All-Time Running Backs and Cannon Street

A couple of little pieces of info from the past couple of days as it relates to the Tiger-Cats.

For starters, we have the team releasing the names of the running backs that are up for the all-time team. I was very surprised when the position breakdown came out that fans would be asked to select two running backs. I figured there would only be one and that fans would pick five receivers, not four. But two it is and the list of nominees has been revealed to be Willie Bethea, Troy Davis, Jimmy Edwards, Dave Fleming, Cookie Gilchrist, Andy Hopkins, Gerry McDougall and Ronald Williams.

Troy Davis is a no-brainer. He is the all-time leading rusher in team history, and onws the single-season and single-game records for rushing yards. Davis is arguably the greatest running back in team history and his four-plus year run with the Ti-Cats was one of the few bright spots in a less than stellar era of Tiger-Cat football. He's definitely getting one of my votes.

Where to cast my second vote is where I'm having problems. The remaining seven players all have a compelling case as to why they should be the second running back on the all-time team and my last votes seems to be a back and forth between Jimmy Edwards and Ronald Williams. I never saw Edwards play, but what he did was nothing short of spectacular. Three all-star nods in three seasons, two MOP nods, and 1977 MOP award. Had the guy stayed with the team, he might have gone down as the greatest CFL running back of all time. Williams I did watch and man was he good. He's often forgotten when discussing those early McManus-led teams, but he was an integral part of that offense. My vote is going to flip flop between those two until voting ends.

The second bit of Tiger-Cat news involves, what else, the new stadium. A report given to the city recommends that the area of Cannon Street in front of the new stadium should become a "civic space" and be closed to traffic.

I think that is a great idea, even if it is only put in place on game days. I think turning the area around the stadium into a more pedestrian-friendly one would be wonderful. I hope this comes to fruition in 2014.

New Stadium, New Alignment

It looks like everything at the new Ivor Wynne Stadium will be different, as the idea of rotating the stadium has now been made public.

It had long been rumoured that this was a possibility, and now it is definitely a possibility, and it may even be an inevitability. This was obviously not in the plans when the north stands were simply being renovated, but this became a viable option once news came out that those stands needed to be completely replaced as well.

Changing the stadium's orientation would provide that new fan experience that the Tiger-Cats have been trumpeting for a while now. It is no surprise that it was the team that brought the idea up.

Nothing is concrete, and we won't know until July if the change will occur. Still, it does make for some interesting water-cooler talk for the next couple of days or weeks, while we all wait for the start of free agency on February 15th.

New Stadium, Same Address

I know I'm late on this, but it has been a hectic weekend.

Anyway, enough about my personal life, let's get down to the news.

The new Ivor Wynne Stadium (or whatever it ends up being called) is no longer a renovation job, but a full-blown new stadium.

It was revealed on Friday that the north side stands "would not accommodate seats with backs because of the grade." That means that Ivor Wynne Stadium will be a brand-new facility with no remnants of the old building present as the north stands will also be replaced. The plan already called for the south stands to be replaced, but initially, the north stands would have just been renovated. That is no longer the case, and the whole thing will be brand new.

So we fans get to venture to the same address we've always gone to, but we will be watching games in a sparkling new stadium. It's a win-win if you ask me. The best stadium to watch a game in will lose its warts, but none of its charm. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Portrait of a City

As much as I am a Tiger-Cat fan, I am also a Hamiltonian. Most of the time I am proud of that fact. Being from Hamilton made me who I am, and if not for being raised in Hamilton, I would not be a Tiger-Cat fan. I owe a lot to Hamilton.

I know I am probably way late on this, but a video surfaced online about a month ago titled "Portrait of a City" about the great city of Hamilton in the 1940s. I had the video sent to me by two different people, and I finally got around to watching it today. One word sums up my feelings on the video: fantastic! The history dork in me loves it, and there is even a little something for the Tiger-Cat fan in me.

There is a scene where athletes are at Civic Stadium, now known as our beloved Ivor Wynne Stadium, taking part in some Track & Field events. (The scene starts at the 12:42 mark.) It is pretty weird to see what the place looked like in the 1940s.

There is also a brief clip of the Tiger-Cats playing at Civic Stadium. (It begins at the 13:13 mark.) It's not a very long clip, and I can't tell who they are playing (Ottawa, perhaps? Calgary?), but it was cool nonetheless.

