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Hamilton’s on-again, off-again FirstOntario Centre renovation project is slated to start within three months, with shovels hitting the ground in April or May.

And as members of the were told by project partners during a recent HHCA Construction Forecast session, the kickoff of that $280-million upgrade is expected to be followed in swift succession by the start of construction on convention centre renovations, completion of an arena district “revisioning” exercise with new restaurant, hotel and housing developers being lined up, and, in 2026, the launch of new residential developments.

The partners are , part of OVG, the largest developer of sports and live entertainment venues in the world with 10 major new arenas either open or under development, and (HUPEG), which has , and among its members. OVG was founded by former MLSE president Tim Leiweke.

“The arena is a key part of the rejuvenation of the downtown core. It could be viewed upon as the heartbeat of the city,” said HUPEG CEO PJ Mercanti. “It’s important that the connective tissue from the arena to the hotels and the restaurants, that that public realm is really focused on.”

OVG Canada president Tom Pistore said a second modern arena to serve the nine million residents of the GTHA and southwestern Ontario is long overdue, given other regions that size such as Los Angeles and New York City have four arenas each. When someone like Beyonce comes to Hamilton, he said, she has to dress in hockey locker rooms at FirstOntario Centre.

‘Someone was going to build a second arena in the market’

The FirstOntario Centre currently has the pro lacrosse team the Rock as a major tenant so more sports teams will be recruited, Pistore said.

But with Live Nation now signed on as a booking partner and OVG’s focus on “premium hospitality” offerings, the revamped 18,000-seat arena will be well placed to profitably schedule top-tier events that will have major economic spinoffs throughout the downtown, the developer said.

The FirstOntario Centre renovation will include a new facade, premium seating, enhanced acoustics, improved sightlines, upgraded concourses, new clubs and suites and artist lounges. The job is expected to wrap up in fall 2025. Designer for the Hamilton arena project is Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects and EllisDon is the contractor.

“We’re excited,” said Pistore. “It’s a great venue and long overdue. Someone was going to build a second arena in the market.”

Renovations to the convention centre are expected to start in December 2024 and be complete in winter 2025. There will also be investments in the Art Gallery of Hamilton and concert hall facilities.

Mercanti and HUPEG, meanwhile, will be active on several fronts — branding and developing the vision for The Commons, as the arena neighbourhood will be called; signing up private sector investors for three residential sites, a boutique hotel, restaurants and other new meeting, event and co-working spaces; and working with the City of Hamilton and safety and social stakeholders on security and community well-being issues.

Playing a role to help Hamilton’s disadvantaged

As a native Hamiltonian, Mercanti said, he feels an obligation to address post-pandemic mental illness and encampment issues that are on the rise in the community. There have already been ample engagement efforts with community stakeholders, he said, with more to come.

“We want to be more intentional about playing a role in helping to support those with those issues and working with the right stakeholders to ensure that residents and visitors to downtown Hamilton feel safe and secure,” he said.

“We know we need to play a role working with social service agencies and other community stakeholders. We have had at many of our previous meetings the leadership teams of the YMCA, the YWCA, a few of the other social service agencies, the business owners, the restaurateurs, the chamber of commerce, the BIAs…so we’re working collaboratively on helping to play a role and to put task forces together to help politicians and city council manage and navigate some of these challenging issues.”

Mercanti names LIUNA and the Molinaro Group as among the residential developers he has been contact with.

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