The Bayshore will continue to be the home of the Owen Sound Attack for at least the next decade.
Council unanimously approved a new 10-year lease agreement between the city and the Attack at its meeting Monday evening.
The new lease term begins May 1 and continues until May 31, 2034. The agreement also includes a mutual option for a five-year extension.
“This is good news for hockey fans and certainly for restaurant operators, gas station operators and businesses, that the Attack are here for another 10 years … and we’ve got a good working relationship,” says Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy.
City manager Tim Simmonds told councillors the operating lease is valued at just over $100,000 annually and will require no taxpayer funds to cover Attack operations. He says the lease is indexed to the Ontario Consumer Price Index to ensure it covers inflationary costs.
The Attack will also be contributing more than $500,000 towards capital improvements at the Bayshore over the term of the lease.
“Thank you to the Owen Sound Attack ownership group and the team here internally for coming to this agreement, which is beneficial to both of us,” Simmonds says.
In a release sent out after council approved the agreement, Attack president Dr. Bob Severs thanked city council and staff for reaffirming their support of the team with the new lease.
“This agreement solidifies our commitment to the city and our great fans, ensuring that we can continue to provide thrilling hockey experiences while allowing us to continue our commitment to supporting community organizations and fostering community engagement for years to come,” Severs says.
The Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre was built in 1983. It has been home to OHL hockey in Owen Sound since 1989, when the Platers first moved from Guelph to the Scenic City.