This is a video that every Hamiltonian should see, so please feel free to pass this video along. It was posted online by Brian Potstra who says that a friend of friend saved this from being tossed out at City Hall. Can you imagine? Losing this would have been horrible! Now we can all enjoy it thanks to that person who kept it from being thrown in the garbage.

Here is the video. It runs a little over 20 minutes. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Portrait of a City

Finally

I said months ago that I was done talking about the stadium. I said I would only talk about it when everything was resolved.

I said nothing when the idea to renovate Ivor Wynne Stadium was passed by council, because TO2015 (formerly HostCo) had to sign off on it.

Yesterday, they finally did.

One of the most ridiculous sagas I have ever witnessed is finally over with.

There is no point in pointing fingers now. What's done is done. It is time to look to the future.

From day one, I have said that I couldn't care less where the stadium was put as long as it was built somewhere. That was my only criterion. That has been met, so I'm satisfied.

I would be remiss if I failed to bring up the campaign that started some time ago to Save Ivor Wynne Stadium. Long before anyone else floated this option, one man took it upon himself to call for the renovation of Ivor Wynne Stadium. No one took him seriously, myself included, but a part of me is glad he fought for this. I have no idea if his campaigning had anything to do with solving this debacle, but he deserves credit for being the first to bring up this idea. I tip my cap to you, Larry. Fine job, sir.

This whole mess is now behind us. I look forward to seeing games at a renovated Ivor Wynne Stadium. A brand new stadium would have been nice, but keeping the Tiger-Cat tradition at Balsam and Beechwood suits me just fine.

No Words

I am speechless.

Hamilton is the only city that would take a $100-million gift and piss in the face of the persons giving it to them.

No stadium is getting built here for the 2015 Pan Am Games. That's not official, but with the deadline about five weeks away, there simply isn't time to find an alternative.

Confederation Park is out. The East Mountain land has been sold. Longwood and Aberdeen is too expensive. And don't get me started on the west harbour.

This was a gimme, a layup that anyone could have hit. But I forgot that in Hamilton, there is no such thing as a gimme.

New city council, same idiotic results. The short-sightedness of it all could very well push the Tiger-Cats out of Hamilton. My hope is, if they do go somewhere else, that they at least stay close. Burlington or London would be fine.

Dave Naylor said on TSN that it is possible they could be headed to Moncton, Quebec City or Ottawa. It is entirely possible that Hamilton City Council has just killed an entity that has operated in Hamilton for over 140 years.

This is a sad turn of affairs. Who knows what the future holds, but at this point it looks like the future does not have a Hamilton Tiger-Cats in it.

Some of This, Some of That

Today was a fairly busy day. We had a team get a Head Coach... but then not. We had some news about the Pan Am Stadium, and the news was not good.

It was thought that the Roughriders had a Head Coach... then they didn't. Earlier today, it was reported by CFL Daily that Montreal Offensive Coordinator Scott Milanovich would be named the new Head Coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Then the brown stuff hit the proverbial oscillator and Milanovich was not hired. It seems as if the Riders have not made a decision. No one is perfect, but in the rush to be the first to report, accuracy was sacrificed.

I said I was shunning all talk about the stadium until there were shovels in the ground, but when news happens, news happens. Aberdeen and Longwood is dead. It would cost upwards of $70 to $90 million just to buy the land. Newly elected mayor Bob Bratina now wants Confederation Park looked at. It's looking more and more likely that the stadium will not be built in Hamilton. I'm going to refrain from editorializing too much. All I'm going to say is:

Fred Eisenberger, you're a f**king idiot! Thanks for nothing, jackass. Your legacy is assured. You're the moron who pissed away $100 million in government funds. Nice job, dickhead.

I'll get back to some football-related stuff later in the week, including an interesting rumour that nearly no one seems to be reporting or even talking about, and who I think should be the backup Quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Ti-Cats Unveil Their Stadium Plans

I said awhile ago that I would stop talking about the Pan Am Stadium. To be perfectly honest, I was sick of reading about it, of hearing about it, and of feeling like I had to write about it. So I imposed a moratorium on stadium topics on myself.

