After much anticipation, a ground-breaking ceremony was held on January 15th to mark the beginning of construction for the Ricoh Coliseum. The thirty eight million dollar project will transform the 80-year-old Coliseum, located at The National Trade Centre, into a new arena for the American Hockey League's Toronto Roadrunners.

The City of Toronto, Borealis Capital and the Coliseum Renovation Corporation (CRC), under a public/private venture agreement, will lease the newly constructed Ricoh Coliseum to Borealis which will in turn sublet the space to CRC for the Toronto Roadrunners home games. O&Y/SMG Canada will continue to manage The National Trade Centre and the Ricoh Coliseum, booking annual events such as the Royal Winter Fair, the Toronto International Boat Show, and the Toronto Sportsmen's Show along side over 40 home games for the Toronto Roadrunners.

The Ricoh Coliseum will not only be the official home for the Toronto Roadrunners but has been designed to easily transform into a unique venue for special entertainment events. The new Ricoh Coliseum will address the increasing demand with in the GTA for a sports and entertainment venue geared towards affordable corporate and cultural events.

To welcome these new events the existing roof will be raised 20 feet, the floor will be dug five feet deeper, and the seating capacity will increase from an existing 6,200 to over 10,000. 38 private suites, air-conditioning for the summer months, a new light and sound system, and the removal of old columns will draw new and exciting events to the Ricoh Coliseum and the City of Toronto. It is anticipated that the revitalized Ricoh Coliseum will be ready for occupancy in the late fall of 2003.

The National Trade Centre is professionally managed by O&Y/SMG Canada, a Canadian company offering management services to convention and trade centres, arenas, stadiums and theatre across the country. O&Y/SMG Canada is a partnership between O&Y Properties Inc. of Toronto, and SMG of Philadelphia, a leader in the United States in the professional management of 143 first-class trade and convention centres, arenas, stadiums and theatres.