A new chapter is in store for Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre.
The official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to kick off renovations at the downtown stadium at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
Over the next 14 months, work will be done to strip the entire facility down to its core and carry out a $280 million renovation project that is expected to completely transform the arena.
Once complete, the venue will be able to host 18,000 people at a time and be decked out in premium features, including enhanced acoustics, improved sightlines, upgraded concourses, and new artist lounges.
The goal is to open by November 2025, and the venue plans to host over 125 events per year, not including sports.
The project is being spearheaded by Oak View Group, an American professional sports and commercial real estate company that operates 400 venues around the world.
Ryan Zrenda, one of the company’s vice-presidents, said it was more of a transformation than a renovation.
“It’s going to be a completely new building. You’re not going to recognize it when you walk in for the first time,” he said. “It’s going to be a world-class arena, it’ll compare to every new arena coming out right now.”
He adds that he’s confident there will be no delays and that the project will meet its expected opening date.
“It’s a great building. A lot of it’s exposed. We’ve done a lot of investigations. We’re very confident in finalizing our design and proceeding with construction.”