Pan Am Games in jeopardy?

The Pan Am Games' premier events will be moved from Hamilton to Toronto if the national track and field federation gets its wish.

Athletics Canada confirmed yesterday it has asked the Games host corporation for the top 2015 showcase to be pulled out of Hamilton due to stadium "struggles" and an uncertain future for a track at a stadium they believe appears to be centred on use by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

In the fight between east and west locations for the stadium, are we losing sight of the Pan Am Games?

Comments

[Jason]

Only Hamilton could screw up a paid stadium...
and the cartoon of Bob Young totally tasteless.

Once an ambitious city now a whiney, clueless, welfare state ...sad really

[Ed2]

The first major mistake was Hamiltonians believing City Hall can make decisions quickly. Look at the abandoned buildings and years of debate. Send the games elsewhere as I am overtired of the rhetoric and inaction.

[Carlos Ferreira]

Everyone involved in this stupid debate (i mean city hall, hamilton ti-cats) are forgetting what this whole stadium is about! It was supposed to be for the Pan Am Games and not for the Hamilton Ti-Cats! Now that we are going to lose the main track and field events of the competition, why on earth are we still talking about building a new stadium???!! This is just another stupid move on the part of City Hall who is handicapped when it comes to making decisions. They should have just selected where the stadium was to be built and that's final. Why should the Ticats dictate anything in our city? Their current stadium, Ivor Wynne, is also owned by the city and paid for by the taxpayers! Both parties however are showing everyone in Canada and across the continent just how much of a joke Hamilton is. They're given a stadium to build (literally given) and they cant even make a decision as to where its going to be built. What a bunch of morons in City Hall. You look like a bunch of baboons! Oh wait, baboons can still make decisions so nevermind.

Go Hamilton!

[Hamilton34]

@ Give Me Leniency

God, You are so clever I love the comments you come up with their GRRREAT! :-D

[GIVE ME LENIENCY]

Pan Am Games in jeopardy??? I can only pray that it is.

[Cheryl Ceretti]

I think it most ridiculous that the Ti-Cats are allowed such power against the city by threatening to leave unless everything goes their way. I would call that being a spoiled bunch of little children and perhaps she need to sit in the naughty chair for a while.Your attitude shows selfishness, and also proves you are not acting in the best interests of the city but only in what fills your pockets fast enough of the city's cash,
Personally? I would have told them that if they don't like the west site for the stadium, then they are free to pack up all their gear and helmets and scoot on out of Hamilton and try to find another stadium/city that will take them.(good luck considering their poor playing).

I am positive there are more enthusiast teams waiting for an opportunity to be Hamilton's Top Football team.

To the ti-cats? THIS ISN'T ALL ABOUT YOU! You are part of the city but you don't OWN it (YET)
I for one will not be attending your games as I have lost faith in your ability to make judgments based on what your fan base wants.

[give me liberty]

I'm equally discus t-ed. Please someone find the tiger cats and the Pan Am stadium a new home. I am definitely more interested in upgrading the inadequate delivery of things we are currently taxed for.

[Mark]

BTW, I am surprised and pleased with Fred Eisenberger's performance on the whole issue. Fred did not create this mess and has stuck to his guns despite the opposition he has been getting. You've won my support Fred, don't make me regret it!

[Mark]

@Spiderman1364

I too am concerned and curious about DiIanni's silence on the biggest issue to hit this city since the construction of the Red Hill Zumbaflume. With his silence Larry wins no matter what site is chosen... he will say that site X (no matter which one) was a mistake and that Fred Eisenberger is at fault, VOTE FOR ME!! Fill in the X as you choose, it doesn't really matter. Another slimebag politician move from Larry.

[pseudonoise]

Sadly, I agree with this comment..

"All I see is jobless people EVERYWHERE, graffiti, garbage, and vacant buildings... ... A city of mindless, overweight donut eaters who love a sport they could never play without their motorized wheelchairs...

[ernest]

You nobs on city council that fall for this nonsense that pits
Hamilton against those pan am slags and the tiger cats vs the people of Hamilton will pay with your cushy seats.You discus t me you greedy muppets.

