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Arts + Culture

10 milestone shows at 101 York Boulevard

By Jamie Tennant
Hamilton’s downtown arena opened as Copps Coliseum in 1985 and was renamed FirstOntario Centre in 2014. In the 38 years before it closed in the summer of 2023 for a massive renovation, it has hosted some epic concerts.  What makes a show memorable? Size of crowd? Sales figures?…
City Life

What’s happening at Hamilton’s downtown arena?

By Meredith MacLeod
Oak View Group offers look at construction well underway at the Bay and York venue. They say the $280-million project is on time and on budget. It may not be visible from the street, but work is well underway on the transformation of Hamilton’s downtown arena. Leaders with…
HCC
Hamilton music Collective
City Life

‘Transformational’ arena upgrade officially underway

By Meredith MacLeod
Full financing already secured for $280M project to renovate the Bay Street venue; premium ticket sales to begin at the end of May. The $280 million needed to renovate Hamilton’s downtown arena is already in the bank, construction fencing is erected and sales of premium seats will go…
City Life

Deal signed for $280 million revamp of downtown arena

By Meredith MacLeod
Oak View Group and Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group will begin construction on the FirstOntario Centre in April. The transformed arena is expected to be open in fall 2025. A deal to invest $280 million into a renovation of Hamilton’s downtown sports and entertainment arena has been officially…