Latest news with #TimLukenda
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Soo Greyhounds will not bid on 2027 Memorial Cup
Article content The Soo Greyhounds decided the third time was, in fact, not the charm. Article content After unsuccessful bids in 2021 and 2024, the team announced Monday morning that it will not bid to host the 2027 Memorial Cup, the Canadian Hockey League's marquee tournament. The event is slated to be hosted by an OHL team, as part of the CHL's regular rotation with the WHL and QMJHL. Article content 'This decision was made following a review of the factors necessary to stage an event of this magnitude, including the resources required, the current state of the local economy in an environment of tariff uncertainty, and the competitive landscape among other potential communities looking to host this event,' reads a statement from team president Tim Lukenda. Article content The Greyhounds previously bid for the 2021 and 2024 tournaments. The first was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the second went to the Saginaw Spirit, who hosted in 2024. Article content Article content Hosting the Memorial Cup requires a significant financial commitment. City council previously approved $300,000 in funding to support the 2024 bid, drawn from the Community Development Fund–Economic Development Stream, designed to spur local economic activity. A similar investment would've been needed to support a 2027 proposal. Article content Competition for the event will also be steep. The Kitchener Rangers, Niagara IceDogs, and Guelph Storm have all expressed interest. Kitchener in particular is seen as a frontrunner, boasting a larger, 7,200-seat arena and more hotel capacity in the surrounding region. The Rangers last hosted in 2008, drawing more than 53,000 fans and generating a $1.95 million profit — the most lucrative Memorial Cup in CHL history. Article content Article content Guelph hosted its only Memorial Cup in 2002, while the IceDogs have never held the tournament at the decade-old Meridian Centre in St. Catharines. Article content 'Competing to host the Memorial Cup would require significant financial and logistical commitments, and our responsibility is to ensure that any bid we submit is both achievable and competitive against larger markets that may currently have greater capability and capacity to meet the event's extensive requirements,' Lukenda's statement reads. Article content The Hounds have hosted the tournament once, in 1993, when they captured their lone CHL championship at the old Sault Memorial Gardens. Before its 2021 cancellation, the tournament was set to be held either in the Sault or Oshawa.
Ottawa Citizen
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Soo Greyhounds aim to bring more ‘big-league' feel to GFL Memorial Gardens
Article content When the Soo Greyhounds return to the ice next month, fans might find themselves looking up. A brand-new remote-controlled blimp, emblazoned with the team's logo and colours, will glide over the GFL Memorial Gardens this season. Article content The new addition is one of several 'fresh new touches' coming to the arena as the team continues to focus on building its in-game experience, according to Maya Lortie, the Greyhounds' business operations associate. Article content Article content 'We are always looking for new and creative ways to make a more memorable and exciting in-game experience for our fans at every Greyhounds game,' she told The Sault Star. 'The blimp will add a fun and new element to our game day presentation, and we think it will bring in a sense of excitement for fans of all ages, which is why we decided to introduce it this season.' Article content Article content The Canadian-made blimp, produced in Brantford, Ont., will fly during intermissions as 'both an entertainment and promotional tool,' featuring local businesses and spotlighting the team's community partners. It joins the popular Agawa Canyon train horn — introduced last season as the Hounds' new goal horn — as part of a growing focus on creating a vibrant home-game atmosphere. Article content The push to make Greyhounds games feel like a 'big-league' event also comes at a time of rising speculation about whether the team will bid to host the 2027 Memorial Cup, something the franchise hasn't done since it won its only CHL championship in 1993. Article content The Hounds have been active bidders in recent years, and owner Tim Lukenda didn't rule out the possibility of future submissions when the club's 2024 bid lost to Saginaw. When it comes to hosting the CHL's marquee tournament, strengthening arena atmosphere and community engagement are critical. Article content Several NHL teams employ blimps in their game day presentations, and the Greyhounds won't be the first in the OHL; the London Knights and Oshawa Generals, two of the top three teams in league attendance, are among the clubs to have taken part. Across the sports landscape, in-game entertainment has evolved to include blimps, light shows, and more interactive fan activations as teams look to turn every Wednesday-night game into an event.
