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Tiger-Cats to get new stadium?
DAVID NAYLOR
September 29, 2007
It turns out Ottawa isn't the only city where a new CFL stadium looks as if it may be in order.
Now, it's Hamilton's turn.
Just days after engineers in Ottawa recommended one portion of Frank Clair Stadium be demolished because it is unsafe, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats say their 77-year-old stadium may be on its last legs, too.
And the team is calling on city officials to develop a plan to ensure the team has a place to play if Ivor Wynne Stadium is deemed unsafe.
Many expect that will happen in the next two to three years.
"At some point in the next three years there's going to have to be a major decision made over whether to renovate Ivor Wynne Stadium or look at a new project," said Tiger-Cats' president Scott Mitchell.
"The Tiger-Cats would be happy with either scenario. We're just a tenant that needs a place to play.
"We'd be happy to stay or to talk about the bigger picture of where sport development fits in Hamilton and the Niagara region."
Mitchell says he has quietly discussed the stadium issue with prominent businessmen and local politicians over the past few months, hoping to get a proactive start on what he believes is an inevitable decision and a potential opportunity.
The team was advised several years ago that portions of the stadium may not be usable beyond 2009.
"This is not a hypothetical," Mitchell said. "One of two things will happen. They have to renovate Ivor Wynne or build a new one. This is not 'we'd like to'. This has to happen in the next two years."
Ivor Wynne Stadium, once known as Civic Stadium, was built for the 1930 British Empire Games.
While it lacks many modern stadium amenities, Ticats owner Bob Young spruced it up considerably when he bought the team four years ago, making it a decent place to watch football, at least for now.
But Mitchell estimates keeping it that way will be a $30-to-$40-million investment, money that could be invested in a new facility with broader uses.
"A CFL team is not in a position to dictate it wants a new stadium," Mitchell said. "With the economics of the CFL, that's not realistic. So you've got to look at economic development and how it affects the big picture. But if it's just about the stadium then just rebuild Ivor Wynne Stadium."
Tiger-Cats to get new stadium?
DAVID NAYLOR
September 29, 2007
It turns out Ottawa isn't the only city where a new CFL stadium looks as if it may be in order.
Now, it's Hamilton's turn.
Just days after engineers in Ottawa recommended one portion of Frank Clair Stadium be demolished because it is unsafe, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats say their 77-year-old stadium may be on its last legs, too.
And the team is calling on city officials to develop a plan to ensure the team has a place to play if Ivor Wynne Stadium is deemed unsafe.
Many expect that will happen in the next two to three years.
"At some point in the next three years there's going to have to be a major decision made over whether to renovate Ivor Wynne Stadium or look at a new project," said Tiger-Cats' president Scott Mitchell.
"The Tiger-Cats would be happy with either scenario. We're just a tenant that needs a place to play.
"We'd be happy to stay or to talk about the bigger picture of where sport development fits in Hamilton and the Niagara region."
Mitchell says he has quietly discussed the stadium issue with prominent businessmen and local politicians over the past few months, hoping to get a proactive start on what he believes is an inevitable decision and a potential opportunity.
The team was advised several years ago that portions of the stadium may not be usable beyond 2009.
"This is not a hypothetical," Mitchell said. "One of two things will happen. They have to renovate Ivor Wynne or build a new one. This is not 'we'd like to'. This has to happen in the next two years."
Ivor Wynne Stadium, once known as Civic Stadium, was built for the 1930 British Empire Games.
While it lacks many modern stadium amenities, Ticats owner Bob Young spruced it up considerably when he bought the team four years ago, making it a decent place to watch football, at least for now.
But Mitchell estimates keeping it that way will be a $30-to-$40-million investment, money that could be invested in a new facility with broader uses.
"A CFL team is not in a position to dictate it wants a new stadium," Mitchell said. "With the economics of the CFL, that's not realistic. So you've got to look at economic development and how it affects the big picture. But if it's just about the stadium then just rebuild Ivor Wynne Stadium."
