No Pan Am Games Stadium downtown

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
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Dundas Star news

Downtown location for Pan Am Games Stadium eliminated

By Kevin Werner Feb 06, 2009

The 2015 Pan Am Games bid committee is proposing to eliminate the downtown site for a new stadium,

says David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton.

Mr. Adames, who is the city’s liaison official with
the 2015 Pan Am Games bid organizing committee,

said a report being prepared for council on Feb. 23
will recommend the preferred sites for a new stadium

would be at the airport lands on the
west mountain and on the west harbour .

“Downtown is looking more complex,? said Mr. Adames.


Complex? in what way.

Couldn’t this reporter get any information on the ‘why’ of the headline?

Mr. Adames said another report bid officials are working on

will highlight the benefits to politicians that Hamilton will receive
if it agrees to participate in the Pan Am Games.


Other citys and towns are begging to be a part of the 2015 Pan Am Games
to enhance their infrastructure and the bid committee has to convince Hamilton?

Ony in Hamilton, you say.

P.S.

Mr. Adames also said…

The report will propose a temporary velodrome venue, as well as upgrades to Copps Coliseum.

instead of a permanent velodrome, and a 50-meter pool. because of provincial budget cutbacks.

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If this is true, it just confirms my impression of Hamilton politicians as being the least progressive, docile bunch around the GTA. Even if they were on board with the bid, there's no guarantee that Hamilton would get a new stadium out of it but without a more aggressive approach, they're going to be shutout for sure.

An Argo-Cat fan

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When they talked about a "downtown" location, I thought they meant the West Harbour, so I don't see anything new here. It's about a five minute walk from Bayfront Park to Copps.

What did city council mean by downtown, a stadium in Gore Park?

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I hoping Politicians say No
Hamilton is Falling apart any money should be use Roads and The Infostructer of the city
Burlington on the other hand would be great place for a new Stadium..
Right in Alderlshot near the go..

If not fix IWS..

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I believe the proposed location was the John & Rebecca area, that’s mostly parking lots right now.

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Burlington on the other hand would be great place for a new Stadium.. Right in Alderlshot near the go..
Hey Tom..... don't YOU live near there? :)

If that’s the case there’s a little parcel of land just south of Cambridge that looks nice from my vantage point! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

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As much as I’d prefer the stadium to stay in Hamilton since it would be closer to get to, Burlington would make the image of the Cats playing in Burlington probably better than the perceived image of Hamilton among many it’s just a dirty smelly steel town anyways - which we know it isn’t just saying the image. So good for the Cats if it goes to Burlington some might say.

My impression also west harbour was the downtown location. Hop, skip and jump to downtown. But ok, I see the parking lots location. We just walked down by the bayfront today, the Rheem factory is one ugly eyesore. Gore Park, too funny Jerk. 8)

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http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/497798

January 17, 2009 John Kernaghan The Hamilton Spectator

SHORT LIST [ of two, now. ]

The Downtown Hamilton site is no longer on
the city's list of sites still under consideration.

  • Downtown Hamilton

Vacant or under-developed lands in vicinity of

intersections of York Boulevard and Bay Street

or Rebecca and John streets.

[[i]IMO, the West Harbourfront will be the location of the stadium

because waterfront site development has been the key
to developing so many North American inner cities. [/i]]

  • West Harbourfront

Industrial lands at the west end of Barton Street
between North Queen Street and Tiffany Street.

Sports:

For:

Dramatic setting for sport spectacle with bay backdrop.

Against: Difficult vehicular access for 27,000 fans.

Games

For:

Satisfies need for track and field centre for Golden Horseshoe,
fulfills transformation mandate in Games mission.

Against:

Distance and accessibility from Toronto,
where athletes village will likely be based.

City

For:

Chance to transform a neighbourhood and
provide a link from waterfront to downtown.

Against:

Expensive to service in terms of roads or new transit
and upgrading of water mains and sanitary sewers.

Long term:

For:

Can invigorate an area of the city and increase
recreational sport capacity as a multi-purpose facility.

Against:

Could be expensive to operate if not
enough revenue streams are developed.

  • Airport lands

Undeveloped lands north of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

Sports:

For: Access to airport, access for fans from several directions.

Against: Distance from amateur, recreational users.

Games:

For: Less complicated development than other sites.

Against: Distance from athletes village.

City

For:

Would spark infrastructure development
to benefit local businesses and airport.

Against:

Little symbolic or image factor, would limit
other commercial development in area.

Long term

For: Supporting revenue from parking to cover operating costs.

Against: Little value in naming rights, limited recreational use.