Well, I will break that today, as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have unveiled their plans for the proposed stadium at the Aberdeen and Longwood location.

I'm not going to get into whether I like it or not. To be perfectly honest, I don't really care what the facility looks like as long as it has seats, a field and sight lines that don't mimic the Rogers Centre SkyDome. That's all I need to enjoy a football game. I just want this whole mess to be sorted out once and for all.

If this design works for the team (which it obviously does) and it works for the city, then let's get this puppy built and put this whole nasty mess behind us once and for all.

I will say, it's kind of a cool-looking design. But that's all I'm going to say on the matter. Moratorium back on.

Goodbye Ti-Cats

I was going to write this as an obituary, but since the death of the Tiger-Cats isn't certain, I'll abstain from doing that until it is official that the Cats will leave.

City council, in its infinite wisdom, has voted 12 to 3 in favour of the west harbour.

Those that voted in favour in of the harbour site were:

Ward 1 - Brian McHattie
Ward 2 - Bob Bratina
Ward 3 - Bernie Morelli
Ward 5 - Chad Collins
Ward 6 - Tom Jackson
Ward 7 - Scott Duvall
Ward 8 - Terry Whitehead
Ward 10 - Maria Pearson
Ward 12 - Lloyd Ferguson
Ward 13 - Russ Powers
Ward 14 - Robert Pasuta
Mayor - Fred Eisenberger

Those that voted against:

Ward 4 - Sam Merulla
Ward 11 - David L. Mitchell
Ward 15 - Margaret McCarthy

Those that abstained:

Ward 9 - Brad Clark

Now, from my understanding of everything, without a long-term tenant, there will be no Pan Am Game money from the federal or provincial governments. No senior-level money equals no stadium.

I'm sickened by the delusion of city council. They put forth a motion to try to get the Cats on board for the harbour site. That's not going to happen, which means that after 141 years (what will be 142 years after they play out their lease at Ivor Wynne), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will no longer exist.

This is a sad day not only for Tiger-Cat fans, but for the city of Hamilton.

Where Do We Go From Here?

I really do not know what to say right now. I come home from a long day's work to Facebook posts, e-mails and my Dad's words:

"The Tiger-Cats are leaving."

I have read Bob Young's letter to the mayor, and while I know it doesn't categorically state that the Tiger-Cats will leave Hamiton, it sure does seem like that is the likely outcome to this whole mess.

An institution that I was hoping my soon-to-be-born nephew could enjoy may very well be taken away from me, you, all of us.

And for what? So the mayor can say he won? So a man so devoid of even the most basic of negotiating skills, a man so inept at his own job, a man so anger-inducing that if he was standing in front me, I would punch him square in the face, so a man, our "mayor," who I wouldn't trust to run a hot dog stand, can revitalize downtown? Well, with the Cats no longer a part of the equation, he can kiss his federal and provincial money goodbye. His revitalization will hit a major roadblock.

I want to be angry at Bob Young, I want to look at him as the Art Modell  (Cleveland Browns' owner who moved them to Baltimore) of the CFL.

But I can't.

From all I've seen, Bob Young has attempted time and time again to make this work. He accepted a facilitator's recommendation of the East Mountain as the site for a stadium, even though that was not his first, second, third, or tenth choice. He committed money to not only build the stadium, but money to bring two Grey Cups to the city, even money to help revitalize downtown for f**k's sake. The mayor's response to those overtures was to spit in his face.

If the Cats decide to move, I wish them luck. If the Cats decide to move, it probably ends my days as a resident of Hamilton. It is inconvenient for me to live here and work where I do. The only reason I stay is to go to Ti-Cat games. With that no longer in the picture, I have no reason to stay here.

The saddest part for me personally, aside from the fact that my favourite professional sports franchise will be no more, is that I will no longer have any reason to keep up this blog. The team moving will likely see my days as a writer come to an end.

I don't know what the future holds, and perhaps this is just one giant bluff, but I don't think it is. Unless something major happens, I think that November 2011 will be the end of Tiger-Cat football in the city of Hamilton.

If this post seems a little scatterbrained and not very coherent, I apologize. I just really don't know what to say, and I just spewed my feelings onto the page.

More Stadium Fallout

I have written about the Tiger-Cats rally, the senior governments' bombshell that they won't fund a west harbour site and the mayor's tantrum following said bombshell, so I guess it's only fair that I cover the west harbour rally that occurred last night.

