Ontario Hockey League club staying put with historic 30-year deal, $50 million city commitment

The Oshawa Generals are sticking around after all.

Just weeks after a closed-door session at Oshawa council that saw the owner of the historic hockey team threaten to find greener pastures elsewhere if he and the city couldn’t agree on certain concessions, the two sides have reached an agreement on a new 30-year partnership.

The deal includes a $50 million commitment from the city to modernize the Tribute Communities Centre and a new “prime location” for the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame, a sticking point in previous negotiations between Oshawa and Generals’ owner Rocco Tullio.

Tullio, who has owned the club for 17 years, called the 30-year lease extension a “powerful partnership that secures the future of hockey in this community for generations to come.”

“This milestone ensures that the greatest fans in junior hockey will continue to cheer for the best team in the league, right here in the heart of Oshawa,” Tullio said.

“Junior hockey has always been more than just a game – it’s a proving ground for players, coaches, staff, and future leaders alike,” he added, while lauding the high standards that have always been part of the storied franchise’s culture and are “even higher” today. “The demands of the game have evolved, and so must we, ensuring we continue to attract elite talent and deliver a first-class experience for our fans that is second to none.”

“This lease extension not only solidifies our roots, it also creates the foundation for new dreams to be built, new talent to be nurtured, and new generations of fans to fall in love with the game.”

The historic agreement between the hockey team, the city and Oak View Group, who operate the city-owned Tribute Centre, ensures that the Oshawa Generals will continue to call Oshawa home for another three decades. Oak View Group is also extending its agreement for management and food and beverage services for 30 years, as well as investing $1 million in facility infrastructure, including a modernized concession area.

Image Ian Goodall

The Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame will be relocated to a new location in front of the arena providing “24/7 exposure” to its displays and further increasing awareness of the city’s sports achievements.

Oak View Group has managed the facility since 2008, with the venue welcoming more than seven million guests in that time. In addition to junior hockey games, the Tribute Centre has also hosted concerts from Elton John to Kiss and events such as boxing at the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, Tullio, Ontario Hockey League Commissioner Bryan Crawford, Oak View Group executive Greg O’Dell and other dignitaries were on hand for Tuesday’s announcement and signed custom Oshawa Generals jerseys to be displayed at the hall of fame to commemorate the occasion.

Since 1937, the Oshawa Generals have been more than just a hockey team – they have been part of Oshawa’s DNA. The club, in its two iterations, are also the most successful junior hockey club in the country, winning five Memorial Cup national championships and 13 Ontario titles. The club’s legacy also includes some of junior hockey’s greatest players, with players such as Bobby Orr, Eric Lindros, John Tavares, Marc Savard and Red Tilson all wearing the iconic red, blue and white uniforms and inspiring generations of future stars.

Created and named in honour of automaker General Motors of Canada, the team has a longstanding and deep-rooted history in the city. The club was founded in 1937 and was an instant success at the old Hambly Arena during the war years, winning an unprecedented seven consecutive league titles and three Memorial Cups during that span.

In 1953 the arena burned to the ground during training camp, leaving the club without a home and the franchise was put on ice until its rebirth nine years later when Wren Blair took over management of the team and signed a 14-year-old kid named Bobby Orr, who would go on to re-write the record books in pro hockey and redefine the role of defencemen in the modern game.

The club moved into the Civic Auditorium in 1964 – the ‘House that Orr Built,’ it was affectionately called – and remained there until 2006 when the Tribute Centre opened.

Oshawa Generals goalie Jacob Oster and team mascot Deke celebrate. Photo Goodall Media

The city has made significant investments at the Tribute over the years, including $1 million for a new scoreboard and upgrades to player amenities such a new weight room, medical facilities and an NHL-caliber players’ lounge.

Recent changes to NCAA eligibility at U.S. universities has created new opportunities in Ontario and many OHL facilities are being renovated (Kitchener, London) or new facilities constructed (Brantford, Sudbury, Ottawa) to meet that demand.

The modernization of the arena will include a main entrance expansion, fan experience upgrades, interior renovations, seating for a minimum of 7,000 and an updated concession area. The upgrades will ensure the facility is eligible and ready to host a Memorial Cup and improve player facilities to support top-tier talent. The modernization will support Oak View Group in further marketing the facility and attracting more sports and entertainment events and performances and fans by offering an improved experience.

The city was quick to note in its press release the $50 million modernization will “not impact the tax rate.” It will be funded through various sources, such as the new Oshawa Generals and Oak View Group agreements, Municipal Accommodation Tax and additional seat revenue. Construction is anticipated to be phased over two years beginning in 2027 to minimize disruption for the Generals, concerts and other entertainment shows.

There are no details on how the arena will expand its capacity to 7,000. Current capacity for hockey is 6,125 with standing room.

Carter, a professed long-time fan, said he was “ecstatic” in knowing that “our beloved Gennies will continue to be an integral part of our community for another 30 years.”

O’Dell, the president of venue management for Oak View, said the new partnership “reinforces our ongoing commitment” to the City of Oshawa and the Oshawa Generals. “With a newly renovated Tribute Communities Centre, we look forward to building on our shared successes and deepening our community impact.”

Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame Chair Adrian Vanhemmen praised all parties for “all of the work behind the scenes” to forge the new deal.

“They have come up with a concept to bring Oshawa’s TCC into the future. It will give us an updated facility to bring the people of Oshawa a better game experience and a better insight into the rich sports history of our city.”

Crawford, the newly minted OHL Commissioner, was also effusive in his praise for the successful negotiations, saying the deal guarantees that future hockey stars will “continue playing in a first-class facility for decades to come.”

“I look forward to what the future has in store for a Generals franchise that continues to strive for excellence both on the ice and in the Oshawa community.”

The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce said the venue is “incredibly important” to the fabric of the community, as arenas are across the country. “It brings us together, it speaks to our shared experience, and it represents what is the best in the game. So that investment is about more than just a facility. It’s about more than just bringing people together to play sports, whether it be hockey, basketball, or any other events. It’s really about bringing people together as Canadians and what makes us unique in the world.”

“This is more than an arena, it’s a celebration of community, pride, and our Canadian spirit.”

Tribute Communities Centre. (Kalvin Taylor/Goodall Media)