Raise the Hammer

I listened to another interview with the "Caretaker" on CHML 900. He basically said the ONLY reason he is opposed to the West Harbour is that you can't get 25,000 people to the stadium and home again in a short enough period of time that they would be willing to come back.

The thing Bobby, yet again, doesn't see is that not all 25,000 will be interested in going home immediately after the game. Honestly....I've been to suburban arenas/stadiums....and you have no other choice but to 'go home' or at least somewhere else immediately following the game/show, and you can't. It's a line up to get onto the highway...which causes delays....heaven forbid there is construction or an accident in that area. You could be stuck there for hours. The Palace of Auburn Hills is a solid example. People, myself included, would get on the interstate headed IN THE WRONG DIRECTION simply because the line for that on-ramp was shorter...we would then take the next exit and get back on the interstate in the right direction to go home. This took a decent amount of time....it was a royal pain in the arse...but it was faster than waiting to get on the highway in the direction most fans wanted to go.

Just a 10 minutes WALK away is Copps Coliseum. Up to 20,000 fans have filtered out of that venue and been able to get home...without much problem. Bob has said that if people can't get to and from the stadium in a reasonable amount of time they won't come back. I'm pretty sure if you held a top concert at Copps Coliseum today and then again in a year....both would be sold-out. Traffic isn't going to keep them away. The Tiger-Cats, as weak as they are....for several years, don't have a stadium that is easily accessible...yet they have drawn over 20,000 for games.

'The Caretaker' goes on to claim that the Tiger-Cats brought in "experts" to look at Hamilton and advise them on stadium building, he says those experts are "pretty unanimous" (although I doubt they would make public any experts that disagree with their stance) he eludes that all stadium experts agree that a stadium built away from downtown and on a highway are better. Seriously folks....look at NHL arenas....look at major league baseball stadiums....at a lot of NFL stadiums (unique due to tailgating in parking lots)....most suburban non-downtown stadiums have proven they don't measure up. Does everyone realize this except for Bob and his "stadium experts"?!?!?

Bob also re-stated in both interviews how he would "love to announce here is the solution to this whole thing".....as if scripted. He also mentions other "interests" in almost the exact same "guffawing" tone as he did in the TSN interview.

I literally smacked my computer speakers when Bob said on CHML that because the Mayor of Milton stated they realize running a business that profits requires options to make money made him want to "hug his TV" when CH showed it. When the West Harbour was chosen Bob Young said this: ""Let me be really blunt. I've said directly and really consistently from Day 1: I don't care where the (expletive deleted) stadium goes as long as we build it in Hamilton." (Hamilton Spectator, May 19, 2010)

But yeah....way to go Milton...way to offer choices to a guy that AT THE TIME when decisions were being made said anywhere will work for him.

Bob Young (very lightly para-phrased) - "I don't know what the other options are for us, that is what is required...for the future of the CFL and the future of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. I am required to do the rest of my homework."

Well Bob....I would have thought this "homework" would have been done already. You know....since you went through a facilitation process about the West Harbour site. Oh yeah...that's right...you went into the facilitation process on the City's dime and flat out refused to discuss the West Harbour location! No wonder you know very little about it and require "homework" on it.

This is getting ridiculous.....Moncton, Milton....please. No chance of ever having the "highway access" or attendance you could get in Hamilton. Remember....it will be a "new team" for about 15 years or more. Nevermind that no municipal government is currently looking to throw up a $130M stadium for a CFL team.

Just end it already Bobby....Mr. "Caretaker"......negotiate with the city...you have the leverage now. So use it...get your sweet sweet deal to play in the West Harbour....and sit back and watch the fans pile in to the new stadium after you have fielded a dreadful team for about a decade.

Some might show up on the Go Train....HSR Bus....LTR....walk....or drive and park gasp! 5 minutes from the stadium!!!

Hamilton folks are tough people....don't worry Bobby....we can handle a short walk to the stadium....we've already been doing it for decades.