Like I said in my piece on the mayor, I didn't want to make this overly political, but my hand was forced. Well, after reading what transpired last night, I'm not going to bite my tongue.

I just want to comment on Graham Crawford, a member of the pro-west harbour group "Our City, Our Future," comparing what occurred yesterday evening to living in North Korea.

Yes, in his infinite wisdom, Mr. Crawford compared the federal and provincial governments' about-face to the dictatorial regime of Kim Jong-il.

It is hyperbole of that nature that dilutes the actual message. Mr. Crawford comes off looking like an ill-informed fool with this statement. I get that he and his supporters are angry, but to make the comparison to North Korea is juvenile, asinine and completely ignorant; though given the comments made by the mayor, I should not be surprised when one of his supporters would make such an imbecilic declaration.

This debate is now calling into question the democratic system we have in Canada. A simple perusal of the Canadian Constitution would do them all some good, as it would put to rest the ridiculous notion that what happened yesterday was somehow anti-democratic. Democracy has not been attacked; this is not authoritarian; this is simply the federal and provincial governments making a decision that they are well within their rights to make. They don't want to see their tax dollars spent in a manner that only benefits the mayor's massive ego

To be completely honest, I'm just sick of this whole thing. This issue has ripped the city in two and, up to this point, has done more harm than good. I cannot wait until this whole thing is behind us. I want to get back to simply focusing on the on-field product. Hopefully, that will come sooner rather than later.

Eisenberger's Statement

I know I said I'd update things as soon as news became available, but I spent my evening and night watching the two CFL games with my father, so I was unable to get any news before now.

Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger released a written statement not too long after the decision was made public. Here is what he had to say:

We have been hearing from our federal and provincial partners all along that the stadium issue should and would be decided locally.

That changed today. I am extremely disappointed that the decision is now being made by the upper levels of government.

I have been consistent in my support for a stadium at the West Harbour because I believe it best serves the public interest.

The community has spoken loudly and clearly that the West Harbour makes the most sense for the people of Hamilton.

It is obvious that the upper levels of government are ignoring the community and have instead listened to private interests.

The truth is the West Harbour won. The West Harbour won the support of the community. The West Harbour won because it is best for the community.

Powerful private interests compelled the federal and provincial governments to move the goal posts. They changed the game so they could win.

Regardless I am a supporter of the West Harbour. I will continue to be in favour of the West Harbour site for the Pan Am stadium. I am doing what I have always done and that is to safeguard the public interest of people of Hamilton. That means a stadium at the West Harbour.

Regardless of what happens I will continue to be an advocate of the redevelopment of the West Harbour.

I will present a motion to council at the first opportunity which if passed will authorize city staff to prepare a new plan for the West Harbour that are [sic] at least as significant and sustainable as a stadium and that a task force be created to spearhead the initiative.

The mayor granted CH News an interview, as well. (The mayor's comments begin at the 3:23 mark.)

In all the fervor over where to put the stadium, I have avoided talking about politics. I have tried to keep Blogskee Wee Wee apolitical. Sadly, just like Bob Young, the mayor has forced my hand. I cannot keep politics out of this, even if I wanted to. I am sure I will alienate a few with my opinions, but that's a risk I am willing to take.

The mayor comes off in both his written statement (where he really needs to hire a new editor, as his statement was absolutely riddled with grammatical errors) and his television interview as angry and querulous. I take particular exception to him saying to CH News that what the federal and provincial governments have done is "an affront to democracy." He couldn't be more wrong. I would think that someone who is involved in politics would know how Canadian democracy works. Apparently, he does not.

I also find it highly inappropriate for a public figure such as the mayor to state publicly on local television that there was "manipulation by somebody" in regards to the federal government's decision. Not only is it inappropriate, but it is also very bold and inflammatory. As mayor, Fred Eisenberger needs to choose his words more carefully.

His written statement is even worse, as he flat out lies. Yes, I said it, the mayor of Hamilton lied when he said "[t]he West Harbour won the support of the community." Everything, be they online polls, website supporters or any other type of non-scientific measurement, indicated that there was a 50-50 split among the population of Hamilton on whether the stadium should be located at the West Harbour or the East Mountain. For the mayor to make a statement that the West Habour "won the support of the community" is a lie.

