
What comes next
OSEG has indicated it's actively searching for new leadership to fill the void left by Sciarra's shift in responsibilities. Given the interconnected nature of OSEG's holdings — spanning the CFL, OHL, and Canadian Premier League — whoever steps into a expanded presidential role will likely need to juggle priorities across multiple fan bases and sports calendars, not just football.
The timing also puts a spotlight on how OSEG plans to manage the Redblacks' business operations, ticket sales, and community partnerships in Ottawa while the search plays out. Local businesses near Lansdowne, along with season-ticket holders, will be watching closely for signals about who takes the reins and what direction they'll steer the franchise.
OSEG has not released further details on the search process or a shortlist of candidates. Ottown will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available about the future of Redblacks leadership.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal
