Sunday, April 27, 2025

Global Spectrum has found a sponsor for the naming rights to Copps Coliseum. And the proposed new arena name was presented to councillors at committee Monday.

It looks as though FirstOntario Centre will be the new name. But Global Spectrum asked naming rights bidders to honour late Mayor Victor Copps as well so the building will say:

FirstOntario Centre in honour of Victor K. Copps.

Councillors were very supportive of the plan. They had already given Global Spectrum naming rights to raise money and they are happy that Vic Copps hasn’t been forgotten.

But they are also happy with FirstOntario as a choice because it’s a company rooted in this community. It started as Stelco Credit Union back in 1939 and is now the third largest credit union in Ontario. It made almost $34 million over the last five years.

So what will FirstOntario pay? $3.5 million over 10 years. But that could change if Hamilton gets an NHL team, because then the naming rights would be more valuable. Global Spectrum presented a mockup of what the building would look like with the new name, but the picture was just held up briefly and they refused to show it to us again because, they said, it was a rough mockup. But here’s a quick glimpse at that picture and reaction from the Mayor.

Scott Warren is with Global Spectrum: “We would make sure he was honoured. The lettering would probably be brushed nickle or something. Even though, if this relationship were to go away, that doesn’t. So whatever the name on the building, the name Victor Copps will be on the building as long as the city wishes it. We certainly wish it to be so.”

Mayor Bob Bratina: “If you really want to honour someone forever, a stadium built in the last 30 years is not the place. It has a life cycle.”

The city could name Central Library after Vic Copps or perhaps a erect a statue of him. On February 6th, Global Spectrum and FirstOntario will have a public unveiling of the name or give us a better sense of what it will look like.