Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
The Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League announced in May they would be shifting their home games to the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton and have a 5- year agreement, with a team option for a multi-year extension, in place,
Rock Owner, President and GM Jamie Dawick outlined a number of positives attached to the relocation, most notably a significant reduction in the cost of game operations.
FirstOntario Centre likely isn’t a bargain to stage home games at, but my assumption is it’s vastly less expensive than Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Further to that thought, at First Ontario Centre, the Rock along with the OHL Hamilton Bulldogs will be the primary tenants at the facility.
In Toronto, the Rock were well down the pecking order and thus scheduling their home dates would only be arranged after the Leafs, after the Raptors and after the other major attractions.
Of course as we see in the ongoing cluster-fiasco involving the Brampton Excelsiors move to Owen Sound, no shift of operations in lacrosse is ever done smoothly.
Almost immediately, the question was raised that if they are playing out of HAMILTON why are they keeping the name and brand of the TORONTO Rock ?
I agree, or foresee, the siege mentality or the Napoleon complex Hamilton has vis-a-vis Toronto will alienate some fans in Hamilton, but as I understand it, a good percentage of Rock fans come from everywhere but Toronto and if anything moving to Hamilton will make the Rock more accessible to Western Ontario lacrosse fans, including plenty from Owen Sound & Grey-Bruce.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.