Raise the Hammer

@ Shempatolla

Very well reasoned points you make. However, I think in the mist of your valid concerns lies some lack of concern for the Ticats themselves. You reference the fact that they are not able to routinely sell out the stadium with the product on the field. The past two years the team has been competitive (.500) after building up a base from which to grow. How have those results (along with renovations to IWS) translated at the gates? Is it a certainty that a good team will sell out?

Also this isn't about building a stadium for BY. BY would be a primary tenant in the stadium, he would not have the ability to rent it out to concerts and other events to recoup his loses (as he would if he owned the stadium or built it himself). He is simply an expected tenant. He has said he cannot operate his business successfully in the proposal given by the city. Is that the truth? Only he knows, however, if the city told you that you had to operate your business in a location you personally felt was impossible to turn a profit would you just blindly go along and hope for the best?

You seem to be painting this situation as a Hamilton is building BY a stadium so he should just be happy and take whatever. Why would he knowingly commit to a business plan he totally feels is bad for business? How about looking at it from the perspective that Hamilton NEEDS a long term tenant to help off set the operating costs to make the stadium financially feasible? Without a long term tenant this stadium doesn't make a lot of sense, hence you need to work with the long term tenant to ensure that their needs are being met.

I suppose it comes down to would you be fine if the Ticats committed to a 5-year lease on a WH stadium with the option that they could leave after that 5 year period if they are unable to turn a profit?

In addition to the yearly rent that BY will be paying how much are you expecting BY to contribute to building costs and what percentage of revenues (from Ticats games and other events) will he be entitled to receive?