The Facts
Key Points
1. Hamilton taxpayers are putting in far more money than the Tiger-Cats to build this stadium, so we get the final say on where it goes. We won't be coerced into making the wrong decision by threats of losing the stadium or the team.
2. The money we're spending comes from a one-time windfall of $137 million from the sale of Hamilton Hydro. We need to be very careful with how we spend it. In fact, the fund's board of governor's has rejected the East Mountain location.
3. Suburban stadiums across North America are being demolished and urban stadiums are being built instead. A suburban stadium will cost us millions in ongoing costs.
More Points
4. Bob Young informed Our City, Our Future, that if the West Harbour location is to be chosen, Hamilton will lose the Pan Am stadium altogether. We disagree, and so does the Province: the Liberal government has confirmed that they will honour our choice of location regardless of whether or not the Ticats play there.
5. The Future Fund is intended to grow our economic base, build community and enhance social inclusion, with downtown redevelopment specifically mentioned. The East Mountain location does not fit the Fund's guiding principles, and the governing board of the Fund itself agrees.
6. Business case and traffic studies have been conducted by the City that support the case for a West Harbour location. The Tiger-Cats have yet to release any evidence backing their claims that a West Harbour location will fail but the East Mountain location will succeed.
7. The Tiger-Cats' support for the East Mountain appears to revolve around their ability to collect parking revenues, although it is unclear why Hamilton taxpayers, who are paying for the bulk of the stadium, would be prevented from collecting these revenues instead.
8. Highway access to the East Mountain location is relatively poor and will likely produce congestion before and after games - especially since there is no other way to get there.
9. We want the Tiger-Cats to make money in Hamilton and have been actively suggesting innovative revenue streams for them at the West Harbour location (such as sharing a percentage of city-owned parking lot revenue on game days and hosting tailgate parties at Bayfront Park).
10. The East Mountain location will entail millions of dollars in additional public costs for highway interchanges, road widening, and storm water management.
11. The Tiger-Cats previously voiced support for whatever location Hamilton chose.
