Hamilton TD Coliseum Renovations | ?m | 4s | OVG | BBB

UrbanOzz said:
thanks for the reply. Makes sense. I guess i was hoping for something a little more drastic (similar to some of the original renderings). that being said, i'm glad Rock is back, i'm glad there's better bands coming in, and i'm glad the city got a hockey team back (better than ohl). I tried to go to Merit Brewery before the game and they were COMPLETELY FULL which was a delight to see, even though i had to find a new place. So it's definitely having a positive impact on the restaurants in the area too.

Toronto Rock need to work out their referee mics as they sound like a muffled mess with lots of loud feedback whenever they try to communicate their penalties.
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I suspect some minor repairs will continue as unlike before, they have a reason to keep up appearances. They also have I believe a 50 year lease, so I wouldn't be surprised if in 5 or 10 years they do a small refresh. People here don't think that's going to happen, but if the arena proves to be popular, which I think it will, then I think there will be justification in 2030 or 2035 to do a refresh with some alterations based on what they've learned. It may even be sooner if the issues are significant and attendance is strong.

I have no idea the revenue estimates for an arena like this, but I imagine it's in the tens of millions. If they can fill it as much as they suggest they intend to, I imagine they will have quite a comfortable float to improve things here or there.
 
UrbanOzz said:
thanks for the reply. Makes sense. I guess i was hoping for something a little more drastic (similar to some of the original renderings). that being said, i'm glad Rock is back, i'm glad there's better bands coming in, and i'm glad the city got a hockey team back (better than ohl). I tried to go to Merit Brewery before the game and they were COMPLETELY FULL which was a delight to see, even though i had to find a new place. So it's definitely having a positive impact on the restaurants in the area too.

Toronto Rock need to work out their referee mics as they sound like a muffled mess with lots of loud feedback whenever they try to communicate their penalties.
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It is great that the arena is bringing people downtown. Note that there is no confirmation of a hockey team just yet.
 
Chris R. said:
I suspect some minor repairs will continue as unlike before, they have a reason to keep up appearances. They also have I believe a 50 year lease, so I wouldn't be surprised if in 5 or 10 years they do a small refresh. People here don't think that's going to happen, but if the arena proves to be popular, which I think it will, then I think there will be justification in 2030 or 2035 to do a refresh with some alterations based on what they've learned. It may even be sooner if the issues are significant and attendance is strong.

I have no idea the revenue estimates for an arena like this, but I imagine it's in the tens of millions. If they can fill it as much as they suggest they intend to, I imagine they will have quite a comfortable float to improve things here or there.
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Tim Leiweke stated that they planned to spend $300 million in keeping the arena up to standard over the course of the contract.

They should fix the wayfinding now. It is difficult to tell which section is which with the way that the signage above the bowl entrances from the concourses is laid out, and it would be nice to have ranges of seat numbers.
 
UrbanOzz said:
Been there 3 times now. First time i was in the Loge and it was fantastic. Great seats, access to a bar area, etc. The other two times was just 100 level seating. I was there on Saturday for a Rock game and showed up early enough where I got to wander around and my opinion of it has lessened. my seats were in 119 and i was heading there from 112 and hit a wall at 118. I asked how to get to 119 and they told me i had to go up to 300 level and around and down into it from there...weird, but fine. I get my area in 119 and the regular seats just felt so rickety. The guy sitting beside me actually broke his chair in the 4th quarter. the left side plastic snapped from the railing. The cement floor in my area was freshly painted but you can see giant divots in it so i guess they didn't re-pour it they just painted it over. Lastly and i know this is weather related but painting everything black looks AWFUL in the winter as everything looks completely filthy with all the salty boots coming in and walking around. I simply don't know where the money went in this renovation but I am happy they're getting bookings so i suppose it's still money well spent? I'm going to try to get Loge seating whenever I go in the future.
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The seats do feel pretty cheap.

And the place is just too dark. The old orange concourse was more inviting and more comfortable.
 
BCTed said:
It is great that the arena is bringing people downtown. Note that there is no confirmation of a hockey team just yet.
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You're right, it's not confirmed yet as it seems the Bridgeport Islanders still have to break their current lease at the Arena they call home in Bridgeport, and Hamilton city council still have to vote on this (which I believe is taking place next month).

