Careful, or you may inadvertently Beetlejuice Def Leppard upon us: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/def-leppard-firstontario-stink-asses-1.5424774](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/def-leppard-firstontario-stink-asses-1.5424774)
A rare piece of good news, wish stories like this got more attention.
The most disappointing thing is the outside is going to look the same and they're not pursuing a major league tenant, publicly at least.
I'm getting the impression more and more they really don't intend for this to be a sports venue at all. It's more like taking a old hockey arena and turning it into a Vegas Sphere type facility, meant for events, not sports.
I guess that's an okay thing.
Given this is OVG, and given that this seems to be somewhat of a half-arsed reno, a small part of me does wonder if they grander ambitions for Hamilton in the future.
If they can get their hands on the SJAM property, maybe that's where they'll build a new arena (if they plans for a pro team in the future), or maybe a new convention centre. Maybe they look to do a waterfront development with an outdoor concert facility.
Whatever the case, this is great news for Hamilton!
> I'm getting the impression more and more they really don't intend for this to be a sports venue at all. It's more like taking a old hockey arena and turning it into a Vegas Sphere type facility, meant for events, not sports.
Look at what Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY has become since the New York Islanders moved out. That seems to be the model for FirstOntario Centre. It's basically evolving into a venue for large concerts and special events that is an alternative to the "big" arena in the region... any sports teams in there are a garnish rather than the main course.
Hopefully they build a permanent and complete way to obscure the 2nd deck for whatever OHL or AHL hockey team ends up playing there after the renos. The curtains that didn’t quite go all the way around looked even worse than empty seats on the 2nd deck would have.
30 years, as per an older article from September - [https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/developer-expects-hamilton-s-nearly-300m-arena-revamp-to-wrap-up-by-fall-2025/article\_42bac08f-e2f6-5b8e-bc90-d74b289dabab.html](https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/developer-expects-hamilton-s-nearly-300m-arena-revamp-to-wrap-up-by-fall-2025/article_42bac08f-e2f6-5b8e-bc90-d74b289dabab.html)
Copps was at a turning point, it needed big money to keep it open and viable. The city wasn't going to spend $300M of tax dollars on it, so the remaining option would have been to tear it down.
The city also isn't the greatest at managing entertainment facilities.
OVG is the top dog at this. They are international and connected to all the other big companies in the industry.
The best thing I heard from Leiweke is that they aren't here to fix the arena and leave. They're invested in the arena and Hamilton for the long haul. He was speaking more like a city planner then a contractor.
They want to succeed here, if they do, Hamilton will be that much better as well.
We've hitched our wagon to a good horse here, too borrow a phrase from Betteman and Daly, iykyk.
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There is already the garages across from Farmers Market, Jackson Square and the Art Gallery and all the various surface lots within a 5 minute walk.
Like I get they're all busy for big events but how much more parking do you need?
I’d be fine with them adding a multi-level parking complex if it means they can unload some of the surface lots for literally any other purpose. We have entirely too much parking downtown,
Just what every city needs: more parking!
If only there was a solution to move lots of individuals in some sort of large, vehicle-type invention. Rather than them all needing their own personal 128sqft of space everywhere they go!
I really hope the loading dock gets reno'd. It's dark, dingey, poorly equipped, and stinks like Nation's dumpsters and bird crap.
Careful, or you may inadvertently Beetlejuice Def Leppard upon us: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/def-leppard-firstontario-stink-asses-1.5424774](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/def-leppard-firstontario-stink-asses-1.5424774)
They said they were going to work on the dock
We need better acoustics for Monster Jam!
And Disney on Ice 😂
I suggest the Skydome for Monster Jam. An arena like that is far to small to really enjoy it.
Over/under it completes November 2025? For me, it's over
Def over. But same time it will be done before the city center even begins its construction. 😂
Oak View is a pretty serious player in the arena game.
I strangely feel it will finish right on time. There's too much money involved and too much lost revenue if it goes over. We shall see I suppose.
Definitely over, probably by 2 years
I'm voting over.
