City council has voted to approve the full design package for Brantford’s new Sports and Entertainment Centre, authorizing construction of a $152-million arena planned for Market Street with more than 5,200 seats and the Brantford Bulldogs as anchor tenant.
In a special meeting Thursday night (Dec. 4, 2025), councillors endorsed the project’s Design Approval Report 2025-579 clause-by-clause, clearing the final hurdle before construction is scheduled to begin early next year.
The vote on design approval passed unanimously 11–0, with all members, including Mayor Kevin Davis, marked as in favour.
Later motions tied to construction authorization and financing carried 10–1, with Councillor Van Tilborg recorded as the lone dissenting vote.
The approved plan directs City staff to proceed with construction on a revised cost of $152 million, up from the original $140-million projection.
Council also agreed to receive the final design drawings, waive internal planning and building fees, and move forward with financing applications to Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation.
The four-level facility — proposed for the southeast side of the Civic Centre grounds — is described as a modern, high-capacity venue capable of hosting Ontario Hockey League home games, concert touring acts, trade shows and large multi-sport events.
Design renderings presented to council show a concourse-level seating bowl, premium suite tier, event-floor access for large-scale stage production, and amenities including restaurants, lounges, marketplace concessions, universal washrooms, sensory-support spaces, and accessible viewing areas across all levels.
The seating capacity is set at 5,235, with flexibility for approximately 1,700 floor seats on event nights.
A continuous 360-degree concourse, dedicated team facilities, media infrastructure, loading-bay access and a rigging grid capable of supporting full-scale production lighting are central features of the design.
Pending contract finalization, work is expected to begin January 2026, with structural steel installation slated for the spring, envelope closure into 2027 and commissioning scheduled for early 2028.
The goal, according to the project schedule presented to councillors, is for the Brantford Bulldogs to open their 2028 OHL season inside the new building.
City finance staff maintain that project funding can be achieved without increasing municipal property taxes, supported instead through future naming rights, sponsorships, land-sale revenue, municipal accommodation tax allocation, casino revenue reallocation and incremental tax uplift from downtown development.
Fundraising and corporate partnership work is expected to intensify now that the project is officially green-lit.
Council’s vote concludes months of design refinement and public engagement, including open houses, online review sessions and accessibility consultations, which produced feedback on exterior architecture, parking pressures and pedestrian flow.
The final plan incorporates a civic plaza, upgrades to site servicing and the addition of an LED ribbon board inside the seating bowl.
Brantford’s next step is contract execution and ground-breaking.
The Sports and Entertainment Centre is now officially in the build phase.
