TiCats to decide whether to open stadium early

[snackdaddy]

At the state of the league address to fans at the grey cup the comish seemed to say that the league is looking for comunity ownership like Saskatchewan has.

A balanced league is important and a good goal but it needs to be done right.

[Blue In BC]

I'd dispute that there are enough talented NI's to support 10 teams.

[DanoT]

A sharing of a stadium between the CFL and CIS is the business model with the most chance of success. Quebec City it seems does not want to be a part of this so Halifax might be the best bet.

[South Pender]

But to put the Atlantic market in perspective, there are more people living in B.C. outside the Greater Vancouver/Victoria areas than in the 4 Eastern provinces combined.

That's true, but there is another way to look at this. Let's compare the three maritime provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI (and leave Newfoundland out of it, given the distance the latter is from the other three and the inability to drive to the other three) with Saskatchewan. First, those three maritime provinces have a total population of about 1,817,000 compared with 1,114,000 in Saskatchewan. Second, the total area of these three maritime provinces is about 134,000 sq. km., vs about 652,000 sq. km. for Saskatchewan. This means that the driving distances are much shorter from cities and towns in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI to Halifax than they are from many cities and towns in Saskatchewan to Regina. In fact, Halifax is within about 5-6 hours driving distance of all 1,817,000 maritimers and closer to cities like Moncton, St. John, and Charlottetown. Third, the host city of a maritime-province team, Halifax, has a population of close to 300,000 vs 179,000 in Regina. My point is that, if folks in the maritimes could get stoked about pro football (and the CIS teams there in the Atlantic University Football Conference , at Acadia, Mount Allison, St. FX, and St. Mary's, seem to draw crowds), I believe a CFL team in Halifax could draw acceptable crowds to a 20K-25K-seat stadium (the size of the new Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton and Molson Stadium). That's a demographic argument for the CFL in the maritimes, but getting a suitable stadium built remains.

The idea of another team in Southern Ontario is, in my opinion, a non-starter, even from an economic perspective. We now have three teams in one province; adding a fourth wouldn't, in my view, be acceptable to the rest of the country.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.cfl.ca/article/ticats-reach- ... f-hamilton

Ticats reach 20-year agreement with city of Hamilton

Posted: February 27, 2014 03:00 PM

Ticats.ca Staff

HAMILTON -- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has reached a 20-year license agreement with the City of Hamilton for the use of Tim Hortons Field, the brand-new, world-class facility set to open this season.

The agreement, which will see the Ticats make a commitment of upwards of $30 million over the term, was approved by City council at a meeting on Wednesday night.

“The Tiger-Cats are beyond excited to enter this 20-year partnership with the City of Hamilton. We are making a significant investment, but the opportunity to play at Tim Hortons Field is transformative for our business and puts the team in position to be successful for years to come. We look forward to working with our partners at the City towards the shared vision of our community’s brand-new, world-class facility,” said Ticats caretaker Bob Young.

“We’re thrilled about this partnership with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which will benefit the City, our taxpayers, as well as the Ticats. The agreement mitigates risk for taxpayers and will create hundreds of new jobs. This is truly a win for both the City and the Ticats,” Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina commented.

[WestCoastJoe]

HAMILTON -- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has reached a 20-year license agreement with the City of Hamilton for the use of Tim Hortons Field, the brand-new, world-class facility set to open this season.

I can't see how it can be ready for season's opening. I suppose I have a lingering feeling about the slowness in building Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. (May 20, 2010 to May 26, 2013)

THF ... Broke ground November 2012, completion expected July 2014

Based on the artist's rendering it looks like it will be beautiful.

Good news for the CFL.

These new stadiuims are beautiful. Of course, in their size, and considering grandeur, they are not on the level of American stadiums, but to me, it is all a funciton of population. Could Vancouver support a Disneyland? No. You might need 10 million people within driving distance, and you would need warmer weather, with less rain, it seems to me.

Not want a Disneyland here? LOL Well that is another matter.

Not want casinos? Well, that is another matter.

But as population grows, and as the world becomes kind of uniform, it is hard to stop these kind of developments.

Even stadiums are not universally popular where they are built. Hamilton had a hell of a time getting all parties on board for Tim Hortons Field.

[TheLionKing]

At least they won't be selling Starbucks. Yuk

[DanoT]

At least they won't be selling Starbucks. Yuk

Nice to see Tim Horton's step up as a major sponsor since the first Timmy's was on Barton Street in Hamilton's east end near the Stelco main gate.

[notahomer]

Yes it was nice to see Tim Hortons step up to be a big part of the Hamilton stadium.

I'm looking forward to seeing the first Grey Cups that will be held in Tim Hortons Field and Invesco Field (Winnipeg).........

[DanoT]

Yes it was nice to see Tim Hortons step up to be a big part of the Hamilton stadium.

I'm looking forward to seeing the first Grey Cups that will be held in Tim Hortons Field and Invesco Field (Winnipeg).........

Don't forget the new stadium in Ottawa. Is it still called Landsdowne Park?
Toronto is also going to have a new to them place to play soon.

One of the main reasons that I put a deposit down on a 2014 grey Cup ticket is that it could be a while before another GC is played on the west coast.

[Lions4ever]

At least they won't be selling Starbucks. Yuk

I'm of the opposite view, not that I drink coffee (or anything for that matter) at football games.
But I avoid TH like the plague on principle anyway.

[Lions4ever]

Don't forget the new stadium in Ottawa. Is it still called Landsdowne Park?

TD Place Stadium

[KnowItAll]

Don't forget the new stadium in Ottawa. Is it still called Landsdowne Park?

TD Place Stadium

now that's a name for a football stadium

[WestCoastJoe]

Toronto council approves BMO Field expansion

Canadian Press

April 3, 2014, 12:39 PM

TORONTO — Toronto city council has voted in favour of earmarking $10 million for a proposed expansion of BMO Field.

Council voted 39-3 on Thursday in support of the move, with Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, councillor Doug Ford, among those voting against it.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is seeking $10 million from each of the three levels of government — municipal, provincial and federal — with an eye to spending $90 million itself to expand the stadium, which is owned by the city but operated by MLSE.

MLSE, which owns Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, says the city’s contribution would be repaid over 20 years with interest.

The proposed renovation would call for the addition of nearly 10,000 seats, a partial roof and expanding the size of the field to accommodate the CFL’s Argonauts.

The city made accommodating the CFL team a requirement for it kicking in the $10 million.

The proposed renovation includes a hybrid grass surface at BMO Field, which opened in April 2007 and has a current seating capacity around 21,500.

The plan is to boost permanent seating to 30,000 with the ability to add another 10,000 temporary seats to host special events like the Grey Cup or an outdoor NHL game.

The Argos currently play at Rogers Centre but must leave the facility following the 2017 season.

[WestCoastJoe]

Council voted 39-3 on Thursday in support of the move, with Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, councillor Doug Ford, among those voting against it.

D'oh ...

The proposed renovation would call for the addition of nearly 10,000 seats, a partial roof and expanding the size of the field to accommodate the CFL’s Argonauts.

The city made accommodating the CFL team a requirement for it kicking in the $10 million.

The proposed renovation includes a hybrid grass surface at BMO Field, which opened in April 2007 and has a current seating capacity around 21,500.

The plan is to boost permanent seating to 30,000 with the ability to add another 10,000 temporary seats to host special events like the Grey Cup or an outdoor NHL game.

The Argos currently play at Rogers Centre but must leave the facility following the 2017 season.

All good for the CFL.