Brantford Bulldogs 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

I had high hopes that this D can develop with time and have to remind myself it’s still so early. It might be best to concede that Brampton and Oshawa will just be too good to overcome and not the year to go all in. I’m not saying start trading away guys like Lardis. But maybe just stand pat and not use that draft capital for short term rentals. Take your lumps and let Radley, Krompotic, Babin and to an extent Chan( can’t see him being more than a 6 on any decent team) get experience. Maybe you hope for 3rd place win a round maybe two. Next year the guys a year older and more experienced

I thought this was the year the dogs were meant to be all in? Waving the white flag seems like such a waste after completely gutting the team over the past two years.

 

[Babs716]

Trades are coming…

 

[Otto]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843803744389214221

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843803744389214221

Not a surprise.

Most cities are eager to have OHL hockey in their town.

 

[coolhandluc44]

I thought this was the year the dogs were meant to be all in? Waving the white flag seems like such a waste after completely gutting the team over the past two years.

I would just be hesitant to go all in on a rental. The Leenders trade was different because you get him for 2 seasons (possible 3 as an OA). I would go all in for a player I get this year and next, I admit I have no idea who that would be at this time.

The team should be good next year too so I don’t know if it is this year or bust.

 

[Jawk]

Yesterday at the council meeting Kim Harrison suggested they should add second level seating to the Civic and not building a new arena.

What? Can you imagine.

Never mind the logistics, you'd never be able to move through the building.

 

[coolhandluc44]

Yesterday at the council meeting Kim Harrison suggested they should add second level seating to the Civic and not building a new arena.

What? Can you imagine.

Never mind the logistics, you'd never be able to move through the building.

Its laughable. We also forgot that the rink is not to size. Lets say even you could add another 1500 or 2000 seats. What about the extra washrooms required, concession stands? Who knows even how much that would cost. There are two comments from the public that stood out to me:

1) The CAO is retiring and some members of council including the mayor wont be back therefore we should not do it. That argument makes no sense to me. There is turnover on every council. Staff retire all the time. Even the members of council that don't decide to run not all will be re-elected. I believe the next election is not until 2026. So with this logic council should just sit for the next two years and do nothing? Staff should just sit and do nothing for two years? With this logic nothing would ever get done.

2) The comment that the city needs a new hospital. Of course the city needs a new hospital. If the city was responsible for building the hospital than yes of course that would be priority. But for the love of god people the province is responsible for building the hospital. The city and surrounding area has to have 10% when the hospital is completed. It has been said many times, even if the city had the 10% tomorrow the new hospital will not be open until at least 2035 so it doesn't matter.

 

[Jawk]

Its laughable. We also forgot that the rink is not to size. Lets say even you could add another 1500 or 2000 seats. What about the extra washrooms required, concession stands? Who knows even how much that would cost. There are two comments from the public that stood out to me:

1) The CAO is retiring and some members of council including the mayor wont be back therefore we should not do it. That argument makes no sense to me. There is turnover on every council. Staff retire all the time. Even the members of council that don't decide to run not all will be re-elected. I believe the next election is not until 2026. So with this logic council should just sit for the next two years and do nothing? Staff should just sit and do nothing for two years? With this logic nothing would ever get done.

2) The comment that the city needs a new hospital. Of course the city needs a new hospital. If the city was responsible for building the hospital than yes of course that would be priority. But for the love of god people the province is responsible for building the hospital. The city and surrounding area has to have 10% when the hospital is completed. It has been said many times, even if the city had the 10% tomorrow the new hospital will not be open until at least 2035 so it doesn't matter.

I can't imagine trying to get something to eat between periods if they just simply added a second level. What about private boxes? Absolute ridiculous suggestion.

Common argument in city politics is always, "let's not let this council decide". Like you said, there is always turnover on council and you need to let current council do the job.

Not that I'm defending city councils, in general they are almost always useless.

People just don't understand the hospital funding issue and are, understandable, frustrated with the process.

Another argument that has been common is the area. Yeah, it's an older part of the city that has challenges, but the best way to improve it is with this sort of redevelopment. Not to just abandon it.

 

[coolhandluc44]

I can't imagine trying to get something to eat between periods if they just simply added a second level. What about private boxes? Absolute ridiculous suggestion.

Common argument in city politics is always, "let's not let this council decide". Like you said, there is always turnover on council and you need to let current council do the job.

Not that I'm defending city councils, in general they are almost always useless.

People just don't understand the hospital funding issue and are, understandable, frustrated with the process.

