New arena in Bulldogs owner’s playbook
Andlauer ready for discussions with city
THE OWNER of the Hamilton Bulldogs says it’s time for this city to build a new arena to replace the antiquated FirstOntario Centre. And he’s ready to put his money where his vision is to make that happen.
Michael Andlauer says he’s been contemplating this for years but he’s now reached the point that he’s prepared and eager to get rolling. “I’d love to do something,” he says. While Mayor Fred Eisenberger sounds decidedly noncommittal about getting involved in any project of this scale, he says the city is willing to listen.
Andlauer, a part-owner of the Montreal Canadiens who’s owned the local team for nearly 15 years and has kept it in the FirstOntario Centre, says he’d like to see a new 5,00010,000-seat facility built somewhere within the city. He expects it would cost between $60 million and $100 million, depending on size and amenities.
At 32 years old, the arena formerly known as Copps Coliseum is approaching relic status among North American venues. In February, the city lost out on hosting the Memorial Cup in large part because the organizing committee said the arena simply wasn’t good enough.
A month later, a consultant’s report said it would take $68 million to make the kinds of changes that would update the facility to extend its life. However, council voted to pass on that option
“We have to look at the future of sports and entertainment in this city in terms of facilities.” MICHAEL ANDLAUER OWNER OF THE HAMILTON BULLDOGS
and simply pay for maintenance and repair as needed.
Asked for his thoughts on their decision at that time, Andlauer offered no comment. But he now says it’s time to get started on a new project.
“We have to look at the future of sports and entertainment in this city in terms of facilities,” he says. “I mean, it happens everywhere across North America. I’m open to suggestions. I’m open to participating.”
He points to London’s 9,100-seat Budweiser Gardens, Oshawa’s 5,500-seat General Motors Centre, Mississauga’s 5,000-seat Hershey Centre and St. Catharines’ 5,300seat Meridian Centre as guides for what Hamilton could emulate: a modern facility with up-to-date amenities that are more appropriately sized for most of the events that come here — and far more appropriate for an Ontario Hockey League team — than the 17,000-seat arena.
The most recently built of those is the Meridian Centre, which came in at about $50 million. Which really brings us to the crux of the whole thing. What about the money? It’s become abundantly clear that the city isn’t interested in forking out endless millions for such a project. Not when FirstOntario Centre is still standing. And not when Hamilton has a $3-billion-plus infrastructure deficit hanging over its head.
“Obviously, cost and who bears the cost is going to be the central issue,” Eisenberger says. “If Mr. Andlauer is prepared to finance something like that, that makes the conversation a lot easier.”
While Andlauer says the city would likely have to be part of the project — whether that’s all cash or a combination of cash and land is unclear — he’s prepared to pay a significant portion of the cost out of his own pocket. How much, exactly? “I would jump in (with) whatever makes sense,” he says.
Of course, owners of other franchises in cities all over the world have said similar things to get the ball rolling on a stadium or arena but have then begun squeezing their wallets when it came time to fork out. Should we not be concerned about the same thing happening here?
“No,” Andlauer says. “I’m talking something substantial.”
If a new arena was built, FirstOntario Centre could either be kept as a larger venue for concerts and events or it could be removed and the land on which it stands could be redeveloped publicly or privately to continue the growth of the downtown.
This, of course, suggests a new building would not be constructed on the same footprint and might be located outside the core.
While no specific potential locations have been made public by anyone, Ward 7 Coun. Donna Skelly told The Spectator’s Matthew Van Dongen that Lime Ridge Mall is the top property taxpayer in the city but is now in flux with Sears closing and the retail sector facing challenges from online commerce. Creating something in that area could be intriguing.
“We’ve had very, very, very preliminary conversations with him to see if there was an opportunity somewhere in the central Mountain,” she said.
However, Eisenberger says he believes keeping any arena in the downtown would be key.
“Creating critical mass on sports and entertainment in the central part of the city, I think, is the right thing to do,” he says.
Andlauer’s not getting far ahead of himself to begin locking into specific sites yet. He simply wants the city to approach him with an idea. Or at least to show a willingness to explore what they might do together.
“As long as it makes sense for all parties, then it’s worth doing,” Andlauer says. “I think there’s an opportunity to make something worthwhile, I really do.”