Stadium Look Revealed

Despite this news coming out before Friday's debacle against the Lions, it wasn't until after the game that I really got a chance to take a look at the plans for the new stadium.

I'm not going to get into whether building on the Ivor Wynne site is a good idea or not, or whether any of the other locations would have been better. Those are debates that should long be dead. For better or worse, this is the place where the stadium is going to be. But now we know what it will look like.

Part of the unveil I found somewhat anticlimactic. Pretty much everything that was shown, we already knew about. We knew it was going north-south as opposed to east-west. We knew there would be no end zone seats. We knew that the stadium would be expandable to around 40,000 so the city could host Grey Cups.

Much like the debate that centred around this whole stadium process, there are going to be those that love it and those that hate it. I'm solidly in the middle. I will wait until it is built and I can sit in it before I make a definitive judgment. Seeing what it will look like gets me excited and makes it finally feel real. I look forward to taking my seat in the new place in July of 2014.

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.

What's Next With Mac Out?

So Mac's out.

The decision was made yesterday by the university that they will not host any Tiger-Cat home games in 2013. It is an unfortunate turn of events, especially considering the recent history between the university and the tea, The Ti-Cats moved their training camp practices from Brock University to McMaster not long after Bob Young bought the team, and Ivor Wynne Stadium hosted McMaster home games while the Marauders were homeless while Ron Joyce Stadium was being costructed. It would have been nice for McMaster to return the favour, but alas it is not to be.

Playing games at Mac during the 2013 nomad season was brought on by the correct belief that the Cats want to play as many games as close to Hamilton as they can. What the team lost in seating capacity they gained in being as close to their permanent home as possible. But now that McMaster has pulled out, the team is forced to look elsewhere. Where might that elsewhere be?

The obvious, and likely, choice is Western. When discussing what comes next, The Caretaker himself, Bob Young, said that Western is the most likely destination now that Mac has said no. But Western isn't the only choice. The University of Guelph is a possibility; so to is Moncton, if only for a game or two.

And don't forget about Toronto. While the Argos have a hard enough time getting the dates they want for their games, it is possible the Cats will try to play a few games at the Rogers Centre SkyDome next year. The Labour Day Classic will be there, but a few other games could be played there as well (even ones not against the Argos).

The only thing we know for sure is that the team will not be playing any games at McMaster. Where there will be playing, however, is still a mystery.

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.

More Stadium News

Just when you think the well has run dry on new stadium developments, the bucket goes down and brings up more water.

We will start off with the rumour that the field at the new stadium will be oriented north-south as opposed to the current east-west orientation. What could be the reason for wanting to change how the stadium is situated? Would it allow for more temporary seats for a Grey Cup game? Is it more desirable for the field to go north-south as opposed to east-west? There has to be a reason for wanting the change beyond aesthetics.

One of the questions I posed yesterday was about how much of a price increase fans would see on tickets for the 2012 season. That was answered today, as it looks like prices will rise by two per cent over this year's prices. That's not an unfair or unreasonable increase and is inline with recent price increases.

There has been a lot of news over the last couple of days on the stadium front, but from where this man sits, it has all been positive. I'm sure future news will continue this positive trend.

I would also like to add that I am getting increasingly excited about seeing what the new stadium will offer. I know there are some Negative Nellies out there that can find fault with anything, but I find all the recent news to be extremely encouraging.

What Shall Come in 2013?

With all the stadium news coming fast and furious over the last couple of days – from ditching the renovations to do a complete rebuild to Bob Young's "Caretaker's Commitment" – now is as good a time as any to look at what is perhaps the last great question still outstanding when it comes to everything surrounding the new home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats:

Where will they call home in 2013?

As everyone is well aware, the Tiger-Cats will be looking for a place to play in 2013 as Ivor Wynne Stadium is demolished and rebuilt for the 2015 PanAm Games.

There are a number of prospective places for the Cats to play. Some are close by; some are not. Some are logical; some are not. One way or another, the Ti-Cats are going to have to play somewhere in 2013, and these are some of the places that I think are likely to be under consideration.

All But Guaranteed

Rogers Centre SkyDome (Downtown Toronto)

At the bare minimum, I see the Labour Day Classic being played in Toronto. It makes perfect sense to host it there, as it will allow Tiger-Cat fans a chance to go, and it is quite possible that with Argo fans in tow, the Classic could get its biggest audience ever. Just imagine if the Rogers Centre SkyDome had 40,000 screaming fans. What an atmosphere.

