Lacrosse team Toronto Rock returning to Hamilton, to play at newly renamed TD Coliseum

The Toronto Rock are officially coming backmost to Hamilton.

The six-time National Lacrosse League champions announced this week that they'll instrumentality to the metropolis for the 2025–26 play and play retired of the recently renamed TD Coliseum — formerly FirstOntario Centre — pursuing large renovations.

"We're excited to instrumentality location to Hamilton and play successful beforehand of our fans successful a venue that volition present a world-class acquisition to the Rock City faithful," said Jamie Dawick, the team's owner, president and wide manager, successful a quality release. "December can't travel soon enough."

The Rock archetypal moved to Hamilton successful 2021 but temporarily relocated to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre successful Mississauga during the overhaul. In 3 regular seasons astatine the Hamilton arena, the squad posted a 21-6 location record.

Despite the instrumentality to Hamilton, the team's sanction volition stay the same, the team's manager of communications Mike Hancock said Friday.

Renovations prompted sports teams to leave

Several different teams were besides displaced by the arena's closure successful precocious 2023.

The OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs — primitively the Belleville Bulls — moved to Hamilton successful 2015 but temporarily relocated to the Brantford Civic Centre successful aboriginal 2023. That determination became imperishable successful January 2025, erstwhile NHL subordinate Zach Hyman and his household purchased the squad and signed a 15‑year memorandum of understanding, anchoring the Bulldogs successful Brantford. There person been nary nationalist announcements suggesting a instrumentality to Hamilton.

The Hamilton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League besides near the city, moving to Brampton successful precocious 2022, wherever they stay nether caller ownership. CBC Hamilton reached retired to the squad but did not person a effect earlier publication.

The moves underscore however the arena's multi-million-dollar redevelopment has reshaped Hamilton's sports landscape. While the Rock's instrumentality signals renewed enactment astatine the venue, Hamilton's hoops and inferior hockey teams person since established semipermanent homes elsewhere.

The caller TD Coliseum is expected to reopen aboriginal this twelvemonth and go a large amusement hub for Hamilton. The arena volition diagnostic premium seating, improved acoustics, next-generation tech for nutrient and beverage service, and enhanced concourses, said Oak View Group.