Hello Chatham-Kent, The OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs Are Looking For A Home

We’ve heard this story play out several times before. An OHL team is upset with their current location, and looking for an alternative…and Chatham comes out of someone’s mouth.

In recent years, it has been the London Knights, Erie Otters, Plymouth Whalers, and probably a few others that never made it into public consciousness.

Now, it’s the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

This coming after Hamilton Bulldogs owner Michael Andlauer publicly stated he’ll need to look at alternative locations for his franchise after Hamilton city council denied the construction of a new arena for the team.

BREAKING: @BulldogsOHL owner Michael Andlauer says after years of ‘empty promises’ from the city, staff’s recommendation that his Lime Ridge Mall arena idea be killed means it’s time to start exploring options outside #HamOnt for a new home. Story to come … #OHL #BurlON

— Scott Radley (@radleyatthespec) January 8, 2020

That timing sounds just about right for Chatham-Kent, who is on the verge of constructing a new arena, and has been a sought after OHL destination due to geographic location and rivalries.

Although the immediate towns floating across social media include Chatham, Cornwall, Brantford, and Belleville, others are quick to note Andlauer is likely first targeting a nearby community to Hamilton, so he can maintain his management of the organization.

That doesn’t mean however, for a community like Chatham-Kent, that the door is closed, and when a multi-million dollar business is looking for a home, one would hope Council and administration are at least making the call.

Considering Andlauer was willing to put a significant amount of his own money into the development of a new arena complex, I think the Chatham Bulldogs has a nice ring to it.