Hamilton businesses anticipate boost as pro sports return to TD Coliseum

Hamilton’s new American Hockey League team is playing their first home game at TD Coliseum Friday night.

The city will have three different pro teams playing out of the building, not to mention dozens of concerts and shows.

It’s that kind of action that businesses in the area have been waiting for.

Downtown Hamilton is rocking again.

There will be roughly 100 events in the building in the next year.

“It gives us benchmarks each and every week … there’s a couple of games a week right now starting up tonight. That just helps with our employees as well, just having a lot of sales come in regularly outside of events that we try to have during slower times,” says Erika Puckering of Electric Diner.

During the renovation of Copps Coliseum — now TD Coliseum — the owner of Electric Diner at the corner of James North and King William says business was very hard, so a bustling arena will be ‘electric.’

“We’ve been waiting for this. We knew we just needed to get through the construction and then once it comes back, and the Coliseum opens back up, we’re gonna be in business again. And that’s exactly what happened,” says Puckering.

Businesses all along James Street North will feel the buzz too.

“I think we’re gonna start to see business booming around here. We’ve already seen a bit of an uptick with all the concerts going on now that the renovations have been finished. And we’re excited to see some new teams join the area,” says Sarah Gooding of Merit Brewing.

Inside the rink, T-shirts marking the first home game are laid out on seats throughout the arena, including the upper bowl.

The team is expecting just shy of 16,000 fans in attendance for the inaugural game.

“I think the whole reason of the renovation was to revitalize downtown, they’re bringing in great concerts, they’ve got multiple sports in the building. It’s a fantastic venue … there’s certainly a lot to be excited about for the Hamilton-area fans,” says Jay McKee, a coach with the Hamilton Hammers.

And fans are even showing their support for the hammers before puck drop.

“We’re really excited about the hockey. To have AHL and a women’s league come in is super exciting. We have season tickets for both,” says one fan.

“It’s a great way to meet other people, get involved in the community. And who doesn’t love hockey,” another fan says.