Ticats pull out of stadium debate
Letter from Bob Young (Ti-Cats owner)
Mayor Fred Eisenberger August 9, 2010
City of Hamilton
and Members of Council
Fred, It saddens me to advise you that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club is withdrawing
from any further discussions and negotiations pertaining to the siting of the Pan Am
Stadium in Hamilton.
It is painfully apparent, despite the best efforts of our facilitator, Michael Fenn, the
plethora of information from stadium experts, and our own financial submissions, that
you remain fixated on the West Harbour Stadium and without a strong political champion
in Hamilton, it is impossible to continue our efforts with respect to the East Mountain
proposal.
The need to replace Ivor Wynne Stadium played an integral part in the Pan-Am bid
process, and undoubtedly we would not be debating this great opportunity were it not for
the history and presence of this great franchise. Legacy in the form of an anchor tenant
and a business case were part of the criteria that was generally accepted when the Pan
Games Stadium was proposed for Hamilton. Simply put, the facility would have to be
"sustainable" with an anchor tenant to justify federal and provincial taxpayer’s money.
You know that the Tiger-Cats have invested more than $30 million into this team and
community over the course of the past seven years. We were vitally interested in being
part of a stadium solution to replace Ivor Wynne.
Our facilitator, Mr. Fenn, understood these requirements when he advanced the
compromise site on the East Mountain. This site was not our first choice. The most
sensible location for a new stadium is on a small part of Confederation Park. The
highway visibility would have brought the Tiger-Cats to a breakeven situation. The real
development potential within the precinct would have brought jobs and real economic
value to the City.
For reasons unknown to us, and the general public, this site was never an option.
Inherent in our proposal was the opportunity to work with senior levels of government to
build something at the West Harbour that would be consistent with the planning
principles contained in your planning document, Setting Sail.
In my view, this would have been a "win-win" situation. We believe that option was made available but has now been squandered. As the most recent owner of the Tiger-Cats, I have always believed that my primary
responsibility to the organization, the fans and to the memory of my family, who I have
honoured with this ownership, was to ensure that the team would remain sustainable
moving forward. By that, I mean, ECONOMICALLY sustainable.
The West Harbour option which you personally have driven gives the Tiger-Cats no
hope of running a sustainable business. Using “best practice” criteria, and confirmed by
leading experts around North America, this proposed stadium would rank dead last in
North America in terms of usability for its tenants. It imposes a logistical nightmare for
fans, particularly the "regional fans" that Mr. Fenn describes as vital to our survival.
As such, I cannot be part of a process that destines us to financial failure before the first shovel goes in the ground. As owner of the Tiger-Cats, I cannot and will not be party to such an ill-advised concept. I regret that over the course of the past year, you have not been sensitive to our
concerns as your tenant. My major regret is the harsh reality that after next year, there
will be no home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the City where we shared so much
success and positive experiences together. We note that even in the city’s own report,
that without a tenant you are well beyond $60 million dollars short of building a 25,000
seat facility.
We will play out our days at Ivor Wynne. I know this letter will be a disappointment to our thousands of fans, particularly those
who share our dream as it pertains to a new, sustainable, legacy stadium. We thank
them for their continued support and look forward to seeing them at Ivor Wynne Stadium
for another great Labour Day Classic against the Argonauts on September 6th.
Sincerely,
Mr. Robert (Bob) Young
From The Globe & Mail (David Shoalts) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/ticats-pull-out-of-stadium-debate/article1667147/
An uproar exploded at Hamilton’s city hall on Monday when Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young escalated a nasty dispute with Mayor Fred Eisenberger over the site of a Pan Am Games stadium by withdrawing his financial support for the project the day before city council is expected to debate and then pick one of two proposed sites.
The controversy intensified when Hamilton city councillor Sam Merulla told The Spectator newspaper that the Tiger-Cats plan to leave Hamilton for Quebec City. He said the team has a $17-million deal from the city to move to Quebec.
However, a source close to the Tiger-Cats discounted the chances of the team moving to Quebec. But the source did say that it is uncertain where the team will go when its lease at Ivor Wynne Stadium, the aging facility that needs to be replaced, ends in 2011.
In a letter to Eisenberger and council on Monday, Young said, “It saddens me to advise you that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club is withdrawing from any further discussions and negotiations pertaining to the [location] of the Pan Am Stadium in Hamilton.” Young once promised $15-million toward the East Mountain site with an additional $59-million in other funds if the Tiger-Cats managed the new stadium.