Another argument that has been common is the area. Yeah, it's an older part of the city that has challenges, but the best way to improve it is with this sort of redevelopment. Not to just abandon it.

Agree with your last point. In the next 10 years the lower downtown or what ever you want to call that area will look completely different also. Sports and entertainment Centres/ arenas are always best to be in the downtown area.

 

[Jawk]

Agree with your last point. In the next 10 years the lower downtown or what ever you want to call that area will look completely different also. Sports and entertainment Centres/ arenas are always best to be in the downtown area.

So much better than being plopped down in a field off Garden Ave, surrounded by nothing but a parking lot.

 

[Rounder8]

S

So much better than being plopped down in a field off Garden Ave, surrounded by nothing but a parking lot.

Being selfish, that's what I would like. I would probably even get season tickets again.

It's a pain getting downtown, but I get why it makes sense there.

 

[Jawk]

S


Being selfish, that's what I would like. I would probably even get season tickets again.

It's a pain getting downtown, but I get why it makes sense there.

It would make my drive shorter as well. I may have said in the past, but as is, I'm actually about 5 minutes closer to the rink in Niagara.

 

[Rounder8]

It would make my drive shorter as well. I may have said in the past, but as is, I'm actually about 5 minutes closer to the rink in Niagara.

Yeah, the drive is pretty much the same for me.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Much better game last night.

Started to get the puck out easier by the second half. Leenders played well.

 

[sbpointer]

It would make my drive shorter as well. I may have said in the past, but as is, I'm actually about 5 minutes closer to the rink in Niagara.

Seems to be lots of tickets available there..

 

[Rounder8]

Seems to be lots of tickets available there..

Ya, tickets were sold, but the arena looked half empty. Weeknight games are never great, but it didn't look good.

 

[coolhandluc44]

Ya, tickets were sold, but the arena looked half empty. Weeknight games are never great, but it didn't look good.

Weeknight game, Leafs and Habs season opener is going to equal a low crowd in almost every city

 

[Rounder8]

Weeknight game, Leafs and Habs season opener is going to equal a low crowd in almost every city

Agreed. I've seen small crowds before, but this looked like something out of Mississauga.

At least the tickets were sold.

 

[Jawk]

When the corporate ticket giveaways don't show up it really makes the building look empty.

People that want them can't buy them, people that get them for free feel no obligation to show up on a random Wednesday.

Those corps with large amounts of tickets will likely have a private box in the new building.

 

[Rounder8]

When the corporate ticket giveaways don't show up it really makes the building look empty.

People that want them can't buy them, people that get them for free feel no obligation to show up on a random Wednesday.

Those corps with large amounts of tickets will likely have a private box in the new building.

Maybe, but some didn't in Hamilton. One year there were 4 seats right in front of me that were sold, but not used once all year and I was there every game. It was nice, but if that happens in a smaller arena it sucks.

 

[Otto]

It was pretty much accepted that the Bulldogs were not going back to Hamilton, then the Brantford arena announcement solidified that opinion.. now this

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844739127352172841

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

It was pretty much accepted that the Bulldogs were not going back to Hamilton, then the Brantford arena announcement solidified that opinion.. now this

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844739127352172841

Wonder who the affiliate will be.

Leafs would make sense geographically but I feel like they kinda have a good thing going with having both of their teams being a short 3 min train ride away.

 

[Jawk]

Wonder who the affiliate will be.

Leafs would make sense geographically but I feel like they kinda have a good thing going with having both of their teams being a short 3 min train ride away.

I can't imagine the talks if they approached Andlauer for the Sens.

However, imagine that long game. Gets a new NHL building in Ottawa, new OHL building in Brantford, and a state of the art renovation in Hamilton for the baby Sens.

Then Belleville becomes available to the OHL again.

I think it's going to be the Marlies, they're atleast the early target, but it's a fun conversation to have.

 

[coolhandluc44]

I can't imagine the talks if they approached Andlauer for the Sens.

However, imagine that long game. Gets a new NHL building in Ottawa, new OHL building in Brantford, and a state of the art renovation in Hamilton for the baby Sens.

Then Belleville becomes available to the OHL again.

I think it's going to be the Marlies, they're atleast the early target, but it's a fun conversation to have.

I do wonder if part of the long game is selling the Bulldogs once they are in the new arena. Once they have a new arena and permanent home there value we be much higher. Just pure speculation

 

[Rounder8]

Solid outing and hope they can hold on with 4 mins left, but they're being way to cute getting the puck out of their own end while up 2 in the third period.

Just turnover after turnover at the blueline.