[ernest]

I went boating today down at pier 4.looked to my right ,saw a train,imagined a big stadium there on the other side of the tracks.
If you dumass pieces of $%^& put a stadium there you are stupid!i mean that too that has got to be to most stupidest idiotic place to ...what and if are you thinking.That would be a great place for a amphitheater and some restaurants and some condos!something that would make money!Tell those pan am goofs to beat it and stop wasting my time and Hamilton's money.

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

"I think its getting rediculous, Angry people say let the ticats leave for good, others say vote out Eisenberger and council."

I say both. I would take it a step further to totally limit the amount of power city hall is able to have without citizen votes on each issue. If you feel strongly enough to vote, come down to city hall with two pieces of government ID and a few bank statements proving your address and enter in the computer YES or NO. Post the results and names on the city website in real time. We have many councillors but they STILL do not seem to be truly representing those who put them there. The first issue we can vote on is whether the Tiger Cats should be asked to find a new city of residence. I'd be down there instantly voting 'YES' to that one. Next we could have a vote on whether this stadium is a waste of money and should be abandoned immediately... I'd vote YES on that one too. If the Pan Am people want to come to Hamilton and build a stadium with THEIR money and be responsible for maintaining it... More power to them. But the truth is: they (like the Ti Cats) need your money like a tick needs your blood.

[Dr. Shart]

@Hamilton34 the word you are looking for is ridiculous..there is not "e".

[erika]

to mark d.: you think that historically-designated places (dundurn, whitehern), remarkable horticultural features (the rbg), the work ethic, productivity and ingenuity of our workers, a world class university including a medical school (mcmaster) not to mention the art gallery, the escarpment, and--oh yeah--the waterfront... mean less to hamilton than a football team that is headed up by someone who is prepared to take his toys and leave if he doesn't get what he wants?

you really need to aim a bit higher.

[spiderman1364]

Why havn't we heard from DiIanni on this issue. He's one that had the Red Hill flood plains built.

[ed7]

@Hamilton34

Would you feel the same way if this was happening right outside your front door?

You obviously do NOT live in the North-End West.

[Hamilton34]

I think its getting rediculous, Angry people say let the ticats leave for good, others say vote out Eisenberger and council. I think what we need most is to stop with the angry messages, and let cooler heads prevail so that we can get this show on the road. We DO Not need the team to leave and we DO NOT need to lose the Pan Am Stadium. Its time to set the pride aside and come together. I know it will all work out in the end.

[Lynne]

Since moving to Hamilton, I've been a TiCat supporter but, no more. I will not be bullied by any businessman or organization more concerned with themselves than the fan base. When it was reported that the team is threatening to leave if they don't get their way, they also threatened me by extension. I will be using the only response I can, I will purchase nothing TiCat related again.

[Bye Bye Tiger Cats]

I am SO tired of the Tiger Cats keeping the City hostage by threatening to leave if they do not get the stadium site they want.

To the Hamilton Tiger Cats. This is my message to you:

You are greedy and self centered. I hope you leave, and never come back, you suck as a team and you disgrace the city of hamilton. Please leave, or accept the fact the west harbour is the best site.

[sam]

These Cat fans still don't get it. The Cats aren't going ANYWHERE. They will go where the stadium is built. Their smoke and mirrors ploy is just that...a ploy. Only the week minded will fall for this baloney. As for the CFL and their great Commish...who does he think he is? He is certainly not Roger Goodell and the CFL is certainly not the NFL. He goes on about Hamilton will never get the Grey Cup Game...ha ha ha...good one. Like it does wonders for any city that gets it. It's not like the CFL gave it to Hamilton except for twice in the last 43 years or so. Good selling point, Commish. What's your next one?

People of Hamilton, get with it. The Cats will go where the stadium is built plain and simple. If they don't ....see ya...it's not like they're bringing in millions and millions of dollars...as for Hamilton never getting another team if this one leaves, that's funny. This coming from the head honcho of a second rate league. Boo hoo hoo. They will get one. If some owner with a stadium deal (wherever it is ) puts the money there, you can bet Mr. Commish Extraordinare will jump through a ring of fire for him...

DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR HAMILTON, not for the Kitties...

[Allan Taylor]

BTW Tom there are no plans for a 45,000 seater. Its 30,000 max with the ability to put in 15,000 temporary seats specifically for the Grey Cup game which would immediately be removed. The cost of the temporary expansion would be 100% covered by the Grey Cup bid (Ticats are offering to pick up the tab BTW)

[Allan Taylor]

I think you have it backwards. The stadium fiasco is an illustration why we aren't getting investment in the city. Who needs the aggravation of being vilified for investing millions and offering millions more. The city is wrong about attaching the stadium issue and the northwest rehabilitation. They are showing the opposite of showing leadership. Even when presented a case that saves the city millions every year it still sticks to its tired old ideas that have been rejected by business and the local residents since the Commonwealth bid brought it to light. A amphitheatre is the right project at the West Harbour with or without the Ticats. Turning it down without consideration shows nothing but stubborn blind thinking

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

"Well, I’m not even remotely interested in the desires of a crappy football team that loses 90% of its games year after year." I AGREE COMPLETELY. Why don't we force the Tiger Cats to sign a contract stating they will be leaving at the end of this season??? Let someone else take the debt of this stadium and give the CFL and Tiger Cats hand-outs. We'd kill two crippled birds with one stone and start getting on track to saving money and ACTUALLY revitalizing Hamilton. The East Mountain has no concerns about it's livelihood. I work at Nebo and Rymal area and I'll tell you, business is booming up there and the area is well-looked after. It's quite a contrast when I arrive back downtown at the end of the day to go home. All I see is jobless people EVERYWHERE, graffiti, garbage, and vacant buildings... Oh but at least we have "the cats". I would actually say that the tiger cats help perpetuate the ugly run down image Hamilton has... A city of mindless, overweight donut eaters who love a sport they could never play without their motorized wheelchairs... Does Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo have a football team? No... What are they known for?? Science, business, technology, innovation... All things that are attainable for us if we put these ridiculous sports fantasies to bed. No NHL, no bulldogs, no tigercats, no more athletic welfare. Send them packing and the revitalization will begin.

[Tom Robertson]

If you read Mayor Fred's answers to Emma's questions you can see he is still not willing to show leadership in taking a position over what is best for the City or filling Bob Young's pockets. He is still sitting on the fence. I think there a lot of other business concerns that have been thinking about setting up shop in Hamilton but have backed away because of the leaderless dysfunctional council we have running the city. The irresolute position he is taking means he is unable to make a decision and has no business in being Mayor. Come on Fred grow some b*lls and call that emergency council meeting for early this week and settle once and for all whether council wants to clean up a brownfield and spur the economy of downtown or make Bob Young rich killing off green space by building the 45,000 seat stadium the CFL is now asking for to have a Grey Cup game here maybe every 6 years or so. Maybe it's not too late to salvage the track and field that we lost because council couldn't make a decision. If the Cats can't sell out Ivor Wynne how many empty seats will the taxpayer be building at the 45,00 seat stadium. The voters eyes are on you.

[ditter]

as this story rummbles on i feel the cfl stuck there nose in where it shouldent be this is about the pan am games and a community getting a stadiom that would replace ivor winn if i was in charge i think the city should build in west harbor show the tiecats and cfl the door wow 10 dates a year lets look at other attractions we could get in there like concerts ,xgames ,arena cross,and yes monster trucks, dont forget about the w,w,e,there is lots of oppertunity here for the city we dont need the cfl .we could invite the bills too play uphere a few games too fillin .oh and the veodrome would make a great rollerderby arena for the local teams dont let the cfl and the tiecats hold hamilton hostage

[ed]

We all know the saying, "more money than brains" what are we up to now, about $1500/hr for mediators. All councillors know how to do is be dumb and spend and tax. Next time they tell us the cities money is tight, lets all have a good laff.