Tiger Cats spokesman Scott McNaughton said neither Young nor Ticats president Scott Mitchell would have any further comment beyond Young’s letter. Eisenberger could not be immediately reached for
comment.
Young and the mayor have been fighting for months over the location of the $102-million stadium, which was expected to be the new home of the CFL’s Ticats in addition to playing host to events for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The team needs a new stadium to replace aging Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The mayor and some councillors want the new stadium built in the West Harbour area of Hamilton near the waterfront, which is about one kilometre from downtown. Young first demanded the stadium be built farther from downtown in Confederation Park, near major highways and then agreed with a facilitator brought in to settle the dispute on a compromise site on the East Mountain, which is about six kilometres from downtown.
A source said Young decided to withdraw his support when provincial and federal politicians began waffling in their support for the East Mountain site. The Canadian government and the province are expected to put around $28.5-million each into the project.
Late last week, Hamilton-area Liberal MPPs Sophia Aggelontis and Ted McMeekin said both the provincial and federal governments would only support a site that would include the Ticats as a future tenant. This caused some hard feelings among Hamilton politicians who felt the other governments were interfering in what they think should be a local decision.
By Saturday, federal Minister of State (Sport) Gary Lunn denied he ever told the province the federal government would only provide funds for the East Mountain site. Both levels of government then issued statements saying they would support any decision by the city, which a source said was when Young became convinced the East Mountain site was dead.
Young said in his letter, “it is painfully apparent, despite the best efforts of our facilitator, Michael Fenn, the plethora of information from stadium experts, and our own financial submissions, that you remain fixated on the West Harbour stadium and without a strong political champion in Hamilton, it is impossible to continue our efforts with respect to the East Mountain proposal.”
The letter did not address the possibility of the Tiger-Cats leaving Hamilton. But it did say there is the “harsh reality that after next year, there will be no home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the city. … We will play out our days at Ivor Wynne.”
Young argues that a West Harbour stadium will not work financially because it would not be easily accessible to fans. The mayor and his supporters see the West Harbour location as helping the revitalization of the downtown area.
City council is meeting on Tuesday to debate the merits of both sites. It is expected to make an informal decision and then make it official in a vote on Thursday. The Pan Am organizing committee wants a decision by the end of the month or the stadium will be built elsewhere.
Letter from Bob Young (Ti-Cats owner)
Mayor Fred Eisenberger August 9, 2010
City of Hamilton
and Members of Council
Fred, It saddens me to advise you that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club is withdrawing
from any further discussions and negotiations pertaining to the siting of the Pan Am
Stadium in Hamilton.
It is painfully apparent, despite the best efforts of our facilitator, Michael Fenn, the
plethora of information from stadium experts, and our own financial submissions, that
you remain fixated on the West Harbour Stadium and without a strong political champion
in Hamilton, it is impossible to continue our efforts with respect to the East Mountain
proposal.
The need to replace Ivor Wynne Stadium played an integral part in the Pan-Am bid
process, and undoubtedly we would not be debating this great opportunity were it not for
the history and presence of this great franchise. Legacy in the form of an anchor tenant
and a business case were part of the criteria that was generally accepted when the Pan
Games Stadium was proposed for Hamilton. Simply put, the facility would have to be
"sustainable" with an anchor tenant to justify federal and provincial taxpayer’s money.
You know that the Tiger-Cats have invested more than $30 million into this team and
community over the course of the past seven years. We were vitally interested in being
part of a stadium solution to replace Ivor Wynne.
Our facilitator, Mr. Fenn, understood these requirements when he advanced the
compromise site on the East Mountain. This site was not our first choice. The most
sensible location for a new stadium is on a small part of Confederation Park. The
highway visibility would have brought the Tiger-Cats to a breakeven situation. The real
development potential within the precinct would have brought jobs and real economic
value to the City.
For reasons unknown to us, and the general public, this site was never an option.
Inherent in our proposal was the opportunity to work with senior levels of government to
build something at the West Harbour that would be consistent with the planning
principles contained in your planning document, Setting Sail.
In my view, this would have been a "win-win" situation. We believe that option was made available but has now been squandered. As the most recent owner of the Tiger-Cats, I have always believed that my primary
responsibility to the organization, the fans and to the memory of my family, who I have
honoured with this ownership, was to ensure that the team would remain sustainable
moving forward. By that, I mean, ECONOMICALLY sustainable.