I have no sympathy for the mayor; I have never liked the mayor (except when I was younger, before he was mayor, and I only cared for him because I was friends with his son), and I hope to see him defeated in the upcoming election. He has handled himself poorly during this entire fiasco – a fiasco that he helped to created by not including the Tiger-Cats in discussions early on. He even said that it's "a minority partnership when it comes to the Tiger-Cats." Looks like you got another thing wrong, eh, mayor?

By reacting so hastily, the mayor responded to what occurred in a petulant manner unbecoming an elected official. Since the Tiger-Cats have yet to make a public statement on the matter, I suspect they will come off as more level-headed. I suspect the Tiger-Cats will make a statement with the next 24-48 hours.

I think it is fair to say that the debate is pretty much over. I cannot see a scenario where the East Mountain will not become home to the Pan Am Stadium and, thus, the next home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

East Mountain or Nothing

One Day, We'll Watch Football Here

Well folks, the Great Stadium Debate is now over. The federal and provincial governments have told the city that they will not provide funding for a West Harbour stadium. This all but guarantees that the new home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be on the East Mountain.

More news to come when any new developments arise. I would expect to hear from Mayor Fred Eisenberger, as well as the Tiger-Cats. pretty soon.

Caretaker's Letter

Tiger-Cats Owner Bob Young released a letter today that outlines how he, and the Tiger-Cats, feel about the possibility of the Pan Am Stadium being located on the east mountain.

I won't outline everything, because you can read it yourself with the link I've provided, but I will discuss a couple of points.

First, the east mountain wasn't the Ti-Cats' preferred site, and it wasn't even its second choice. I wasn't surprised by this. The next point, however, shows how much the team didn't want the stadium in the west harbour, and how much they view the east mountain as a better alternative, even though it wasn't their first or second choice.

$74,000,000

That's the amount that Bob Young and the Tiger-Cats are willing to put up for costs associated with the new stadium on the east mountain. It's not just for building the stadium, but for other things as well. One example is that the new stadium would get two Grey Cup games, which cost $7,000,000 each to host. A letter from CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon was attached to Mr. Young's letter that essentially promised a Grey Cup game to Hamilton as soon as a new stadium is operational. Mr. Cohon says in his letter that the "economic benefit... will be approximately $100 million dollars in 2010."

These are just two of the many points that are made in Bob Young's letter. There is just so much to sift through that you'd be better served by reading the letter and the other attached items yourself and deciding if you think it's good enough to get the stadium built on the east mountain.

My optimism is sky high right now. I understand that this letter hardly answers all the questions, but this is the best news we Ti-Cat fans have heard or read since the Pan Am Games were awarded back in November. Everything since then has pretty much been negative, whether it's fans not wanting it in a certain area, or the pissing match that occurred between the City of Hamilton and the Tiger-Cats over where the stadium should be and why.

The one person who needs to be thanked endlessly is Michael Fenn. Mr. Fenn is the facilitator who may have just saved the Pan Am Stadium for the City of Hamilton and stopped the Tiger-Cats from possibly leaving Hamilton. I thank you, Michael Fenn, for making the seemingly impossible, possible.

So here's where we stand. We have a very large financial commitment from Bob Young, so now the ball is in the City of Hamilton's court. I think with Bob Young's commitment, a deal can be struck to get the stadium built on the east mountain. In fact, I'll take it one step further and say that a deal will be struck, and the stadium will be built on the east mountain. As little faith as I have in Hamilton City Council, it would take ineptitude of monumental proportions to screw this up.

I look forward to the day when I'm sitting in my season seat at the new stadium on Hamilton's east mountain.

West Harbour or East Mountain

The Hamilton Spectator obtained a copy of Michael Fenn's draft report, and we are now down to two sites: the west habour and the east mountain.

We all know about the west habour. That's the mayor's preferred site, and he took an almost "come hell or high water" stance in regards to putting the stadium there. We also know that Bob Young wanted nothing to do with a stadium there, and that's why we have this quagmire to begin with.

But now we get this other site on the east mountain, which would be located at Stone Church Road and Mudd Street near the Red Hill Valley Parkway and the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway ("The Linc").

