Brantford is preparing to enter a new era of large-scale civic construction following city council’s approval of a $152 million Sports and Entertainment Centre and a long-term lease agreement with the Brantford Bulldogs. City officials say the project will serve as a cornerstone of downtown revitalization, delivering a modern, flexible venue designed to host everything from Ontario Hockey League games to concerts, trade shows, and community celebrations.
With construction expected to begin in early 2026 and completion targeted for early 2028, the project represents one of the most significant capital builds in Brantford’s history, both in scale and long-term economic impact.
The Penticton Herald reports that the new Sports and Entertainment Centre will be located on Market Street, strategically positioned to connect with the existing Civic Centre through a newly designed civic plaza. This public space is intended to function as a year-round gathering area, reinforcing the venue’s role as a focal point within the downtown core.
Designed to seat 5,235 spectators, the facility is purpose-built to support a wide range of programming. While it will serve as the permanent home of the Brantford Bulldogs, the building is also planned to accommodate concerts, family shows, community events, and large-format exhibitions. This multi-use approach is driving both architectural design decisions and building systems selection, ensuring flexibility across event types.
The City of Brantford has selected Stantec and Graham Construction to deliver the project using a progressive design-build model. This approach allows design and construction teams to collaborate from the earliest stages, improving constructability, cost certainty, and schedule control for a complex civic facility.
Under progressive design-build, major design decisions are refined alongside contractor input, helping to reduce risk associated with long-span structural systems, acoustics, seating geometry, and back-of-house logistics. For a venue that must accommodate ice hockey, concerts, and large crowds, early coordination between architects, engineers, and builders is critical.
Design development will continue through 2025, with ongoing stakeholder and community engagement shaping final layouts, finishes, and public realm elements.
The Sports and Entertainment Centre is envisioned as a highly efficient, spectator-focused venue with modern amenities. Core components are expected to include:
A full-sized OHL hockey rink with professional-grade ice systems
Tiered seating bowl designed for optimal sightlines
Event-level concourses with food, beverage, and merchandise areas
Back-of-house player facilities, including locker rooms and training areas
Loading docks and production support spaces for concerts and touring shows
Administrative and operations areas for both the city and team use
The building’s systems will be designed to support rapid changeovers between ice-based events and non-sport programming, influencing everything from flooring systems to rigging infrastructure and mechanical capacity.
Construction is expected to commence in early 2026, beginning with site preparation, excavation, and foundation work. Structural framing, envelope installation, and interior fit-out will follow in carefully sequenced phases to maintain schedule certainty.
Given the downtown location, construction staging and logistics planning will be a major focus. Material deliveries, crane placement, and pedestrian safety measures will be coordinated to minimize disruption while keeping the project on track for its early 2028 completion target.
The scale and complexity of the Sports and Entertainment Centre will mobilize a broad range of skilled trades over the multi-year build. Anticipated construction trades include:
Surveyors and geotechnical crews
Excavation and earthworks contractors
Concrete formwork carpenters and rebar installers
Structural steel fabricators and ironworkers
Roofing and waterproofing specialists
Masonry contractors and architectural precast installers
Glaziers and curtain wall installers
Electricians and low-voltage systems technicians
Plumbers and mechanical pipefitters
HVAC and refrigeration specialists
Fire protection and life safety system installers
Interior framing, drywall, and ceiling contractors
Flooring, painting, and finish carpentry trades
Audio-visual, lighting, and scoreboard integration teams
Civil, hardscape, and landscape contractors for the civic plaza
During construction, the project is expected to generate 1,260 full-time jobs, contributing approximately $90 million in employment income.
An independent economic analysis commissioned by the city highlights the project’s broader economic significance. Construction activity alone is projected to generate $261 million in economic impact, along with nearly $25 million in federal and provincial tax revenues.
Once operational, the facility is expected to support 95 full-time equivalent jobs and generate approximately $13.2 million in local spending annually. Over a 10-year operational period, total spending impact is projected to exceed $145 million, reinforcing the venue’s role as a long-term economic engine.
The project will be financed through a combination of dedicated revenue sources, including a $140 million municipal debenture supported by a reserve fund. That reserve will draw on municipal accommodation tax revenues, casino revenue reallocation, property sales, naming rights, sponsorships, operator contributions, fundraising efforts, and increased commercial property tax revenue tied to downtown development.
City officials have emphasized that this funding structure is designed to support the facility without placing undue pressure on general municipal budgets.
As design work advances and fundraising efforts continue, the Brantford Sports and Entertainment Centre is positioned to become a defining piece of civic infrastructure. For contractors, consultants, and trades, it represents a major multi-year construction opportunity. For the city, it is a long-term investment in downtown vitality, employment, and community identity.
With shovels expected in the ground in early 2026, the focus now turns to detailed design coordination and construction planning that will shape Brantford’s downtown skyline for decades to come.
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