PWHL Hamilton expansion expected to drive ‘massive’ economic impact for downtown

The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) new Hamilton expansion team is already skating into a rivalry with the Toronto Sceptres, boasting a strong fanbase despite not yet having a name.

“You no longer have to look far away to see what’s possible,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of hockey operations. “The best women’s hockey players in the world are now coming here.”

This fall, Hamilton’s very own professional women’s hockey team will hit the ice for its inaugural season.

Organizers say it was the Toronto team’s Takeover Tour at TD Coliseum in January that really showed them the love the city has for the sport.

“What we saw here made a lasting impression on us,” Hefford said. “More than 16,000 fans filled this arena, and 70 per cent of ticket buyers had never attended a PWHL game before. That told us something important: this community was ready.”

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said the process moved fast after that.

“It rolled very quickly from there because the energy in this space, the fanbase that was brought, from all over the region — not just from Hamilton, but from Niagara region, Kitchener-Waterloo region, from the GTHA but also from Buffalo and further out,” Horwath said.

WATCH MORE: Hockey in the Hammer: Hamilton to get PWHL team

A PWHL team in Hamilton will have multilateral impacts, including revenue from tourism.

“Hamilton is really embracing its sport roots,” said Lisa Abbott, the City of Hamilton’s director of tourism and culture. “What a great history that there is of sports in Hamilton; what a great legacy. And to bring it back to this building is just so exciting. And in terms of economic impact, it’s going to be big. This is massive. Especially for downtown Hamilton, we’ve already got great momentum going and this is something that’s going to just take it way over the top.”

That momentum is picking up across the city.

“The Takeover Tour, it was completely packed, we had a lineup out the door,” said Erika Puckering, co-owner of Electric Diner. “It was really exciting for the city to have a women’s hockey team and you could just tell the energy in the city was really excited about something like that. And for us to get that, I think it’s exactly what we need in the city.”

William Vlahos, owner of Tony G’s Pizzeria, has also noticed the surge.

“From all the families coming in from the coliseum and events happening, people just come in for slices. And you can say business has been going very good for the last little bit … it’s been very good,” Vlahos said.

It is good for business and good for morale. The dream of playing for a hometown team is now that much closer to reality.

The league says there are 236 eligible players declared for this year’s draft, which will take place on June 17 in Michigan.

Merchandise is already available at the online store. The palette includes gold, which is said to be a nod to the Tiger-Cats and Hamilton Tigers from the 1920s, and maroon, representing aged steel for Steeltown. As for the name, the city is still waiting.

WATCH MORE: PWHL officially announces Hamilton expansion Thursday morning