Residents back harbour site for stadium
April 27, 2010
John Kernaghan
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/759048
The Tiger-Cats took a hit and the Pan Am Games stadium site at the west harbour won plenty of support at a Strathcona community meeting last night.
"The Ticats are trying to hijack the stadium," said resident James Drake. "Can't we just build a Pan Am stadium (without them)?" he added as about 60 people at Hess Street School shared views and questions about the Bay and Barton streets stadium location. Drake noted Ticat management has been clear it doesn't see much revenue in the brownfield site.
Football club president Scott Mitchell has insisted the Ticats continue to work with the city to find ways to make it work.
David Adames, the city's Pan Am pointman, said the goal is "a sustainable stadium for the city and a sustainable Tiger-Cats."
The city called the public meeting as part of an information process that Adames says will accelerate over the next few months.
Hamilton is putting up $60 million for land in the west harbour, the stadium and velodrome. The province and federal governments are providing almost $32 million each for the facilities.
The Ticats were challenged to find partners to take the stadium from a $102-million facility for 15,000 people to a 25,000 to 27,000-seat stadium that would cost an extra $25 to $50 million. The football club is expected to submit a stadium business plan to city staff late this month or early in May.
Though the meeting was called to focus on transportation issues, the residents from Wards 1 and 2 took little issue with the IBI Group study that stressed public transit, walking and cycling access to the stadium.
Stadium design was a popular theme.
"I'm worried about an ugly barrier between the street and the waterfront," said Jennifer Dawson. "I worry about going cheap on the stadium and it becomes a blight, not a jewel."
Adames said the city is looking at ways to give residents a chance to weigh in on design and noted local and American design firms were already contacting Hamilton.
Responding to fears of going over budget, Adames and Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie stressed city council has drawn the line at $60 million from its Future Fund.