Raise the Hammer

Hamilton’s representative on the Hostco Board, which is organizing the 2015 Pan Am Games, refuses to support the west harbour area as the preferred location for the game’s stadium.

“How do you support (the location) without a business plan?” said David Braley, president of Orlick Industries Ltd. “It will be up to council to make the final decision.”

Braley refused to comment on whether he backed an alternative location for the stadium, such as along Burlington Street and the Queen Elizabeth Way.

“I will make no comment as a member of Hostco,” said Braley.

He also said he didn’t know about a few Hamilton business people who are looking to build the stadium at a location other than on the west harbour lands.

“I know of no report,” he said.

Media stories this week revealed that city business men are scrutinizing the cost benefit analysis of building a stadium at the Lafarge Canada slag site on Windermere Road; the former Studebaker property at Victoria and Burlington streets; and on a parcel of land near the QEW and Centennial Parkway.

The new chair of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Richard Koroscil, said the business organization still strongly backs the west harbour lands as the preferred site for the stadium.

“This is an opportunity to take advantage of the area,” said Koroscil.

Even though Hamilton city councillors approved in a 10-5 vote their preferred location for the stadium is the west harbour lands, they also agreed to a Plan B option. The idea is if the west harbour lands are unsuitable or can’t be remediated for the stadium in time for the games, then city staff should look at alternative locations. Opponents of the west harbour lands argue the location is in need of a major land remediation at the considerable cost of 43 million, before construction. There have been concerns that cutting through any environmental process could take too long. In addition, there have been worries about parking, and traffic issues.

Ward 2 councillor Bernie Morelli, despite his vote in support of the west harbour lands, said he favours the Lafarge site for the stadium. Morelli, along with fellow councillors Chad Collins and Sam Merulla, have been discussing the possibility that the city purchase the property from the company.

Hostco Chief Executive Officer Ian Troop said this week that although there may be issues that Hamilton has to work through to build a stadium, he supports the city’s plans.

Hamilton is required to provide $55 million to construct a $102 million stadium that will seat about 15,000 people. But to expand the stadium to a 25,000-seat, $125 million facility, to accommodate the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will mean asking financial help from the private sector which is likely not forthcoming. The fear being the Tiger-Cats may go under within 2 years if they move to the West Harbour Front Stadium.

Troop said the Pan Am Stadium must be ready for use by 2014.