Brantford Bulldogs to ‘remain in Brantford forever’

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It’s officially official – the Bulldogs will be staying put in Brantford and residing in a new Madhouse on Market starting with the 2028-29 season.

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At a special meeting held on Thursday, city council voted to proceed with the new sports and entertainment centre to be built beside the existing TD Civic Centre. It’s expected that shovels will be in the ground early in the new year.

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In conjunction with that announcement, it was learned that the lease between the city and the Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs to have them as the anchor tenant has been approved.

“We’re getting what we’ve wanted since we purchased the franchise which is we get to remain in Brantford forever,” said Bulldogs general manager Spencer Hyman.

“We’re incredibly grateful and excited and really appreciate everyone.”

In January the Hyman family – including father Stu and sons, Zach and Spencer – purchased the team from Michael Andlauer and a few days later it was announced that the Hymans and City of Brantford had come to an agreement on a 15-year lease with five, five-year renewal terms for a total of 40 years.

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That agreement, which was just recently accepted by both parties after being processed by lawyers, makes the Bulldogs the anchor tenant for the SEC.

And while the OHL team will use the facility the most, Hyman made it clear it’s not just a hockey arena.

“It’s a sports and entertainment complex and that shouldn’t be forgotten when you’re describing what it is,” said Hyman, who credited Mayor Kevin Davis for the vision to get the project moving.

“It’s not just the home of the Bulldogs but it’s going to be the home for major events for the community and City of Brantford – country concerts, Disney on Ice – whatever the case may be.

“It’s going to be a stunning facility . . . used for generations that can, in a way, reshape Brantford.”

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When the Bulldogs moved to Brantford from Hamilton for the 2023-24 season, the civic centre was cited as a temporary location. The OHL made it clear that a new facility would be needed for the city to become the permanent home of the Bulldogs.

“The league has mandated that all teams need to play in proper OHL facilities,” explained Hyman, who noted there are specifications that need to be met and that the civic centre couldn’t satisfy those.

“It was the league’s position that in order for our team to remain in Brantford long term, a new facility needed to be built.”

Hyman now has his sights set on massive events.

“One hundred per cent this allows us to go after major events, whether that’s with Hockey Canada and a World Junior (Hockey Championship), under-17, under-18 or the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup,” he said.

“I’ve already made it very clear we’re going after the 2030 Memorial Cup so from that perspective it allows us to do a lot more and bring a lot into the Brantford economy.”

Hyman is just happy that his team has a permanent home in a city he has come to love.

“The Bulldogs are here to stay,” he said. “The Bulldogs are Brantford’s team and this solidifies that.”

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