[Mark D]

I don't know what you West Harbour fans are smoking, but the Tiger-Cats ARE HAMILTON! Do you think that anything else in this run-down town puts us on the map other than the Cats? The RBG? No. Dundurn Castle? Give me a break! Our industries? Pleeaaase! McMaster University or the Hospitals? Come on! It's the Cats, otherwise we'd just be another Windsor, or St. Catherines. And just so you understand what Bob Young has done with this team, and therefore with this city, try to imagine what will become of the city's reputation should both the Games and the Cats go? And don't think for a minute that EVERY other CFL team doesn't get tax help from their respective communities either. This is not the NFL where teams and owners have mega-billion dollar budgets and the steady revenue to support them. This is the CFL where total team budgets pale in comparison to individual players' salaries in the NFL, and where every dollar in aid they receive from their communities helps the league stay functional for yet another season. So give your collective heads a shake if you don't think the Cats are important towards putting Hamilton on the map, and get behind their business plan to keep football in town and to put a well-earned new playing location where they can get the best return. Otherwise, just "put a fork in it" as Hamilton will be done and finished.

[john]

Tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer money – that’s a few hundred dollars from the pocket of every single citizen – are going to be spent on this new stadium. The location was determined by public officials, elected by us, attempting to do what is in the best interest of the city. Our public money shouldn’t be allocated any other way.

The stadium is not being built for the Hamilton Ti-Cats; the stadium is being built to revitalize downtown business and try to stave off the hollowing-out of the city. That’s the only reason to spend a fortune in taxpayer money.

Now, the Ti-Cats have begun to circumvent the democratic process, by trying to override the decisions of the people who are supposed to be working in the city’s best interests. They’ve now persuaded the CFL to send a threatening letter to our elected representatives; and the team owner has suggested that his preferred location is backed by the province. So, the Ti-Cats have made a series of back-room deals in order to present the city with a fait accompli: build the stadium where we want, or else.

Well, I’m not even remotely interested in the desires of a crappy football team that loses 90% of its games year after year. But I do want my city’s money to go to a stadium that will support existing locally-owned businesses and revitalize our downtown. And that is the purpose of spending the money: to improve our city. It’s not a windfall for the well-connected.

If the Ti-Cats really want a stadium in the middle of nowhere, then they should pay for it themselves and keep their mitts off our democratically-allocated taxpayer dollars. And if they need a multi-million-dollar subsidy to stay in business, then perhaps it’s better if they take their shitty losing team somewhere else.

[give me liberty]

"Why can't Hamilton do a similar type structure at their prefferred waterfront location? A $20 million mistake is better than a $150 million mistake."

Actually they're both unacceptable, especially in a city so hopelessly engulfed in debt as Hamilton is. Some people are saying don't blame city hall, others say blame the ones currently there...

Do you not see a trend here? It doesn't matter who gets in there, they all perform complete disservices to this city. The one thing I think DiIanni is right about is that the suburbs have been ignored and downtown has not been revitalized. Nothing has been accomplished, although he fails to mention he is as much responsible for that as Eisenberger and company. They're all incompetent.

He is right though. Look at the suburbs taxes rise and services dwindle. Then look at downtown... No jobs really, commercial taxes continue to rise despite vacancy... At least we have nice wide "pedestrian friendly" sidewalks so able-bodied welfare recipients can stand around all day talking with their pals. Has anyone ever seen a street sweeper in the west end?? I see FOUR go by my window in downtown hamilton EACH NIGHT!!! NO EXAGGERATION. FOUR!!!! EVERY NIGHT. Well, thank goodness the streets are SOOO very clean down here. The roads might be falling apart but at least we pay unionized city staff to drive these things around, forget the gas cost... We've gotta revitalize downtown. Check out the movie "Kickass" released in 2010. It takes place in NYC but anytime they needed a scene where someone gets robbed, stabbed, or shot, they used King William and Hughson area. I was watching and thought, "Wow, this place looks almost as bad a my neighbourhood, WAIT, it IS my neighbourhood..." Of course. "GORE" Park is such a fitting name. I think of a horror movie and that's really what that place is... It's like if you took all the freaks and psychos who roam NYC's central park and put them in one smalll space, you'd have the gory-est park of all.

