Dundas Grightmire Arena delayed another full season

Grightmire Arena user groups were informed last week the city facility will be unavailable for the rest of the season, the second straight year they've all been displaced, as contractor Century Group Inc. works on a revised schedule for the addition project that is already more than three months past an original deadline.

City of Hamilton staff said last week there still is no firm date for programming to resume at the arena that has been closed for more than a year so far.

“It is unlikely that the hockey teams will be able to return to Grightmire in the 2018-2019 season,” Robyn Ellis, the city's manager of strategic planning said.

“The contractors had already made promises the rink would be done and open by several different dates, which never happened." 
Steve Aglor

The Dundas Minor Hockey Association, Dundas Blues Hockey Club and Dundas Real McCoy’s have all been forced to play home games at other city-owned arenas, mostly outside of the Valley Town. The delays also impact access to the Garstin Centre for the Arts, home to Dundas Little Theatre, which remains open during construction.

Last season, the Hamilton Huskies Junior Blues played at Dundas’ Westoby Ice Surface on Olympic Drive, but this season have been relocated to Chedoke Arena on Hamilton Mountain and are already paying a big price. Dundas fans aren’t making the trip to home games and it’s hurting the team’s gate which pays for ice time, officials and other expenses.

“Our season this year has been nothing but a roller coaster,” said Blues president Steve Aglor. “We’ve been practicing in two different rinks and have now played our home games on three different ice surfaces. I don’t know of any other junior team that has gone through what we’ve had to the last two seasons. We thought last season was bad, well this one has been worse.”

Aglor thanked sponsors that continue supporting the club, and local city councillor Arlene VanderBeek, for making the difference in the team surviving. But he also said user groups can’t be surprised anymore with repeated delays and missed deadlines by Century Group.

“The contractors had already made promises the rink would be done and open by several different dates, which never happened,” Aglor said.

Originally scheduled for completion by Sept. 7 this year, the project was rescheduled for a phased reopening in October, allowing hockey teams access to the ice. That was set back until at least November, but as late as January. Now the city says they don’t expect the arena to be ready for use before the end of this hockey season.

The issue has helped spark consternation among city councillors about how contractors are chosen, and dealt with when they don’t meet commitments. Century Group also did the late and over budget renovation of the Dundas library branch.

Mark Girard of the Dundas Minor Hockey Association said the organization is disappointed the arena won’t be available for a second season. Its teams are playing and practicing in several arenas around the city.

“We are pleased with the commitment of our membership throughout the displacement from our home facility,” Girard said. “The DMHA will work with the city to accommodate our families with the best available ice time. DMHA is confident that we will provide a positive experience for our players despite the arena situation.”

The Dundas Real McCoys continue playing home games at Harry Howell Arena in Waterdown. Team president Don Robertson said the contractor hasn’t lived up to its promises.

“The problem with the blame game is, it doesn’t get the building open any faster,” he said.

Robertson said the impacts are different for each of the affected groups including the three different hockey organizations. For the Real McCoys, he said it’s damaging the team brand, and hurting its ability to hold successful fundraisers and give back.

Robertson said the organization will be measuring the impact of the delays, and will look at its options beyond any actions the city may take to penalize the contractor. Like Aglor, he credited the city for working hard to find ice time for everyone.

Century Group has refused to comment on the project and directed all inquiries to the city.