Chatham-Kent pitching itself as potential home for future OHL expansion team

The Chatham Auto Show is coming back this weekend, bringing more than 100 vehicles to the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.

Chatham-Kent officials have begun discussions with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) about the possibility of bringing a franchise to the municipality in the future.

Mayor Darrin Canniff says local representatives have already met with the commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League as the league explores possible expansion opportunities.

“We’ve met with the commissioner of the OHL a couple times because historically we’ve had some interest from other existing teams to locate here,” Canniff said.

“As they’re moving forward, they’re looking at expanding. So, we put up our hand and said we would love for you to consider Chatham-Kent as a destination for the new teams.”

Canniff said the municipality’s location could make it an attractive market, sitting roughly an hour away from several existing OHL teams, including the Windsor Spitfires, London Knights, and Sarnia Sting.

“What a great competition that’ll make,” he said.

“There are a lot of boxes checked from the commissioner’s point of view of what Chatham-Kent brings.”

However, the mayor says the biggest barrier to landing a team has long been the lack of a suitable arena.

Chatham Memorial Arena, built in 1947, currently holds about 2,200 spectators and lacks modern features such as corporate boxes.

“That’s what stopped it historically,” Canniff said.

“I suspect we’d have an OHL team here by now if we had an arena that would host it.”

Municipal council has approved $2 million for preliminary planning work toward a potential new arena in Chatham-Kent.

Canniff says officials are now exploring possible locations and working to develop a plan before bringing a formal proposal back to council.

“We’re looking at possible locations right now, so we need to acquire the land and get a plan in place,” he said.

“At that point that’s when we come to council and say we need to spend this money, and this is the timeframe, and this is what the project looks like.”

Even if plans move forward, the mayor says it could still be several years before a new arena — and any potential OHL team — becomes reality.

“Construction will be two years plus in the planning for it, so we’re talking several years out,” Canniff said.

He added the municipality may face competition from other communities interested in landing a franchise.

“I’m sure there’s other municipalities and cities in Ontario that would like to have one,” he said.

Still, Canniff believes a team could have a significant impact locally.

“An OHL team would be huge here in Chatham-Kent,” he said, citing tourism, economic activity and community exposure.

“Every time sports comes on and they’re talking about the scores, Chatham-Kent gets mentioned as well.”