[somewheretotherightofattilathehun]

I don't get it. The City of Vancouver can build a 20k seat stadium on the old Empire Stadium site for $14.4 million. Why can't Hamilton do a similar type structure at their prefferred waterfront location? A $20 million mistake is better than a $150 million mistake.

Maybe if we stopped building these Taj Mahal type monuments to politicial self gratification, decisions like this wouldn't carry so much political baggage.

The bottom line here is Hamilton's dithering will cost us both the Pan Am games and the TiCats.

There's an old adage that says a negotiation is successful if the outcome is disliked equally by both parties. Hamilton and the TiCats are well on their way to that outcome.

[Bill]

@clear as mud.
Many intelligent people voted for alternate candidates who were not successful last election!
Someone like you who does not vote at all is just all "Mouth" and "No Brains" Eh?

[Mark]

@ clear as mud

If you think the Tiger-Cats did not have a hand in selecting the Stoney Creek site you are VERY naive.

[as clear as mud]

@joe
the ticats or mr. young didn't propose the east mountain site the mediator did, they just agreed with it.

[as clear as mud]

@Bill
The majority of non voters are more informed and intelligent than the voters, so you "Shuddup"
How informed or intelligent can anyone be that voted in this city.

[joe]

why the hell are people attacking the city for this whole debacle? REMINDER: ever since the first commonwealth games bid, the city has been blatantly honest about the west harbour being used as a stadium site. However, it was the beloved TIGER CATS, who's owner was quoted stating that they would play wherever the stadium was built, that threw a temper tantrum and THEY ARE THE REASON there is such a controversy. it is the CATS who are trying to bully and some say black mail the city into using OUR tax $ to build the stadium where they want. it is the same CATS who where all for a new stadium ANYWHERE in HAMILTON. i do NOT trust ANYTHING that comes from the cats now. bob young has NO credibility since his lying has been exposed. YES, he did save the tiger cats years ago, HOWEVER, does that give him the right to dictate to the city how out tax $ is spent? NO!

[Mark]

Maybe it's time to bail on this whole Pan-Am fiasco. We're all looking at it like it's a lottery win or something, well it isn't. It's OUR money, a precious one time lump sum (future fund) that will never come back. There are better ways to revitalize the downtown using that money than building a little used stadium.

The Tiger-Cats are the epicenter of this whole mess. Once again, Hamilton sees their 15 million as a lottery win, it isn't. I am so completely sad that I know hate a football team I loved and followed for years. Bob Young said they would play wherever it was built, he is a liar so therefor he cannot be trusted. The Tiger-Cats are no longer worth the trouble. Bob wants to get his way or go, well then we as a city need to say, "so be it".

[Gene Simmons]

@Sam...but we DID get the world cycling event in 2003...and the participants and visitors were quite impressed with the city. So it just depends on the type of event and whether we have the facilities. For the cycling event, we had a ready-made course in the mountain/downtown access roads.

BTW, hope we can do the cycling event again...that was soooo exciting...and exchanging a friendly "my flag is better than YOUR flag!" and a laugh with some Dutch fans on the other side of the street makes for a fond memory, 7 years later.

[peg]

personally I say just scrap the whole thing and spend the money on things neede in the city such as sewer repair and other things like that!

[Pan Am or bust]

GO WHITESTARGROUP.ORG for having the balls and the wonderful vision! God bless you!

[Tiger Nick]

I am a season ticket holder that lives in Toronto, but I come back home to TigerTown to see my Cats. What's important is what happens when the games are long gone. The Cats would be the high profile tenant that should have the biggest say as to what stadium they can play in to maximize their business model. pro sports is a business. we are lucky to have Bob Young who has sunk a lot of cash into this team. today's proposal by the football club to invest in the harbour site and add infrastructure for the arts and music etc is a great idea, this facility will be used a lot more than a stadium. Ivor Wynne is a nightmare for traffic and parking. for that reason alone, the stadium cant locate at the Harbour. I cant believe the local residents want to live thru thousands of people looking for parking on game day. makes no sense. hamilton political leadership need to listen to the sports guys, (Bob Young is an honourable guy and he cares. but I would not blame him if he moves the team to burlington .... they are rolling out the red carpet for him.). Vote for East Hamilton Mountain!