I will not lie; I live on the east mountain, about eight minutes from this proposed site. I have kept my mouth shut on where I would like the stadium to be, and I will continue to do so, but I won't lie and say I wouldn't like for the team to be playing games so close to my house. From a purely selfish standpoint, I would fully embrace a move to the east mountain.

There is obviously some negotiation still left to be done. In the report, Michael Fenn asks for a deadline extension until August 31st. The City would likely not pony up as much cash, because downtown renewal was part of the reason they were willing to spend so much money on the west harbour site. That means it's likely that the Cats would have to pick up more of the tab or find private investors to pitch in money. Would that be a problem if the stadium was in a location of their liking?

The fact that a second site, no matter where it is, has been added to the list of possible homes for the Pan Am Stadium is a good thing. The alternative was never attractive. It looks like, at the 11th hour, we may be able to salvage this thing. For the first time since this whole mess started, I am optimistic that we have just found a new home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Will It Ever End?

I am always hesitant to discuss the issue of the Pan Am Stadium because no matter what position you take, you alienate a lot of people.

Personally, I was hoping that with the season starting, Ti-Cat fans would move away from discussing the stadium and concentrate on the actual game being played. I thought this was simply a case of there being nothing to discuss during the long CFL off-season and that once the games started, talk about the Pan Am Stadium would die down.

I should have known better. Ti-Cat fans never let anything die.

News has been coming in left and right in the past few days, and since this is something that Tiger-Cat fans want to talk about, I might as well talk about it myself.

First, we have the story of Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz and his proposal or intention or whatever you'd like to call it to buy Copps Coliseum and invest heavily in the Pan Am Stadium at the west habour location. Depending on which side you're on regarding stadium placement, this is either the best thing that could happen or the worst news possible.

Second, we have two stories that say other municipalities (rumoured to be Mississauga, Burlington and Oakville) have contacted Tiger-Cat owner Bob Young expressing an interest in having him relocate the Tiger-Cats to their city. I completely understand why Bob Young would want to do this, but as one of the most pro-Hamilton people I know (just ask any of my co-workers, who are mostly from Toronto, how much I love the city of Hamilton, despite its faults), the Tiger-Cats should play in Hamilton.

As sad as it is for me to say, Ivor Wynne Stadium is no longer a viable venue for the Cats to play in. As much as we fans love that place, it no longer serves the needs of a pro-sports franchise in the 21st century. A new stadium is needed to help make the Tiger-Cats profitable.

Where the division among fans comes into play is on the issue of where the new stadium should be built. The city wants to put it in the downtown area to help with urban renewal; the team wants it near a highway with a large parking lot in order to maximize its profits. I won't say where I'd prefer the stadium to be because, frankly, I don't care where they put it. I'm a fan and have been a fan for as long as I can remember. Wherever the stadium is, I'll find a way to get there. There might be places that will be easier to get to, but we'll all do what we must to get ourselves to the new digs.

This is a story that has gotten uglier and uglier as the days have gone by. There is a deadline of July 8th to get everything resolved. Hopefully that will happen, and like it or lump it, we'll be able to put this whole thing behind us and concentrate on the one thing we, as fans, should be spending our time on: the games.

Bob Young Says No to the West Harbour

Knock, knock. "Mr. Fan, you have a brown package waiting for you."

Bob Young just released a letter today saying that there is no way that the Tiger-Cats will move to the city's preferred new stadium site in the west harbour.

Now we all have to sit back and wait for the fallout.

About a month ago, I wrote about what I have learned about the proposed Pan Am Stadium. I admitted then, as I'll admit now, that I am not the most well-versed on this subject. There are a couple of comments from some people who have spent more time looking at this subject than I have.

From what Bob Young said today, it seems as if making the west-habour site work for the Tiger-Cats is near impossible. If his projections are correct, and the team would be sustaining losses of over seven million dollars per year, then there is no way the team can move there.

For too long the Tiger-Cats have been a charity case, and it's time for that to stop. I love the team, and I want to see them not just survive, but thrive. This new stadium was supposed to be the beginning of that transformation, and it's turned into an albatross that threatens to drag the team down.

A solution can, and must, be found. The future of the Tiger-Cats depends on it.

