Commonly Asked Questions

The SEC initiative is being developed to elevate Brantford as a sports and entertainment hub, foster economic growth, further revitalize the city centre, and attract high-quality entertainment and sports events for Brantford residents and visitors. The City estimates direct spending impacts of more than $13.2 million annually - $8.4 million from events held at the SEC and an additional $4.8 million from Bulldogs out-of-town visitors attending games.

The process involved a detailed assessment led by Sports Advisory Consultant KKR Advisors Ltd. and City Council. Initially, ten potential sites were evaluated, leading to a shortlist of three. Based on rankings of sites measured against detailed criteria including potential economic impact and overall feasibility, the site at 79 Market Street South, adjacent to the existing Civic Centre, emerged as the preferred location. The December 2025 design approval confirms the SEC will be positioned in the southeast quadrant of the Civic Centre site, with prominent frontage on Market Street and a proposed civic plaza framing the entries to both the SEC and the existing Civic Centre.

The site was selected based on ranking first in several assessment categories, including its alignment with Council priorities, potential economic impact, city-building potential, and overall feasibility. The Civic Centre site ranked highest in all categories except parking, where it ranked second, and ease of development, where it ranked third. The approved site design is intended to support downtown revitalization while providing space for parking, loading, team functions, accessible entries and a civic plaza for fan events and community activities.

The SEC project is now projected to cost about $152 million. This includes a base construction costs, including contingency, site services, landscaping and parking, site/contamination remediation, and a Civic Plaza. The approved design includes 5,342 seats, resulting in an estimated cost of about $29,000 per seat.

Additionally, a new Centre will help address the continually increasing high demand for ice time in our community, providing essential space for various activities and organizations such as minor hockey, adult recreational hockey, and figure skating.

The City’s financing plan has been updated to reflect the approved $152 million project budget and a more gradual projection of future tax revenues from lower downtown development. The plan projects that $140 million will be raised through a 30-year municipal debenture, with the balance paid from funds held in the SEC Reserve.

The SEC Reserve is expected to be funded through multiple sources, including proceeds from the sale of City lands, reallocated casino revenues, fundraising, sponsorships, operator contributions, Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues, and net incremental tax increases from new development within the downtown area. A detailed financial plan presented to Council shows these inflows as adequate to fund the project and service the annual repayment of the municipal debenture over the financing life of the project.

The financing plan also anticipates a major fundraising campaign, including naming rights contributors, donors and corporate sponsors. The City’s portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax and other reserve revenues will be used as part of the broader funding strategy.

The comprehensive financing plan is designed so that the capital cost of the SEC does not require a contribution from existing taxpayers. The plan also projects that, by 2042, net incremental tax revenues from lower downtown development would exceed annual debt servicing costs, allowing other revenues such as the Municipal Accommodation Tax to potentially be redeployed to other priorities.

No. Other City assets within the downtown core are not impacted by plans to develop the SEC.

It's important to consider the potential benefits that a well-planned Sports and Entertainment Centre could bring to the downtown area and how it can serve as a catalyst for economic growth as the anchor of a new Downtown Entertainment Area. Firstly, a new centre will attract visitors from near and far, generating foot traffic and business for surrounding retail and restaurants. This increased activity will breathe new life into the downtown area, creating job opportunities, stimulating local businesses, and generating new development interest much like has been done in other cities like London, Guelph, St. Catharines, Oshawa and Kingston.

The solidified ongoing partnership with the Brantford Bulldogs along with other sports and entertainment events at the potential new venue is modestly projected to generate an annual economic impact from spending in excess of $13 million annually, including spending by the SEC itself, spending by the Brantford Bulldogs, spending by visiting teams and fans, and spending by event attendees at local businesses. Additionally, the City's solidified long-term partnership with the Bulldogs is expected to significantly enhance the city's reputation as a sports-friendly destination, fostering increased activity and vibrancy, particularly in the downtown area. This boost in reputation is anticipated to attract future investments, further contributing to the city's economic growth. Moreover, the establishment of the SEC is envisioned to instil civic pride and confidence within the community, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement.

The community will also benefit significantly from the great work of the Bulldogs Foundation whose mandate is to raise funds to support youth in the community. This year alone, the Foundation has raised more than $145,000 for the Brantford Bisons through its partnership with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and has donated $45,000 to Brant Food for Thought, $10,000 to Brant Community Healthcare System Pediatrics and $35,000 to the Brantford Community Hockey League’s Take a Shot Program.

As part of a series of comprehensive community development plans, the City remains firmly committed to improving housing and healthcare in our community. The City is meeting the targets set out in the Brantford/Brant Affordable Housing plan to construct 506 social housing units over ten years. Four years into that plan 43% or 220 units have been or are under construction. At the same time the City is actively supporting the Province and Brant Community Health Services’ (BCHS) plan for the construction of a new hospital, a recognition of the critical need for advanced healthcare facilities in our community.

Building a new hospital is a massive undertaking that requires advocacy and raising the capital required from a variety of sources. The City is one of many players involved in contributing to this project and is dedicated to ensuring any dollars saved through year end surplus, additional dividends and operational efficiencies are contributed to this important community project.

While funding the new hospital build is provincially governed, the City will honour its obligations to contribute to this important community project. Beginning in 2023, the City proactively established a Hospital Redevelopment Reserve Fund, part of a dedicated effort by the City to put in place the municipal funding required for the successful completion of this vital healthcare project. The City will be allocating additional monies to the reserve each year.

It is important to note that proceeding with an SEC build does not circumvent any efforts to improve housing and healthcare. The City’s commitment to these initiatives will continue regardless of what is decided regarding a new Sports and Entertainment Centre.

Ultimately, the City's simultaneous focus on recreation, economic development, housing and healthcare underscores our commitment to fostering a thriving community and doing so by addressing in a comprehensive manner the many different and diverse needs required to make Brantford a successful and livable city.

Following Council’s December 2025 approval of the SEC designs and revised $152 million budget, staff have begun the construction phase. The project is currently proceeding on schedule, with site mobilization beginning in January 2026, and foundations and rink slab installation currently underway.

Anticipated Project Timeline

*Timelines remain subject to weather, site conditions and normal construction sequencing.

While having served the needs of the community well for the past 55 years, the Civic Centre is deficient in several key attributes that does not make the current Centre a viable long-term venue for an Ontario Hockey League franchise. With 2,954 fixed seats, the Civic Centre is currently the smallest venue in the entire OHL and would be the seventh smallest of the 60 venues that house Canadian Hockey League teams (including the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). It also lacks several amenities and features that allow a venue to maximize revenues and attract a wider range of events. Furthermore, the Civic Centre is deficient in several key spectator amenities including accessibility, seating size, row width and accessible washrooms.

The Brantford Sports and Entertainment Centre (SEC) is an approved multi-purpose facility being constructed at 79 Market Street South in downtown Brantford. The approved design includes 5,342 seats, approximately 189,850 net programmed square feet, four levels, a 360-degree seating bowl configuration for hockey and centre-stage events, premium suites, media and broadcast areas, accessible seating on all public levels, universal/family/gender-neutral washrooms, a sensory room, food service areas, team facilities, performer support spaces, and event infrastructure for concerts and other non-hockey events. Graham Construction, working with Stantec and project partners, is leading construction procurement and early works. Their procurement strategy prioritizes Canadian-sourced materials and equipment.