We could also see back-to-back preseason games played in Toronto. The Cats normally play the Argos in the preseason, and it could be as simple as playing both preseason games there, with one of them counting as Hamilton's home game.

Moncton Stadium (Université de Moncton)

As likely as it is, in my opinion, that the Labour Day Classic will take place in Toronto, it is equally likely that the Ti-Cats will play at least one game, if not two games, in Moncton. The stadium is already there, it has hosted CFL regular season games before – including the Tiger-Cats this season – and it is likely to play host to one in 2012. A return in 2013 is highly likely, and I don't see why it won't be Hamilton who hosts another game out there.

If the team is going to be a traveling road show in 2013, it might as well travel to a place where the league is already traveling. Playing games in Moncton has been deemed a priority for the league, so maybe playing two games there in one season could help to gauge the level of interest in football out east. It is easy to sell a single game once a year; it is harder to sell multiple tickets to multiple games in a single season. If that region is ever going to get a CFL franchise, then the people of the area need to prove that they are willing to shell out money for more than one game per season. I say play two games in Moncton, one in early August and another in October (perhaps during Thanksgiving weekend).

The recent news that Moncton officials are going to try to persuade the Cats to play four games in Moncton in 2013 seems a bit ambitious. The city has never hosted more than one game, so jumping to four might be a stretch. That said, it would be a great way to gauge interest in the CFL in Atlantic Canada.

Likely

Ron Joyce Stadium (McMaster University)

The most convenient option for Ti-Cat fans would be to play at Ron Joyce Stadium on the campus of McMaster University. The reason that this one isn't a no-brainer like those listed above is due to one factor:

Seating.

Ron Joyce Stadium currently seats 6,000 or so fans, with the ability to double the capacity to 12,000. McMaster Athletic Director Jeff Giles said he thinks 15,000 seats is possible.

That number is still significantly smaller than what the Cats normally attract, so financially it would be problematic.

If they do decide to play one or more games at McMaster, they should be held in July and August when there are far fewer students on campus. I can see the team taking the hit because this entire season will likely come at a financial price to the team, so hosting one or more games at McMaster would be a nice way to placate fans who won't be able to attend games elsewhere.

TD Waterhouse Stadium (University of Western Ontario)

The Tiger-Cats have tried to go about attracting fans outside of the Hamilton city limits, and a great way to do that would be to play games in areas not serviced by a CFL franchise. London would be one of those areas.

The University of Western Ontario has a wonderful facility in TD Waterhouse Stadium. The stadium can be expanded from its natural seating capacity of 8,000 to as high as 16,000.

Once again the issue is the number of seats, but if the Cats are willing to take the hit to play at McMaster, they could gain a multitude of new fans if they play some games at Western.

Long Shot

Alumni Stadium (University of Guelph)

The only reason I am considering Guelph is that Guelph has already considered itself. This would be great for Hamilton fans, since traveling to Guelph is hardly taxing, but even to a larger degree than Ron Joyce Stadium and TD Waterhouse Stadium, the seating capacity would be a major issue.

As it is currently constituted, Alumni Stadium on the campus of the University of Guelph holds 4,100 people. I have no idea what the expansion capabilities are (if anyone does, please, pipe in), but for it to work, it would have to at least be expandable by nearly quadruple its current capacity.

Outlook

The Rogers Centre SkyDome and Moncton Stadium are near locks to host Hamilton Tiger-Cat games in 2013. I would be floored if either one were not a part of the 2013 plan.

The issue with both McMaster and Western is seating capacity. With that problem comes the additional problem of price. If the team is going to lose over 10,000 potential ticket buyers, the price for seats will probably have to increase. Could the Cats get away with charging higher prices for seats to games played in these smaller facilities? Would Tiger-Cat fans be willing to pay that premium to see games closer to home? These are questions that I do not have the answers to, but that need to be addressed.

As far as Guelph is concerned, even the editorial I cited states that it is a long shot for them to get the opportunity to host any games.

The way I see it, have the Cats play three games in Toronto (two regular season, one preseason), two in Moncton, three at McMaster and two in London. There are your 10 "home" games for the 2013 season. If you wanted to throw Guelph a bone, let them have the preseason game.

Is this the perfect solution? No, but nothing about the 2013 will appease everyone. Compromise will be the name of the game in 2013, and by having the Cats play their home dates in the manner I have laid out, there should be something for everyone.

