Brantford City Council considered and approved a staff recommendation to advance development of the new Sports and Entertainment Centre (SEC) using a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) procurement model during a special Council meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
This approach will allow for greater collaboration, cost control, and efficiency in delivering this important community project.
In January 2025, the OHL Board of Governors approved the Brantford Bulldogs’ ownership transfer to NHL player Zach Hyman and his family. On January 18, 2025, Mayor Kevin Davis officially welcomed Brantford Bulldogs new owners, Stuart, Spencer and Zach Hyman to Brantford and together with Spencer Hyman, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), securing a 15-year lease for the Brantford Bulldogs as the anchor tenant of the new proposed SEC in Brantford with renewal options to extend the agreement for up to 40 years.
The approach will enhance collaboration between designers and contractors, reducing project risks and ensuring transparency throughout the process. Additionally, the SEC will be designed in accordance with the City’s Net-Zero Building Strategy, incorporating environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient measures to reduce emissions and operating costs.
City staff will now initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a Design-Build Team. Council will receive a “Go/No-Go” report, later in the year, which will outline the final design details, budget, and construction plans before the project moves into Phase 2 – Construction.
Public Engagement Opportunities
Through the design-build process, public engagement will remain a key priority, with opportunities for residents to provide feedback on the project through an interactive open house event and the Let’s Talk Brantford online engagement platform. Engagement opportunities related to the design phase are expected to begin in September, giving the public the chance to ask questions of staff and provide comments on the project.
