FirstOntario Centre FirstOntario Centre is a sports and entertainment arena on the corner of Bay Street North and York Boulevard in Hamilton , Ontario . It was formerly named after the former Hamilton mayor , Victor K . Copps as the Copps Coliseum , The facility has a capacity of up to 19 , 000 . History . It was started at 1983 and was completed in 1985 at a cost of $ 33 . 5 million , and an additional $ 2 . 3 million for a parking garage . The construction was overseen by local Hamiltonian , Joseph Pigott . The scoreboard clock was originally from the Winnipeg Arena , purchased for $ 214 , 000 . Although it was not brand new , the scoreboard clock met the needs of Copps Coliseum . While Copps Coliseum was built in the hope that Hamilton could draw an NHL franchise , for the past 12 seasons , beginning in October 1996 , Copps Coliseum has been home to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League . The Bulldogs , the top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers ( 1996 – 2002 ) and the Montreal Canadiens ( 2002 – present ) have brought over 2 million fans to Copps Coliseum , and are the longest serving pro hockey team in Southern Ontario , aside from the Toronto Maple Leafs . The Bulldogs are the sole primary tenant in the facility . On Thursday June 7th , 2007 the Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup Championship in franchise history at home in Copps Coliseum by defeating the Hershey Bears . In 1986 , the World Junior Hockey Championships were held in southern Ontario , with Copps Coliseum used as the primary venue . In the decisive game , the Soviet Union defeated Canada 4 - 1 . In 1987 , the arena was the primary host for the Canada Cup tournament and was the site of Mario Lemieux ' s famous goal that beat the Soviets 6 - 5 in the decisive game . It hosted a number of games in the Canada Cup again in 1991 when Canada defeated USA in the finals . In 1990 , Copps Coliseum hosted the Memorial Cup . The tournament that year recorded the highest attendance for any single Memorial Cup game , on May 13 , 1990 at 17 , 383 spectators . In that same championship game , the Oshawa Generals defeated the Kitchener Rangers by a score of 4 to 3 in double overtime on a goal by Bill Armstrong . In 2007 , Waterloo billionaire Jim Balsillie , co - CEO of Research in Motion , made an offer to purchase the Nashville Predators for $ 220 Million US . His intention was to move the team to Hamilton and either use Copps Coliseum as a temporary home while a new state - of - the - art arena could be built , or to renovate Copps to bring it up to modern NHL standards . The bid was ultimately unsuccessful . In the spring of 2009 , NHL franchise Phoenix Coyotes filed bankruptcy and Jim Balsillie immediately offered a rumoured $ 212 . 5 Million US , while stating he wanted to move the franchise to Southwestern Ontario . Balsillie has applied for a lease option which , should the relocation succeed , would invoke a 20 - year lease for the team to play at Copps Coliseum . On May 9th , 2009 , the Toronto Star , Hamilton Spectator and others reported that that Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger was to meet with a second group interested in securing a lease . The group , led by Vancouver businessmen Tom Gaglardi and Nelson Skalbania , is interested in securing an interest in the Atlanta Thrashers and moving them to the Coliseum for the 2010 - 11 NHL season . Also on May 9 , 2009 the Thrasher ' s VP and GM Don Waddell had this to say to the AJC : " There is no truth to it . . . We are not a movable franchise . I have talked to our owners , and no one has had contact with any group . ” And he also had this to say to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN : " I have spoken to our owners again today on this subject , " said Waddell . " The Atlanta Thrashers hockey club is a vital part of the Atlanta area . We also own the Atlanta Hawks and have controlling interest in a 99 year lease with Philips Arena . Our franchise is not available to be moved , we will continue to be part of this community for many many years . " On May 13 , 2009 The Canadian Press reported on TSN . ca that Balsillie won the exclusive rights to Hamilton ' s Copps Coliseum until November after a unanimous vote by Hamilton city council . On May 29 , 2009 , Balsillie unveiled his plans to renovate the Coliseum into a state - of - the - art facility in anticipation of a NHL franchise coming to Hamilton .