Copps Coliseum was built to National Hockey League capacity and specifications in the hope that it would allow Hamilton to acquire an NHL expansion franchise. However, the city is less than 50 miles from the home arenas of two NHL franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, both of which have opposed an NHL franchise in Hamilton. Hamilton's close proximity to Toronto and Buffalo has proven to be an obstacle to attracting a franchise to Hamilton. Though the Centre has never been able to attract a full-time NHL tenant, it did host eight regular-season neutral-site games during the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons. Most of these games featured either the nearby Maple Leafs or Sabres.