Toronto will be granted second NHL affiliate organization and we have the details

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Sam Walker
October 11, 2024 (6:17 PM)

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Hamilton Ontario, one hour away from Toronto will be granted an NHL affiliate organization according to reports

AHL reporter Tony Androckitis has revealed that the Oak View Group is in discussions with the AHL about a new organization in Hampton, he quoted the Oak View Group, stating that the announcement is expected to come early of 2025 �next year'.

A second report came from Puck Empire, which stated that the AHL �could' be returning to Hamilton Ontario with an announcement incoming.

According to the reports from Androckitis, the Oak View Group fronted $280 million to renovate the FirstOntario Centre which is located in Hamilton Ontario, just one hour outside of downtown Toronto. The report states that they are considering moving an AHL organization to Hamilton, possibly over the idea of adding another affiliate franchise.

The president of Oak View Group, Tom Pistore has estimated an announcement to confirm the news to come by fall of 2025.

NEWS: The Oak View Group is in discussions with the AHL about a new team in Hamilton "with an announcement expected early next year."

OVG's $280 million renovation of FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario is expected to be completed in late 2025.

FirstOntario Centre (originally Copps Coliseum) is a sports and entertainment arena at the corner of Bay Street North and York Boulevard in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1985, it has a capacity of up to 19,000. Hamilton was left without a large ice hockey venue after the Barton Street Arena was demolished in 1977, and even that arena had a small seating capacity by modern standards. Construction on the new site was started in 1983 and completed two years later at a cost of $33.5 million, with an additional $2.3 million spent on a parking garage. The project was overseen by Hamiltonian Joseph Pigott.[6] The arena was originally named Copps Coliseum after long-time mayor Victor Copps, the patriarch of a Hamilton political family that includes his daughter, former Member of Parliament of Canada and Member of Provincial Parliament of Ontario Sheila Copps, and wife, Geraldine, who was a long-time councillor.

FirstOntario Centre

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