That being said, this move is very likely to happen, as reported about a week ago.

Ironically enough, Oak View Group also operates the current Bridgeport Islanders home (Total Mortgage Arena).
 
Something was going on today
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Chris R. said:
I've heard from some people that have visited the Iron Cow that it's meh, which kind of sucks, but I suppose is expected.

Which is unfortunate, because Rizzo's was soo good.
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I enjoyed the food but if I'm thinking about where I want to go for dinner in Hamilton, its not even in the conversation unless I'm going to TD Coliseum. I think it does what it is meant to as a high volume arena restaurant. Nice ambiance and it does the pub food well but its still pub food at the end of the day.

Now Rizzo's, definitely worth the drive.
 
Rizzo's House of Parm - Matty Matheson's original location in his hometown of Fort Erie (Crystal Beach area) has the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life. Melts in your mouth. (Handmade Ricotta Gnocchi with cream & pecorino romano). Matty's Salad was also one of the most delicious salads I've had at any restaurant.
American folks regularly drive across the border from Buffalo/Western NY to have dinner at Rizzo's.
 
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Out of all of the renders of the renovated arena, I think this one excited me the most. It is the street-level concourse (I believe on the York Boulevard side) and it looks so wide and roomy and pleasant and comfortable. Unfortunately, the actual new concourse feels much darker and tighter and more cramped and somehow less arena-like to me.
 
Chris R. said:
My understanding was that the arena was in dire need of repairs. Based on watching almost daily, it appears the money went toward a few things that I suspect wouldn't be immediately obvious:

1) Completely new HVAC system.

2) All new kitchen ventilation hardware.

3) I believe all elevators and escalators were replaced or heavily refurbished. Prior city reports indicated all escalators were at their end of life.

4) They resealed the roof.

5) Derusted and painted the entire exterior.

6) Replaced numerous exterior windows.

7) Replaced every single chair (quality notwithstanding).

8) Replaced all lighting in the entire venue, inside and out. This includes running all new electrical through most of the facility.

9) I could be wrong, but I believe the bathrooms had fully new fixtures installed, his means new toilets, stalls, sinks, etc.

10) Restructured much of the interior removing stairs to York Blvd.

11) Hundreds of employees on site most days, earning salary. (100 employees making $60,000/year multiplied by 1.5 years is $9,000,000 alone.

12) Permits, financing costs, crane and equipment rental.

Things are expensive. For a completely perfect arena, you'd likely be looking at $500,000,000-$700,000,000. Rogers centre cost $400,000,000, but was in my opinion better maintained, and most of the upgrades were smaller more quality of life upgrades.
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You're not wrong at all. And I understand the purpose and intended tenants of the arena. But for me, as a life long Hamiltonian whose worked in local planning, I want us to take that step forward and shake off that old reputation.

We're getting there. But seeing the new arenas in Edmonton, Calgary, Quebec City, Ottawa and several American ones, it's hard not to feel like other places get better stuff and we still have to just be happy we got something at all.

I'm tired of feeling that way.

Like you say, maybe the $300M in additional spending over the years will fill that gap.
 
I am looking at the sunk investment as the initial canvas. No doubt it's the riskiest investment, and hopefully will pay out in spades for OVG. As it becomes a proven venue with targeted live dates, I am certain others will layer on.
 
KingJames said:
I am looking at the sunk investment as the initial canvas. No doubt it's the riskiest investment, and hopefully will pay out in spades for OVG. As it becomes a proven venue with targeted live dates, I am certain others will layer on.
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Not sure what you mean. The arena is as good as it is going to get. The dollars from here will just be maintenance and maybe some refreshes
 
Most enterprises will always look to find ways to improve revenue lift (unless you are Yale with Jackson Square). So certainly OVG will focus on filling out the venue's dance card. Beyond that, they will look to add features that will enhance revenue and customer experience. Maybe that entails expansion out to Bay and York/Wilson, or eating into Jackson Square footprint on the ground or plaza level. Again, not in the first few years, but if all goes well, I could see something within 5 years. Once the SallyAnn gets moved, maybe we will get a hint on what could be possible for the whole north side of the complex.
 
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