Caretaker's Commitment

With fans wondering just what will happen with the new stadium in regards to ticket prices, Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young has come out with what he is calling the "Caretaker's Commitment."

In an e-mail sent to all season-seat holders, the team allayed fears of a drastic increase in ticket prices for the 2014 campaign, the first to be played at the new facility. In short, anyone who buys season tickets for the 2012 season – the final season at Ivor Wynne Stadium – will not pay one penny more for season tickets in the new facility in 2014.

The team has also opened a new website for everything stadium related, which I am sure will be updated as news becomes available.

Ticket prices staying relatively inexpensive is great news for season-seat holders; however, there are still a few questions to be answered.

Primarily, how much will seats be in 2012? If the past is any indication, any increase in ticket prices from 2011 to 2012 will be minor. For instance, my seat prices went up by one dollar per game. If the same increase occurs going into 2012, that's not a big deal.

Secondly, what about 2015 and beyond? The commitment to keep prices at current levels is only for the first season in the new facility, but clearly prices will increase at some point. Now it's just a matter of finding out how high the increase will be.

Thirdly, and finally, what about 2013? While the team notes in the FAQ section of the new stadium webpage that they are "working on a comprehensive solution" in regards to 2013, it is still unknown what will happen during that vagabond season. It also says that season-seat holders will have "priority access" to the home games in 2013. That could mean that the team is trying to find locations close to Hamilton. That said, season-seat holders had priority access to Touchdown Atlantic tickets for this season, so having priority access doesn't necessarily mean convenient and/or local access.

In any event, the stadium news of the past couple of days has been exciting and encouraging. Now we just have to wait.

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.

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.

Hamilton's New DC and That Other News

Not Richie Hall.

Not Gary Etcheverry.

Not Brad Miller.

The man that will take over for the departed Greg Marshall is Corey Chamblin. The official announcement should come later in the week.

I don't know much about Chamblin. Sadly, I am not well versed on DB Coaches from around the league. Chamblin did apprentice under Chris Jones in Calgary, and Jones likes to employ a more aggressive approach. There will obviously be a change in philosophy from the past two seasons.

And before anyone asks, yes I am aware of the goings on with the stadium. But until a deal is signed, I'm not getting excited about anything. The Cats might stay at Ivor Wynne, and that's fine by me. But we've all seen the twists and turns, and we've all been on this roller-coaster ride, so we should all remain skeptical that a deal can get done until a deal is done. But this is positive news. Let's hope that this positivity carries forward toward February 1st.

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.

Online Petition

When there is nothing more you can do, you still try to do more. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it's what came into my head as I put finger to keyboard.

A poster on the Tiger-Cats forum who goes by the name of Chewbaca1973 has started an online petition to reopen debate about where to put the Pan Am Stadium.

I applaud him (or her) for doing something. Too often, people get angry, scream and yell, and yet in the end, do nothing. This is an issue that is too important to just stand pat.

I have signed the petition and I urge you to do so as well. Whether or not anything will come of it is immaterial. We as fans and, more importantly, as citizens, need to have our voices heard more than just by placing an 'X' on a ballot every four years.

Click the link to sign your name: Hamilton Stadium Petition

Let's show the people at City Hall that we will not lose our Tiger-Cats without a fight.

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.

I'm Done

I would have written about this yesterday, but I was busy enjoying the football games: it looks like the federal government (the same ones that the west harbour people took many a shot at) will let the city decide where to put the Pan Am Games stadium.

That's it, I'm done. I was sick to death of all this stadium stuff two days ago, and now I'm really irritated. It seems like no one knows what the hell they are doing, and this whole thing is turning into an even bigger debacle than it already was.

I don't care what the city says; I don't care what the Ti-Cats want; I just don't care. The vote on where to put the stadium will take place this Tuesday, August 10th. I'll write about that, but don't come here looking for stadium updates anymore because you won't find them. I simply don't care about this topic anymore. This whole thing is a farce.

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.

Go East Mountain Video

Last night at the Tiger-Cats' East Mountain rally at Carmen's, the team debuted a video in support of the East Mountain stadium location.

It was a very sentimental video, one that had me overcome with emotion while I watched it. It gave me chills, and it brought back so many great memories, some of which I had forgotten, some that I will never forget. I loved every second of it, and I'm sure most of you will as well. Enjoy.