If I remember correctly, there was an article on the Spec around a year ago about a group that was interested in purchasing the group that runs FirstOntario Centre and the Concert Hall. What happened to that?
It's kind of in the air, in theory, Carmen's was looking to buy everything because they are basically trying to monopolize the convention business in the city. However, they are also trying to push the narrative of a Casino downtown hard, despite the fact the downtown wards overwhelmingly oppose it (myself included). They also, tried to lead a private study for the venues, which the city rejected as it seems to be a huge conflict of interest and could have opened them up to litigation if they went along with it.
The other company involved is Global Spectrum, (or whatever they are called now, some odd merger thing happened down south so that name is something different) was kind of fighting them on this front, as they are decent concert guys. I think they run the Flyers barn as well.
As it stands, Carmen's runs Hamilton Place and the Convention Centre, Global Spectrum First Ontario. Both recently tried to bid and step over each other, and now both of them have mysteriously said they are fine with the status quo now that the city is studying it on their dime. The facility isn't a bad facility, if you had money to dedicate a reno to the Bulldogs, I think it would be worthwhile. However, there is no way Andlauer is going to pay for that (and I don't blame him) and the city has been in a tax crunch for a good long time.