Stadium Fight

I have been wary of actually discussing what is quickly turning into one of the most divisive issues currently being debated amongst Hamiltonians. That issue, of course, is the Pan Am Stadium.

Pan Am Stadium

It's not the stadium itself, but where the stadium should be located that has caused so much consternation. The city has voted on a site in the west harbour, near Bay Street and Barton Street. The Tiger-Cats are not as bullish about this area. The team believes that moving to that location would not satisfy the needs of the team and would be a lateral move from their current home, Ivor Wynne Stadium. Moving from Ivor Wynne to the west harbour would just be going from one money-losing site to another, according to the team.

The city is more concerned with revitalizing the downtown core than making sure the Tiger-Cats are a financially successful business. The city believes that putting the Pan Am Stadium in the west-harbour area would be a step in accomplishing that goal.

I understand the city's reasoning. It's not up to them to make sure that Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young makes money. The city needs to look at the bigger picture, not simply one business.

However, that does not mean that the Tiger-Cats should be forced to move to an area that isn't financially viable for them. When Bob Young bought the team in 2003, he did so with the desire to see a new stadium built for the Tiger-Cats, one that could ensure that he made some money on this venture. If the team believes that moving to the location that the city has chosen doesn't make good financial sense, then why should they move? The team needs to start making money or Bob Young might consider selling or *gasp* moving the team. At the end of the day he's a businessman, and a successful one at that. He will only accept losing money for so long before he decides it's time to move on. As of right now, the Ti-Cats and their partners do not think that they could make enough off additional revenue sources, like naming rights and parking, to make the move to the west harbour work.

While the city wants to take care of the interests of the many, the Tiger-Cats are, and should be, interested in only their own financial well-being. As much as it is not up to the city to make sure the Ti-Cats are successful, it is not up to the Ti-Cats to ensure that businesses around them are successful. Downtown revitalization is key for the city, but means nothing to the team. The team needs as many added revenue streams as they can find in order to make the team financially successful. All the secondary and tertiary off-shoots from a west-harbour stadium do not provide the Tiger-Cats with the additional revenue sources they need to become a profitable business.

Another point of contention, at least among some, seems to be the heavy-handed approach that Hamilton City Council, namely Mayor Fred Eisenberger, seems to be taking in negotiations with the Tiger-Cats regarding the location of the new stadium.

Mayor Eisenberger was quoted as saying that the Tiger-Cats should have little say in the matter because "it's a minority partnership when it comes to the Tiger-Cats." While the mayor is technically correct, for the stadium to have any sort of long-term financial viability, it would need a permanent tenant; that tenant would undoubtedly be the Ti-Cats. I think it is more than a little short-sighted for the major to be calling the Tiger-Cats' participation in the new stadium minor. It also comes off a little smug and arrogant. Not exactly the type of attitude that the mayor of the city should be showing, especially in regards to one of the city's more cherished institutions.

As I said, this is a very heated debate, especially among Tiger-Cat fans. There is currently an 80+ page thread on the Ti-Cat Fan Forum on this topic. You will find, if you decide to check out the thread, that there is a myriad of opinions. There are those that support the west-harbour site, there are those that oppose it, and there are those still who haven't quite decided what they think would be best.

This brings up the question of where I stand. I freely admit that I am part of that third group. I don't think I have enough knowledge of the situation to make an informed decision, nor do I think I am arrogant enough to make such a proclamation. The team and the city employ much more capable people than I to deal with this subject. I will leave it to them to decide the fate of the Pan Am stadium.

That's not to say I don't have opinions on the matter. While I don't like the dictatorial tactics of our city council in attempting to force the west-harbour location on the Tiger-Cats, I understand their need to look at the larger picture of a revitalized downtown core. I also understand team's need to ensure that whichever location the team goes to helps to make the team a profitable venture for owner Bob Young.

For myself, it really doesn't matter where they build a new stadium. Wherever they decide to put it matters little to me. I will make my way to that location to watch the Tabbies play. Where that location will be is currently unknown, but I would hazard a guess that it won't remain that way for much longer.

So that's my take on the whole matter. I'm sure some people will be angry about what I wrote, and some will like it. I'm not claiming to be an expert; I don't have all the information about what is best for all involved. I just went with what I found. If anyone feels the need to blast me or praise me, well, that's what the comment section is for.