IMO, this will be the location of the stadium

because waterfront site development has been the key
to developing so many North American inner cities.

The Downtown Hamilton site is no longer on
the city's list of sites still under consideration.

  • Downtown Hamilton

Vacant or under-developed lands in vicinity of

intersections of York Boulevard and Bay Street

or Rebecca and John streets.

Sports

For: Central location as a gathering spot for athletes and fans.

Against: Little novelty value in location to pull in fans.

Games

For: Fulfills elite and recreational sport legacy mandate.

Against: Distance for athletes to travel from athletes village.

City

For: Provides economic stimulation, sparks redevelopment.

Against: Could take up space more appropriate for other development.

Long term

For:

Becomes home to pro, amateur athletes and
recreational athletes for several generations.

Against:

Might be seen as intrusive after glow of Games,

pricey to maintain without multi-use
and revenue from parking.

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8) Just put the new stadium in Burlington and get this nonsense over with. 
   Burlington will jump at an opportunity like this.

  By the time that those bozos on Hamilton Council make up their mind, the games will be over with(2015)

   Tragic, but true  !!!   Hamilton has just become an all to familiar story each time something like this comes up  !!!
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that wasn’t me, that was section8.
i can’t be the funny one all the time.

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The idiot politicians in this city will ruin the only chance to improve the cities image and chance to get a new stadium for not only the Tabbies but other events and training uses. It will be a shame. Please get over yourself and make the right descison for the good our our great city.

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Where is the Caretaker in all of this? What does he think?
Fix IWS? New stadium? Where?

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If this team EVER moved to Burlington, I would stop going and would despise them to no end, I'd hate 'em and cheer against them every chance I'd get.

I'd even consider becoming a fan of the blue team.

Tradition and history are everything and are integral to the CFL and its teams.

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lol, its great that someone mentioned the idiotic hamilton city council.....i think that as a whole, the biggest issue that prevents our good city from becoming great is our lovely city council....for anyone who is interested, join me on facebook, i started a group in order for people to vent about our incompetent council... http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/grou ... 4471765400.

the group is called "who is running this city".....

anyhow, back on topic...i think either west harbour or confederation park is the best site for a stadium...to get more use out of it, i think that through out the winter it should be flooded and used as a public skate park, and there could be many other uses as well.

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The airport lands are closer than most people think, thanks to the article by John Kernaghan about a week ago
in the Spectator. This guy obviously doesn't like the airport lands as he was quick to point out it's inefficiencies.
This is BULL!

The airport lands (IMO) are the place to go because contrary to Kernaghan's article they are NOT too far away for minor
sport. They are only about 1/2 kilometer from Upper James and Rymal Road with the HSR sitting right there. Unlike
all the other areas mentioned, the land is clear and would require very little grading, unlike ALL the other proposed locations,
where there are various structures to clear. If city council has the testicular courage, they'll select the airport lands.

This land is also wide open for small industrial use, various businesses and a host of other amenities. Opportunity Knocks!

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Oops, my bad there!

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I live 30 mins away on other side of the City

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Upper James and Rymal is still virtually on the outskirts of nowhere.

Unlike all the other areas mentioned, the land is clear and would require very little grading, unlike ALL the other proposed locations, where there are various structures to clear.
Grading is no big deal. Problem with land near the airport is that it is not serviced and infratructure is expensive.

Furthermore, clearing structures is a good thing when rehabilitating brownfields.

This land is also wide open for small industrial use, various businesses and a host of other amenities.
So what? How is that rellevent? The west harbourfront is a terrific setting with existing infratructure to tie into. The west harbourfront is a place for the future as it continues to improve.

Stadia in the sticks is a thing of the past and that trend has long since reversed. Why go backwards?

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Yes, the only reason to put any new stadium in the sticks. and the airport area is the sticks, is that it there is no other choice, or there is a hidden agenda to develop this area ie. developers are in the inside pocket of city council.

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I find it difficult to believe that you would call Rymal and Upper James the sticks. I presume you don’t get out much, Earl. :smiley:
This property lies immediately above (south) of Twenty Road and its all city owned. Even if no other businesses were developed along here, its less than 5 minutes away from Philthy McNasty’s and restaurant row along Upper James.
The land in question, however, is zoned for small business and minor industrial use, to begin very soon.

Its easily accessible from any direction and we wouldn’t have to wait 15 years for the completion of the new transit system, which in this city, as most of you know, may never get off the ground.

The West Harbour Front needs a tremendous amount of development for traffic flow alone, to make it a better option than the airport lands where there is nothing more to do but start digging.