Hamilton Honey Badgers relocate to Brampton due to arena closure

The Hamilton Honey Badgers are permanently leaving the city due to a two-year renovation scheduled for FirstOntario Centre.

In a media release Monday, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) said the team is relocating to Brampton just in time for the 2023 season.

“We were recently informed that renovations to Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre will displace the Honey Badgers for the 2024 and 2025 seasons,” the league said in a statement.

“Rather than playing elsewhere on a temporary basis during that time and relaunching the team again in 2026, the City of Brampton made it an easy decision for us to establish a permanent new home in one of the best basketball markets in Canada.”

The Champs are coming to Brampton 🏆 #BramptonGotNext

🔗 in bio for more information pic.twitter.com/TFwERj7bNQ

— Hamilton Honey Badgers (@HoneyBadgersCAN) November 28, 2022

The Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group announced earlier this month that FirstOntario Centre tenants would have to find a new home for two seasons due to the construction.

In response, the president of the Honey Badgers said the team is moving to Brampton for good since it would be unable to do business during the renovations.

“I am disappointed to have to be leaving Hamilton where we were only able to play 24 games in four seasons in front of our fans, including none at all for 23 months, because of the pandemic,” said Honey Badgers President John Lashway.

READ MORE: Hamilton Honey Badgers get ready to play their first game

“Unfortunately, the reality of launching the franchise in 2019, essentially relaunching again in 2022 with the effects of COVID-19 still lingering, and facing a relaunch in 2026 is untenable from a business perspective.”

The Hamilton Honey Badgers kicked off their inaugural season in May 2019 and won their first CEBL championship this past August.

The Brampton Honey Badgers 2023 season schedule is expected to be announced mid-winter.