If you are a hockey fan, you probably already know that Rogers Hometown Hockey will be coming to Cobourg on January 4 and 5. According to announcements from the Town, it will stage outdoor entertainment and Hockey events at the Marina Parking Lot on Third Street next to the Marina/Yacht club buildings – they’ve called this space “the West Harbour” but they don’t mean in the water. The event is one of 25 events across Canada and finishes on the 5th with “a live outdoor viewing party of an NHL broadcast from the Sportsnet Mobile Studio” – for Cobourg, this will be a game between the Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild. I understand that the Mobile Studio is a tractor-trailer sized glass sided studio with external viewing screens so you can see what’s being broadcast.
Also on Sunday, there will be a Parade of Champions where Hockey celebrities and fans will walk from the Esplanade to the Marina parking lot. If you’d like to participate, go here to register then at 5:45 meet at the Esplanade (the west end). The parade begins at 6 p.m.
Saturday festivities happen between 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm and Sunday events go from noon to 10:00 pm. On the Friday before (the 3rd), there is a “School Rally” at 1:00 pm at the CCC Parking lot and the Mayor’s free skate at the CCC (Bowl and Pond Arenas) at 2:00 pm.
Although there’s lots of details being given by the Town on who will participate (Ron MacLean and Tara Slone, Darcy Tucker, Shayne Corson, Steve Smith, Gord Brooks, Jim Hughson, Chris Johnson – see link below) they don’t provide details on exactly what entertainment will be provided nor where exactly the hockey related events will be held. If ice is required, I’d think it will be in Rotary Park – surely not on the West Harbour which will be iced over by then. Another local news site, Cobourg Now, has listed some of the entertainment without detailing where exactly they will happen – but I guess the walk from the Marina Parking lot to the Rotary ice pad is not that far. The entertainment is described as: free hockey-themed games, prize giveaways, fun activities, and live local entertainment for the whole family. For more details go to Cobourg Now.
There’s also encouragement to buy $20 Toques to support a worthy cause (go here).
There will be road closures and other changes too – beginning on Thursday, January 2 at 7 a.m. to Monday, January 6 at 8 am:
- Closed: Hibernia Street at Marisa Lane, Third Street at Esplanade, and Orr Street at Hibernia Street
- Closed: Esplanade West Parking Lot closed for Event Parking only
- Esplanade to become two way traffic
- Hibernia at Albert Street – local traffic only will be permitted through
- Third at Albert Street – local traffic only will be permitted through
- Orr Street at Durham Street – local traffic only will be permitted through
- Transit Route Two will be detouring to miss the Legion Village and Cobourg Marina stops. A temporary stop will be added at the south east corner of Albert Street and Hibernia Street.
Shuttle
A free shuttle will operate with pickup and drop off as follows:
- Cobourg Community Centre
- Northumberland Mall (Staples)
- Downtown Transit Shelter (Albert Street)
- Albert and Hibernia
Anyway, for Hockey fans, and even if you are not, this should be quite an event. Let’s hope the weather is not miserable. Cobourg is doing well to be chosen as one of the season’s 25 events in all Canada.
Links
Print Article:
So will they be temporarily moving the Transit Shelter Hotel residents somewhere during this period ?
I’m sure Rogers Hometown Hockey didn’t just wake up one day and say ‘yaaaa lets go to Cobourg’. Whom ever was involved with attracting this event to Cobourg should be congratulated, and yes I think this is a big deal. Just like when Cobourg landed the Ladies & Mens Provincial Curling Championship, the provincial & national exposure was terrific. Hopefully the NIMBYists will react positively to this event and that we get a great turnout for the broadcast of the game – GO FLAMES.
In all honesty they’ve been doing this program for a number of years, at 25 communities a year they were bound to hit Cobourg eventually.
Btw, for those who don’t know, Chris Johnson is from Cobourg.
That explains the work on the parking lot these past few weeks. Filling in potholes and a general cleaning up of the lot.
Too bad “Grapes” won’t t be part of the show!