New look, new name: Hamilton Arena officially renamed ‘TD Coliseum’

It’s official – Hamilton Arena has received a new name: TD Coliseum.

This will be the fourth name given to Hamilton’s iconic arena, which was first opened in 1985 under the name ‘Copps Coliseum’ in honour of longtime Hamilton mayor Victor Copps.

It was later changed to ‘FirstOntario Centre’ in 2014 after Hamilton City council voted unanimously in favour of a $3.5 million deal to rename the arena after FirstOntario Credit Union.

In 2023, the City of Hamilton finalized a $280 million renovation of the space, leading to its temporary closure in 2024. It is expected to re-open in late 2025, with performances from Brad Paisley and Andrea Bocelli scheduled at the venue in December.

Oak View Group – the real estate and hospitality group that’s spearheading the arena’s renovations – announced the latest name change in a statement Wednesday. The new name is part of a multi-year naming rights sponsorship with TD Bank Group.

“We’re proud to join forces on this transformative project and to welcome TD as the official naming rights partner of this storied venue,” Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO of Oak View Group said in a statement.

The venue is expected to have a brand-new look once it re-opens – complete with the latest tech and hospitality upgrades. Oak View Group says the renovations also included significant upgrades to production facilities, artist lounges, telecommunications infrastructure, as well as lighting and electrical upgrades.

“The team is redeveloping the facility into an 18,000-seat capacity venue with a reimagined facade, premium seating, enhanced acoustics to amplify the listening experience, improved sightlines, next generation touchless and self-serve technologies for food and beverage purchases,” said Raymond Chun, group president and CEO of TD Bank Group.

Another notable new addition to the space is the Iron Cow Public House – an in-arena, full service restaurant and bar led by chef Matty Matheson. It’s expected to span over 9,500 square feet and seat up to 185 guests.

READ MORE: Hamiltonians still in the dark about LRT timelines, despite open house with Metrolinx