Zancor Centre - King Rebellion
- Dave Cottenie
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
JTF Homes Arena @ Zancor Centre
1600 15th Sideroad
King City, ON L7B 1A3
Year Opened: 2025
Capacity: 500
Join The Rebellion
The King Rebellion joined the Junior A level Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2024 after moving from Brantford to King City. The franchise was founded in 1966 as the Milton Merchants and moved to Brantford to become the 99ers in 2018. After Brantford secured OHL hockey with the Brantford Bulldogs, the writing was on the wall that there would be changes in the hockey landscape in Brantford.
The 99ers were purchased by Willa Wang of Beijing Xinghongao Sports and Culture Co. Willa is the mother of Oshawa General Simon Wang, a former Rebellion player who is, as of this writing, only the 3rd Chinese-born player drafted into the NHL. The renaming of the 99ers provided one of the most unique team names in sports and it is not just a clever moniker. The "Rebellion" refers to the role that King Township played in the short-lived Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.
Upon moving to King Township, the Rebellion played their first few months of home games in nearby Nobleton at the Nobleton Arena @ Dr. William Laceby Nobleton Community Centre. In January of 2025 the permanent home for the Rebellion, Zancor Centre, was finally ready in King City. Named after the real estate developer, Zancor Centre is a community hub with a pair of NHL-sized arenas as well as a swimming pool, gymnasium and community rooms. The Rebellion play in the JTF Homes Arena.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a snack bar in the main lobby that services the entirety of Zancor Centre. It is a fairly simple menu, not unlike other arenas in this league. The menu includes pizza, hot dogs, beef patties, chips, candy, chocolate, cookies, brownies and muffins. Soda, Gatorade, water, juice, energy drinks, coffee and hot chocolate are the beverages available.
Atmosphere 3
Zancor Centre has a bit of an unspectacular, yet functional exterior featuring plenty of brown brick. The main entrance has a bit of an inlet with a natural seating area on the east end, which keeps Zancor Centre from looking like a giant brown box. Entry into Zancor Centre brings fans into a large atrium with high ceilings that links all of the parts of the centre. At the east entry, fans are right at the home of the Rebellion, JTF Homes Arena.
After passing a temporary ticket table and merchandise table, fans enter JTF Homes Arena. There are large windows which allow people to see in the arena. On gameday, these are mostly covered to ensure that spectators are purchasing tickets. Inside the arena there are plenty of markings for the Rebellion including clear links to the minor hockey associations in King Township as well as a Rebellion schedule. One item of interest is a large poster near the entrance to the arena explaining the name Rebellion and the links to the Upper Canada Rebellion. The ice surface is south to north oriented with seating only available on the east side. Seating consists of four rows of plastic benches with rails behind for standing room. There is plenty of standing room at the north end of the rink as well. Drink rails are available at the north end. Sightlines are not the greatest as from pretty much any of the seating spots, fans are required to look through multiple panes of glass through the penalty boxes. The arena is bright and clean and windows at the top of the east and west sides let in plenty of natural light. A simple hockey scoreboard hangs above centre ice.
The gameday production at a King Rebellion game is very simple. The sound system is excellent and announcements are easy to understand.
Neighbourhood 3
Zancor Centre is located at the northeast end of King City, on the edge of town. There are a couple of spots for pre or postgame food or drink. They include Motorino, Hogan’s, the Hunt Pub and Locale King City. The Rebellion is the only game in town, however, there are other teams nearby. The OJHL has the rival Aurora Tigers and Newmarket Hurricanes a short drive away. The Schomberg Cougars of the PJHL are also close by. Other tourist options in the area include the King Heritage and Culture Centre and Canada’s Wonderland. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Holiday Inn in Aurora is a good option.
Fans 2
Assessing fans in the OJHL can be difficult. Not all teams report their attendance figures and the King Rebellion are among that group. For the game that was reviewed, there were maybe 120 fans in attendance. Rebellion fans would probably fall into the “friends and family” category and are generally pretty reserved. The small capacity of Zancor Centre precludes the Rebellion from attracting an elite level of support that the top tier teams in the league enjoy. However, by no means are the Rebellion selling out their games.
Access 5
Zancor Centre is located in the northeast end of King City, in King Township, between Richmond Hill and Highway 400. It is located on the northwest corner of 15th Sideroad and Dufferin Street. It is approximately 5 km east of Highway 400 and not too difficult to get to. There is plenty of free parking on site. For fans who are interested in public transit, there is a York Region Transit bus stop at the corner. Fans should consult the York Region Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Since Zancor Centre is so new, accessibility is at the forefront and getting around is very easy. Washroom facilities are also good. Fans should note that JTF Homes Arena is very cold and there are no heaters over the seating section.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for a King Rebellion are $15, cash or card at the door. Discounts are available for students and seniors. Kids and minor hockey players of King or Nobleton are free with their jersey. Parking on site is free and concession prices are what one would expect. The product on the ice is high quality and fans will enjoy the experience. A bit more of a production would add value to the low investment for a Rebellion game.
Extras 2
An extra mark for Zancor Centre as a community hub with multiple sports facilities.
An extra mark for the strong connection the King Rebellion have built with minor hockey in King and Nobleton.
Final Thoughts
The OJHL moving from Brantford to King City is an interesting one. The ownership situation in King is an interesting one as well. The King Rebellion now enjoy their brand new facility in JTF Homes Arena @ Zancor Centre and time will tell if the Rebellion will be a long term staple for the area or a flash in the pan, much like the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.
Comments