Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre won't reopen until 2025, developer says

Renovation work on Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre is now set to begin early next year, the developer responsible for the project said this week.

The work was set to begin in late spring this year, but Oak View Group (OVG) Canada president Tom Pistore said there were "some hurdles with the legal agreements." These have now been worked out, he said, clearing the way forrenovation to begin.

"We're going to commence our work at the start of 2024 focusing on tens of thousands of unfinished square feet in the empty concourses, which will allow or has allowed the [Toronto] Rock [lacrosse team] to finish their season here in Hamilton," Pistore told a general issues committee meeting on Wednesday.

"Once the lacrosse season is done, we will progress with the rest of the shutdown and plan to reopen for October 2025."

Pistore said the company's architects "have a great set of updated drawings," and VP of construction, Paul Young, has met with city planners to get the process started.

Meetings have also been held with general contractors and they are "finalizing all the pieces and process around pricing and procurement of the project."

$300 million budget

Pistore said a press conference will be held in the upcoming weeks, which will allow the community to see all of the renderings and all of our plans.

"We hope that that will certainly take place in the month of October," he said.

"We are committed to a budget of $100 million. I will tell council that we will be almost three times that budget. OVG has a commitment to build venues up to our spec and you will not be let down.

"Our goal is to renovate this arena and have it become Hamilton's largest hub. No matter what your background is, your political leaning, your race, your religion, once you step inside this venue, it will be about community and it will be about experience We will make this important for Hamilton, but we will also make this a venue that resonates across Canada," he added.

What will the renovated centre look like?

Pistore said the venue will be a retreat for live music.

"We are going to build a building that is geared towardthis rising trend [that's] better for our acts, better for our artists not just locker rooms, but artists lounges and not just pipe and drape," he said.

"While live music is very important, we also plan on having a strong activation of sports tenants, obviously the Toronto Rock. And all levels of our company have been in conversation with Mr. [Michael] Andlauer, who, once his Ottawa deal gets ratified, will actually own three hockey teams, the [Ontario Hockey League]Bulldogs, the [the American Hockey League]Belleville [Senators]and the [NHL's]Ottawa Senators."

OVG is working in collaboration with the Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG).

HUPEG president P.J.Mercanti said HUPEG will continue to work with downtown tourism and hospitality stakeholders to ensure that during the renovations, the downtown remains robust with activity and engagement.

"FirstOntario concert hall and the Hamilton Convention Centre will remain active with events throughout the arena renovation,"Mercanti said, adding that HUPEG "will work with festival organizers to ensure that their musical events have heightened visibility."

Once the renovations are completed,Mercanti said "Canada's ninth largest city will have a new arena that will be home to major musical events and sporting events for the next generation of Hamiltoniansto enjoy."

In 2019 the city's general issues committee voted to set up a steering committee, hire a project manager and look at partnering with private companies to determine the way forward for the city's largest entertainment venue.

Since the renovations were announced, the Hamilton Bulldogs have relocated to Brantford, Ont., for its duration, while the Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League have permanently left Hamilton forBrampton.