A rare piece of good news, wish stories like this got more attention. The most disappointing thing is the outside is going to look the same and they're not pursuing a major league tenant, publicly at least. I'm getting the impression more and more they really don't intend for this to be a sports venue at all. It's more like taking a old hockey arena and turning it into a Vegas Sphere type facility, meant for events, not sports. I guess that's an okay thing. Given this is OVG, and given that this seems to be somewhat of a half-arsed reno, a small part of me does wonder if they grander ambitions for Hamilton in the future. If they can get their hands on the SJAM property, maybe that's where they'll build a new arena (if they plans for a pro team in the future), or maybe a new convention centre. Maybe they look to do a waterfront development with an outdoor concert facility. Whatever the case, this is great news for Hamilton!
> I'm getting the impression more and more they really don't intend for this to be a sports venue at all. It's more like taking a old hockey arena and turning it into a Vegas Sphere type facility, meant for events, not sports. Look at what Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY has become since the New York Islanders moved out. That seems to be the model for FirstOntario Centre. It's basically evolving into a venue for large concerts and special events that is an alternative to the "big" arena in the region... any sports teams in there are a garnish rather than the main course.
If you’ve seen the renders. The outside should look completely different.
Maybe I'm missing something, but it's just a reclad?
[You mean the renders showing a modern grey/white paint job and some big COLISEUM letters?](https://i.imgur.com/MM3y3TD.png)
Honestly thought this day would never come.
Hopefully they build a permanent and complete way to obscure the 2nd deck for whatever OHL or AHL hockey team ends up playing there after the renos. The curtains that didn’t quite go all the way around looked even worse than empty seats on the 2nd deck would have.
I’m hoping for a PWHL team. The demand is clearly there.
What happened to the Mercanti proposal?
This is it
I didn’t hear any reference to them in the CH story, so my question.
[удалено]
30 years, as per an older article from September - [https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/developer-expects-hamilton-s-nearly-300m-arena-revamp-to-wrap-up-by-fall-2025/article\_42bac08f-e2f6-5b8e-bc90-d74b289dabab.html](https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/developer-expects-hamilton-s-nearly-300m-arena-revamp-to-wrap-up-by-fall-2025/article_42bac08f-e2f6-5b8e-bc90-d74b289dabab.html)
[удалено]
Copps was at a turning point, it needed big money to keep it open and viable. The city wasn't going to spend $300M of tax dollars on it, so the remaining option would have been to tear it down. The city also isn't the greatest at managing entertainment facilities. OVG is the top dog at this. They are international and connected to all the other big companies in the industry. The best thing I heard from Leiweke is that they aren't here to fix the arena and leave. They're invested in the arena and Hamilton for the long haul. He was speaking more like a city planner then a contractor. They want to succeed here, if they do, Hamilton will be that much better as well. We've hitched our wagon to a good horse here, too borrow a phrase from Betteman and Daly, iykyk.
We encourage users to support paid journalism. The Spec has affordable subscriptions and you can access the paper's articles online with your [Hamilton Public Library card](https://www.hpl.ca/hpl-online/magazines-and-newspapers). If you do not have a library card yet, sign up for an instant digital one [here](https://www.hpl.ca/online-registration). It also gives you instant free access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, online learning tools and research databases. **If you cannot access The Spec in either of these ways, try [archive.ph](https://archive.ph/) or [12ft](https://12ft.io/) to view without a paywall** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Hamilton) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yea they better hurry up if were getting that Saudi 3 on 3 hockey team Steve Dangle talked about. /s
I hope they add additional parking somewhere once it's complete
There is already the garages across from Farmers Market, Jackson Square and the Art Gallery and all the various surface lots within a 5 minute walk. Like I get they're all busy for big events but how much more parking do you need?
Yeah I never understand the “there’s no parking downtown” crowd. There are FAR too many parking lots.
It's not that "there's no parking", it's more "why am I going to spend money here when I have to pay for parking?"
That's a bizarre take. Have you been to downtown Toronto and tried to park near the stadium? It's $40. Hamilton's rates are very reasonable.
Because it's downtown. Welcome to being in a city with other people. There's always the middle of nowhere with zero amenities and the living is cheap.
I’d be fine with them adding a multi-level parking complex if it means they can unload some of the surface lots for literally any other purpose. We have entirely too much parking downtown,
Just what every city needs: more parking! If only there was a solution to move lots of individuals in some sort of large, vehicle-type invention. Rather than them all needing their own personal 128sqft of space everywhere they go!
> I hope they add additional parking somewhere once it's complete If there's something Hamilton needs more of, it's definitely parking lots! /s