Popular celebrity chef set to open new restaurant in massive new Ontario arena

A major venue near the GTA undergoing a $290 million overhaul will soon host a 9,500 square foot restaurant run by Canada’s most beloved celebrity chef.

Information trickled in today that the Hamilton Arena, previously known to locals as the First Ontario Centre and Copps Coliseum, will soon host a restaurant operated by culinary golden boy, Matty Matheson, in the form of the Iron Cow Public House.

The location will be a full-service bar and a restaurant for visitors to kick their feet up and enjoy downtown Hamilton and the newly renovated arena.

Matheson, best known for his involvement in the Emmy award-winning TV series The Bear, operates several esteemed restaurants in the GTA, including Prime Seafood Palace, Bar Clams, Maker Pizza, and Matty’s Patty’s in Toronto and Rizzo’s House of Parm in Fort Erie.

Matheson also headlines the hardcore band, Pig Pen, which had its debut in Toronto just earlier this year.

In an official release, the Oak View Group–the company helming the arena renovation–announced that the upcoming Iron Crow is slated to host up to 185 diners and be open for arena-adjacent events as well as non-event days.

“What Oak View Group is doing here is incredible, and I’m honoured to be a part of it,” Matheson said in a statement.

Matheson’s hospitality company, Our House H.C., will design the menu, which is slated to sample favourites from several popular locations.

Renovations to the arena have been in full swing since last spring, with the Oak View Group saying the venue will include new seats, restaurants, and viewing suites that might be the first of their kind in North America.

Designed by Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects and constructed by EllisDon, the new arena (which has yet to reveal its new name) will feature an artist compound, a brand new concourse area, concessions on every level, and much more.

Nick DeLuco, senior vice-president with the Oak View Group and general manager of the new Hamilton Arena, indicated that once construction is complete, the location will likely host more than 120 events a year, as reported by INsauga.com.

LiveNation has stated that it will handle live music bookings for the venue.

It is anticipated to open at the end of this year, with a massive concert by the world-class Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli.

“At Oak View Group, we’re not just transforming venues—we’re transforming the way people experience them. Hospitality is where that starts, and Hamilton deserves the best,” said Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO, Oak View Group, in a statement.

As for Matheson, he shares his own excitement about the venue’s re-opening as he stated to the press, “We’re building something special for Hamilton, and I’m pumped for you to see this come together.”