Jamie Dawick, Owner of the Toronto Rock, confirmed the speculation on Monday evening at a Town Hall meeting with the Rock’s Season Ticket Holders (STH) via webcast.
The Rock are moving to Hamilton, and the First Ontario Centre.
Since Thursday, when the story leaked via the Hamilton Spectator newspaper, the Rock universe had been turned upside down with rumors that the team was leaving Toronto. Although the story was retracted quickly, news already had spread through social media in a number of different platforms.
Mr. Dawick said he and his group found with increasing costs at Scotiabank Arena, this was the best option to keep the team operational, and profitable. The deal with First Ontario Centre is a Five Year Agreement with a team option for multi years following that.
Thanking the fans for their support over the years, a hope that this wasn’t an end to a relationship, rather just new scenery was definitely the tone. Much discussed in the Town Hall was how much would be saved by not only the team, but also the consumers as well (food, beverages, tickets, parking, etc.).
Mr. Dawick went on to confirm that the team was not going to change their name, as the name is very recognizable, and they have spent a great amount of time and money bolstering the brand. Being the only team in Ontario, they are representing fan bases from all over Ontario, and will continue to represent the greater Toronto/Hamilton area.
Most people generally understood the logic behind the move, and were looking forward to the perks the team has planned for them. If there is still capacity limitations in place due to Covid-19, Season Ticket Holders would have priority access into the arena. The other piece of information that was big for the STH was that the majority of games would be held on Saturday nights.
The Rock plan on announcing all the finer details of the deal, and move, Tuesday morning at 11 am via press conference on all the Rock social media outlets.
Stay with Lax Philly, as we continue to follow any and all news concerning the Toronto Rock, and their relocation to Hamilton, Ontario.
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