[Bill]

So "The Mad Hatters" Tea Party ends in Chaos. Well if you Elected them you got what you deserved and if you did not vote Shuddup!
It is obvious that this Council has an "Addiction to Gambling" unfortunately it's not with their money but ours and they are "Born Losers".The only way to "Cure" them is to consign them to the garbage heap of history A.S.A.P. Including "Lounge Lizard Larry" who cannot be Recycled!

[sam]

What an image Hamilton has. Wonder why we never get real consideration for an NHL team? Look no further than this joke. As for the Cats...they weren't going anywhere. They would have meekly gone where the stadium was to be built, but as usual "fans" got scared and gave in to this big puff of smoke the Cats let out. We are the authors of our own misfortune. We definitely deserve what we get time in and time out. Nothing will come to this city. Accept it and get over it. Let the Cats go.

[Give Me Liberty]

No one gets it yet!!! We have just been saved from the most massive tax hike EVER... It will still rise but not as intense as it could be. We now need to tell the Pan Am folks that the soccer stadium is not going to happen here, we don't want any part of your second rate imitation Olympics. Then we need to tell Eisenberger and DiIanni to get lost and start cleaning house at City Hall. The worst part is that even though we've been saved from these games, there's still been substantial money wasted on "environmental assessment fees" and "consultants"... Meanwhile, barrels of toxic waste are sitting around, an entire sewage system is inadequate, and the Tiger Cats remain on the dole. We really do have a chance to turn this whole thing around but sadly, despite dodging this latest bullet, we'll still get dragged down into Randal Reef by our moronic "leadership". PS.

[ditter]

i love the ticats im a big fan but hamilton come on get a spine if the cats dont like it leave them in ivor win and use the stadem for other venues jeez they only play 10 games a year this stadiom is not about the ticats its about us hamilton

[neely]

I dont care about the PanAm as well but the good old mayor of this cite will end up lossing both the cats and the bulldogs if he is not careful all he wants is his name in lights why not just rip down the old place and wail the new one is being bilt they could play at Mac and then use scott park for parking and other things.

[Tom Robertson]

Now that we have lost this due to councils dithering and lack of leadership they will all go into hiding and if they do come out to comment it will just be to point fingers at others.

[pseudonoise]

What a joke. And this city was lobbying for an NHL team!? Bet you Betmann is really regretting his decision now - NOT.

[GiveYourHeadAShake]

And the opportunity for a new stadium has left almost as quickly as it came. Business as usual in Hamilton. Let's hope the LRT is next.

[R. Beck]

Move the Tiger Cats to London. I won't support them in the future. The East Mountain location will be a loser.

[Mike Russell]

Athletics Canada's decision not to have the track events in the city has nothing to do with the stdium debate and everything to do with the city's image. Hamilton is an insignifigant little dump that nobody wants to come to. Anyone thinking otherwise is just fooling themselves.

I say forget the Pan Am games and any thoughts of building a stadium. Let's just pull down Ivor Wynne and let the Ticats fend for themselves. Let's just allow the city of Hamilton to be absorbed as a suburb of Toronto and hope we can get some of the financial leftovers once Toronto has finished devouring the tax dollars of the rest of the province. As usual the rich get richer and to hell with the rest.

[ernest]

Well from what i have read about the pan am games they are not something special.Mostly non televised,last page sports pages,second and third rate international teams are sent to represent etc...so ya ok send em to Toronto plz don't waste my tax dollars, plz stop with controversy,and most important,stop using the story to evade real issues that actually matter to Hamilton.

