If you think “London can bring in 9000 we should be able to as well” your logic is completely flawed.
Hamilton has always been in the shadow of Toronto and seen itself as a big league market. London is one of the largest “small market” cities. They never came close to having the NHL like we did. They don’t have a CFL team.
Hamilton averaged less than 5000 for the AHL, you’d be delusional to think the OHL is going to average 9000 because London, the highest draw in the league does. Not to mention the median OHL attendance was only 3700.
If we use the London draws 9000 so Hamilton should as well logic. Then Mississauga and Ottawa should be drawing 15,000. No chance
To add to the above, with all that's been happening with the Ticats this year, the Bulldogs have gotten lost in the shuffle. After the Cats season is done, I suspect we might see more attention paid to the junior team.
I feel you hit the nail right on the head here King, to be fair though, those other markets don’t have the facilities to draw 9,000 like London. Hamilton very much does, to it’s own detriment. Also Ottawa having an NHL team already, is a valid reason why they can’t pull similar numbers. Hamilton needs to realize two things, first that OHL hockey is good hockey regardless and there is little excuse for a so called hockey fan not to go to a game when you compare these tickets to Buffalo or the Leafs. Second, filling up our arena for an OHL team does not hurt the chances whatsoever of one day the dream happening and the NHL knocking.