Balsillie Unveils Designs For C$150M Copps Coliseum Renovation

Balsillie's Plans For Copps Coliseum Include New Lounges, Restaurants, Video/Scoreboard

RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie Friday "unveiled plans for a spectacular" C$150M renovation to turn Copps Coliseum into a "'state-of-the-art' new home for a Hamilton-based" NHL team, according to Ken Peters of the HAMILTON SPECTATOR. Balsillie's plans for the 24-year-old city-owned arena are "stunning, including a soaring atrium-style entrance, a range of luxury boxes, new lounges and restaurants, new video/scoreboard, food and beverage amenities and a seating capacity of more than 18,000 spectators." BBB Architects and subsidiary group Stadium Consultants Int'l (SCI) created the design. Other features of the planned renovation include a "new atrium-style lobby with [a] major ticketing area and new street-level retail," 50 mid-level 14-16 person private suites with bar/buffet facilities, a new club lounge and club seating, and 20 new "bunker suites" with seats in the first six rows between the bluelines. Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said, "This would be a jaw-dropper of an attraction for Hamilton." However, he "cautioned Hamiltonians to be rational about Balsillie's chances of success in his quest to buy and relocate" the Coyotes (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 5/30). BBB and SCI "have been involved in the design and development of scores of sports, entertainment and commercial facilities," including Air Canada Centre, MSG, GM Place and Rexall Place (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 5/30). In Toronto, Dave Feschuk wrote the renovations "would address a lot of the building's shortfalls, including its current lack of an upper-level concourse and its shortage of latrines." The design includes a "new video board hanging over new ice surface cooled by a new ice plant and a new climate-control system." There also would be new locker rooms, and a "party deck" in the upper bowl (TORONTO STAR, 5/30).

WHO WILL PAY? In Hamilton, Ken Peters wrote, "Who will pay for Jim Balsillie's stunning renovation of Copps Coliseum?" Balsillie spokesperson Bill Walker: "That will be determined, in total, down the road." Eisenberger said that he "envisions a cost-sharing scenario that would see the province, federal government and Balsillie each providing a one-third share of the entire project cost." Walker said that Balsillie "has indicated he is willing to fund some [C$5M] in immediate improvements at the 24-year-old arena to meet [NHL] standards and accommodate play this fall," which would "involve upgrades to the dressing rooms and the ice making system." But Walker said that the "long range [C$150M] renovation project requires cooperation from the City of Hamilton" (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 5/30). Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty spokesperson Karman Wong Friday said it is "premature at this point to talk about funding for Copps Coliseum." But Wong added McGuinty "continues to be supportive of bringing a hockey team to southern Ontario." Wong: "We'll take a careful look at infrastructure proposals that come to us from the city, keeping in mind that through [Toronto's bid for the '15 Pan Am Games], the government is already committed to making investments in Hamilton to support sports infrastructure" (CP, 5/29). In a Q&A with SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Tripp Mickle, Balsillie said, "I would not be seeking government funding for the franchise. Not a single dollar. In fact, I will be investing money immediately to fund short-term renovations to the arena in Hamilton, Copps Coliseum. But the city of Hamilton will own the arena. I have asked the city, as a partner, to invest the funds to help with the long-term renovation costs at the arena. It would not be me but the city of Hamilton who would decide whether to request that funding from those two levels of government, equivalent to the U.S. federal and state governments. That decision ultimately rests with Hamilton" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/1 issue).

Copps Coliseum Plans Will Be Part Of Balsillie's Application To NHL To Relocate Coyotes

ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE: In Hamilton, Steve Milton wrote Balsillie's renovation plan for Copps Coliseum is "craftily designed to intercept one of the anticipated NHL pitches against relocation to Hamilton: that Copps Coliseum is ... 'too old etc.' or 'antiquated.'" The Copps plans "will be included as part of Balsillie's application to the NHL to relocate" the Coyotes, which will be "submitted to the league" today (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 5/30). But the GLOBE & MAIL's Jeff Blair wrote, "Do not read anything into the fact that Balsillie can show you plans for the refurbishment of Copps Coliseum." The designs "looked cookie-cutterish, full of the usual intentions, and it's still unclear how the renovation would be funded." But Blair wrote, "The more these things are announced, the more steps that are taken, the harder it is for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to look like anything other than an obstacle to progress. Announcements such as [Friday's] reinforce the seriousness of [Balsillie's] intentions" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/30).