[shoog]

Ha ha! Only Hamilton can be given a gift of a brand new stadium, state of the art facilities, and then POOF! they let it go to Toronto!
Guess what's next....that's right folks, no more LRT! They'll probably bicker about the coloiur of the streetcars! Hamilton needs to get its act together!

[Markalanwhittle]

Two points we should all keep in mind regarding this issue:

1. Urban renewal at the West Bay front can go on without the stadium – it seems we are trying to make this an “either/or” versus “and”.

2. It’s important that the economics of the potential scenarios fully understood – so the financial burden on the city of each is fully understood.

Seems to me we have 2 possible outcomes from this: a) East Mountain, and b) West Bay Front (without the TiCats as a tenant).

Do we understand the Legacy Plan and implications of each? Use? Tenants? Net operating costs to the City?

[ed]

Maybe the bickering is not about the stadium location at all, maybe its about the boon of potential parking tickets. It was a nice haul down at gage park during the festival. Contrary to some beliefs it was the city who ordered police to go get some money..hmmm!

[Steve Garrett]

I think the best place for a new stadium is across the street from where the present stadium is. Scott Park Secondary school needs to come down anyways - it's unsaleable, the neighborhood arena and pool are antiques and they can be replaced back onto the former stadium sight with a similar park/tailgate party lot. The Tiger Cats get to keep their old location and the comunity gains an updated pool and small arena. It all sounds too simple and practical though - everyone in this town wants to think big and take care of their own agendas as far as I can tell.

[Steven Sheen]

All the indecision,the putting off etc,thats just costing Hamilton so much.

[Give me liberty]

god, if you're up there, please send this waste of money to Toronto to make up for all the hobos they've sent here.

[Peter Michael]

Oh well, better luck next time. Hopefully Young will still build an east moutain stadium for his football team and soccer academy.

[Gene Simmons]

I just had a thought...doesn't McMaster University have the appropriate sporting facilities where the PanAm track and field events could be held?? Why not just use those facilities and forget about a new stadium? But yeah, sounds like the event's going to be yanked out of Hamilton anyway, due to all the bickering.

[ed]

I couldn't care less about the pan am games, won't be attending even if we get the obscure games. I think theres more excitement for the canusa games. Councillors have never told us exactly how the stadium down there revitalizes the core, oh they generalize and guess but no specifics whatso ever. Why? because they really don't know. Just placing it there means nothing.
The more we get fixated on the games, the more the whole thing will be a legacy of regret when its over. What works for Hamilton is all we should be worried about. I know many of you haven't a clue whats going on on the mountain so I'll clue you in. Non stop building, a population explosion, the most successful mall, the most money and commerce. If councillors would get off their asses and take a look at the parks up here on soccer nights they'd see an explosion never seen in sport in this city. A stadium up here housing football and soccer would be the biggest thing to ever hit this city, hands down. The future fund is our money, makes me cringe at people telling what can and can't be done with it, just goes to show you how people think. Its like people who think we get a break when the province or the feds use our money, somehow they think hamilton taxpayers are on the hook when we pay locally but think the provincial and federal ministers take it out of their own pocket. The mountain is the best place for sustainability on the other side of the games. Downtown will become yet another in a long series of broken promises about revitilizing the core. Put condos and new business developments down there, having more people living down there is the best way to get asses on main street, not 8 games at a stadium with no parking. I think its time to tell all committees involved that if you don't like it..too bad, kiss my arse. Unfortunately our city hall has been followers for as long as I can remember.

[john]

Can't blame Athletics Canada in the least for this.
In all the "noise" coming from Council about the stadium I can't recall hearing one comment about what would be the best option for the PanAm games, or an amateur sports legacy for the city, just endless squabble about how "best" to jack up my taxes to hand out corporate welfare to the Tiger Cats.
I'd much rather see the games go to a city governed by competent grownups, which Hamilton sadly is not at this time.
If we really have $60 million to spend on capital projects downtown, or even if we don't, how about building some decent affordable housing? The wait list for that right now is about 7 years long!

[Allan Taylor]

I hope so

[Tad Nugent]

Good, the stadium should not be at or near the top of this cities to do list.