Bulldogs never coming back to Hamilton after new ownership change

it’s Official Hamilton City Council failure is complete
The Bulldogs are gone for good
Michael Andlauer didn’t hold his tongue going out the door.
So don’t ever expect an AHL or NHL team here either.

As a member of the NHL Board of Governors
He’ll stop it he now has a reason to hate Hamilton
And who can blame in the man

with new ownership in place for the Bulldogs and a 15 year lease and a new Arena
The writing was on the wall for what was called the Hamilton Bulldogs and any type of pro hockey

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There’s a strong “rumour” that the Toronto Marlboros will be a new tenant at the refurbished Copps/First Ontario Centre. It is just a rumour.

I can’t say where I heard it but it is from a person in the know.

And I agree with Andlauer’s criticism of Hamilton City Council and it’s disrespect of him. Council would have trouble managing a one car parade (see recent debacle re the microshelters from China).

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The NHL was only ever a pipe dream. It’s unfortunate the Bulldogs left but they are about the fifth OHL team that has come and gone. There will be another at some point but honestly that building is too big for Junior or AHL hockey which typically only draw 3-4000 fans a game (though I wouldn’t rule out the AHL coming back either).

It’s going to be a pretty slick place to see a concert though once all is said and done.

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The City of Hamilton does it again.

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In light of all the criticism levied against Hamilton council and decisions made over the decades about the arena, convention centre and The concert centre, does anyone know if any of the numerous entertainment venues n Toronto are owned by the city or are they all privately owned and managed.
The current predicament Hamilton is in was caused by our council not being able to attract private $$ so proceeded to build our own. At that time it was probably a good decision as we had few choices for any entertainment. But it cost taxpayers millions to support. So a decision was made to outsource management and upgrades to the private sector to save millions (which I am appreciative of).
The whole Bulldogs saga is unfortunate. I’m still at a loss why the city did not support the private $$ to build an arena district at Limeridge Mall area. It would have been better than a Tesla store about to open.

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City Council’s obsession with the downtown killed anything that may distract from focusing on downtown. :frowning:

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lots of rumors at the moment. Marlies, Ottawa Sens AHL team, etc.

personally I believe the only tenant, at least for the first few years (to gauge success without perm tenant) will the Rock lacrosse team.

I’m hearing rumors that they may actually rebrand to Hamilton Rock.

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Didn’t they, at one point, wanted a stadium at West Harbour (15,000 capacity) instead of Shannon Park (sorry name escapes me).

Eventually they end up at the current Ivor Wynne site.

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There’s no guarantee the Rock will go back.

As much as I like to see an NHL team along with lacrosse in Hamilton, can’t fault the leagues for not wanting to go there at the moment.

I mean didn’t they lose the Honey Badgers thanks to the renovations?

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We need to give the new consortium a chance. So far they’ve put a ton of money into the arena upgrades. They have stated up front that their main priority is using it as a concert venue then sports. People have complained for years that we couldn’t attract big time concerts and we always had to go to Toronto. Let’s see what they do.
By the way, The Rock are still doing promo sessions on CH mornings Live.

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That’s good to hear.

Hopefully Hamilton does keep the Rock or at least be considered as an expansion site should the Rock go back to Toronto.

I meant the Rock started as the Ontario Raiders based out of Hamilton.

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I’m familiar with the project, like the Big O, as I’m on the insurance panel. At this time there are plans to have The Rock back - as the sole tenant (if you can call them a tenant).

They are holding off on some branding decisions as there are discussions around rebranding (name change).

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Rebranding huh. What would be a good name that would be fitting for Hamilton?

It’s too bad about the Bulldogs, somewhere around 30 years of Hamilton hockey history. They should have left the Bulldogs name for Hamilton and got something new for Brantford.

People need to understand/accept a few things.

  1. Copps is 40 years old, has never had a major renovation, and the city is not the best entity to run a major entertainment venue. It needed millions in investment to remain operational, the alternative was to demo Copps and maybe get some more condos.

  2. The best deal was the one with HUPEG and OVG. It keeps our arena, gets it a major upgrade as well as the #1 entertainment booking company runnthe show. It also represents the best economic impact, 30 odd home games of 3000 fans for OHL hockey wont come close to what the arena will instead generate with its concerts, not to mention the commons development that’s planned as well for the area.

  3. Once the city handed things over to OVG, it wasn’t ‘council’ that kicked the dogs out but HUPEG and OVG.

  4. Council didn’t pursue the lime ridge arena for similar reasons it didn’t go for a Redhill football stadium.

Cadillac Fairview (limeridge owner) is the largest non-residential tax payer in the city. They’re already invested in the city and their property. It’s in their best interest to develop limeridge on their own,on their OWN DIME without taxpayer money.

It makes little sense for the city to get involved. Plus we would’ve paid for a new parking on site. Let CF cover it themselves. They’ll develop their property on their own without city time, money or resources and the city will collect more tax revenue. That’s the ideal.

Hopefully we dont get the Marlies. I’ll never spend a dime on the leafs or the NHL for not allowing Hamilton a NHL team. I’ll definitely not support the leafs farm team. No thanks, we aren’t the stinking leafs market!

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But we are the leafs market. Prime
Leafs market

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The Marlies should move and play in Hamilton, they’d get better attendance here than they do in Toronto because in Toronto when it comes to hockey it’s the Leafs or nothing.

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Marlies would do extremely well in Hamilton.

Much better than the Sens farm team.

Unfortunately I feel like the Sens farm team is a much better chance. I truly think the Marlies is a pipe dream.

In the end it’ll simply be The Rock.

That’s it.

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Only because people accept it. Just stop supporting the team that blocked our NHL aspirations, it’s that simple.

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Andlaeur has already said they’re not leaving Belleville.

What I hope for is that the Sabres play a portion of thier home games in Hamilton similar to the Bills in Toronto.

Thier arena is getting old. We’re apparently “their market”. If we’re never getting a team of our own, I’d take 10 or so Sabres games a year. The geography works, they get to play in a new arena and grow their fanbase.

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Andlaeur is a businessman first. He’ll move the team if Hamilton makes him a good business case.

And everyone in business knows we all have short memories when it comes to a good deal.

I think the Sabres playing in Hamilton would be interesting. I had not heard that. Exciting times ahead none the less.

btw, if anyone is curious, the project is completely on schedule … EllisDon doesn’t screw around.

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