The West Harbour option which you personally have driven gives the Tiger-Cats no
hope of running a sustainable business. Using “best practice” criteria, and confirmed by
leading experts around North America, this proposed stadium would rank dead last in
North America in terms of usability for its tenants. It imposes a logistical nightmare for
fans, particularly the "regional fans" that Mr. Fenn describes as vital to our survival.
As such, I cannot be part of a process that destines us to financial failure before the first shovel goes in the ground. As owner of the Tiger-Cats, I cannot and will not be party to such an ill-advised concept. I regret that over the course of the past year, you have not been sensitive to our
concerns as your tenant. My major regret is the harsh reality that after next year, there
will be no home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the City where we shared so much
success and positive experiences together. We note that even in the city’s own report,
that without a tenant you are well beyond $60 million dollars short of building a 25,000
seat facility.
We will play out our days at Ivor Wynne. I know this letter will be a disappointment to our thousands of fans, particularly those
who share our dream as it pertains to a new, sustainable, legacy stadium. We thank
them for their continued support and look forward to seeing them at Ivor Wynne Stadium
for another great Labour Day Classic against the Argonauts on September 6th.
Sincerely,
Mr. Robert (Bob) Young
From The Globe & Mail (David Shoalts) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/ticats-pull-out-of-stadium-debate/article1667147/
An uproar exploded at Hamilton’s city hall on Monday when Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young escalated a nasty dispute with Mayor Fred Eisenberger over the site of a Pan Am Games stadium by withdrawing his financial support for the project the day before city council is expected to debate and then pick one of two proposed sites.
The controversy intensified when Hamilton city councillor Sam Merulla told The Spectator newspaper that the Tiger-Cats plan to leave Hamilton for Quebec City. He said the team has a $17-million deal from the city to move to Quebec.
However, a source close to the Tiger-Cats discounted the chances of the team moving to Quebec. But the source did say that it is uncertain where the team will go when its lease at Ivor Wynne Stadium, the aging facility that needs to be replaced, ends in 2011.
In a letter to Eisenberger and council on Monday, Young said, “It saddens me to advise you that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club is withdrawing from any further discussions and negotiations pertaining to the [location] of the Pan Am Stadium in Hamilton.” Young once promised $15-million toward the East Mountain site with an additional $59-million in other funds if the Tiger-Cats managed the new stadium.
Tiger Cats spokesman Scott McNaughton said neither Young nor Ticats president Scott Mitchell would have any further comment beyond Young’s letter. Eisenberger could not be immediately reached for
comment.
Young and the mayor have been fighting for months over the location of the $102-million stadium, which was expected to be the new home of the CFL’s Ticats in addition to playing host to events for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The team needs a new stadium to replace aging Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The mayor and some councillors want the new stadium built in the West Harbour area of Hamilton near the waterfront, which is about one kilometre from downtown. Young first demanded the stadium be built farther from downtown in Confederation Park, near major highways and then agreed with a facilitator brought in to settle the dispute on a compromise site on the East Mountain, which is about six kilometres from downtown.
A source said Young decided to withdraw his support when provincial and federal politicians began waffling in their support for the East Mountain site. The Canadian government and the province are expected to put around $28.5-million each into the project.
Late last week, Hamilton-area Liberal MPPs Sophia Aggelontis and Ted McMeekin said both the provincial and federal governments would only support a site that would include the Ticats as a future tenant. This caused some hard feelings among Hamilton politicians who felt the other governments were interfering in what they think should be a local decision.
By Saturday, federal Minister of State (Sport) Gary Lunn denied he ever told the province the federal government would only provide funds for the East Mountain site. Both levels of government then issued statements saying they would support any decision by the city, which a source said was when Young became convinced the East Mountain site was dead.
Young said in his letter, “it is painfully apparent, despite the best efforts of our facilitator, Michael Fenn, the plethora of information from stadium experts, and our own financial submissions, that you remain fixated on the West Harbour stadium and without a strong political champion in Hamilton, it is impossible to continue our efforts with respect to the East Mountain proposal.”
The letter did not address the possibility of the Tiger-Cats leaving Hamilton. But it did say there is the “harsh reality that after next year, there will be no home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the city. … We will play out our days at Ivor Wynne.”
Young argues that a West Harbour stadium will not work financially because it would not be easily accessible to fans. The mayor and his supporters see the West Harbour location as helping the revitalization of the downtown area.
City council is meeting on Tuesday to debate the merits of both sites. It is expected to make an informal decision and then make it official in a vote on Thursday. The Pan Am organizing committee wants a decision by the end of the month or the stadium will be built elsewhere.