Raise the Hammer

I get you Renaissance. I think you know I really and truly do based on this article and other's. I care a lot less about the Cats through all of this and it bother's me.

A part of what I say is based on fear of losing the team but you also know that deep down inside, I don't want to tear down Ivor Wynne. I will admit and maybe to the disapproval of many, but I do still feel our $45M contribution should go to Ivor Wynne upgrades.

I'll agree with this also - this all should have never happened. A new stadium should have been built at West Harbour. This was all hijacked - I agree although do we only see one side? I don't know. It's done bottom line and we have to move on but we need to be careful with how we move on. Do I think the Harbour is the best place for the stadium? If a Smart Centre goes there then yes. If the true Setting Sail happens, than no.

Ivor Wynne has had little to no money poured into it since it's namesake championed the north stands upgrades in 1970. The last major investment was a mix of Bob Young and Arcelor Mittal I believe was the funding breakdown, of the video bard. That screen added a lot to the gameday experience except that it perhaps purposely, made it so we couldn't host Grey Cups because there isn't the space for the temporary seating required to increase the capacity to 45,000.

I want to see some concerts hosted at Ivor Wynne. I'd like to see some proper seating - seat backs. We are talking $20,000 just to replace the concrete slabs on the south side. We need all that money. But if you told me Renaissance and many others on this site on on the Cats forum that you were all prepared to help me buy this team off of Bob Young and make this a community owned team like Green Bay or Saskatchewan, I'd say let's do it. Let's pay the fine for copping out of the Pan Am games and take control of the 'upgrade' of Ivor Wynne and keep the community informed the entire way.

I haven't read that report that you provided yet. I contacted the clerk immediately following the meeting but they said it wouldn't be available to us until around this time. Thanks for the link.

I want to see the Cats (our Cats), get some of what they need to survive. Some parking (barring post Pan-Am Games it's filled with trees and flowers and such), in the place of Brian Timmis so we can actually see all of Ivor Wynne when we drive by. Purchase some derelict and abandoned warehouse space on the CN ROW around Gage Ave and turn that into parking/future GO satellite stop. Lot's of parking and bussing opportunities with The Centre too. Might as well make some use out of all that black top.

The City would likely love to see Scott Park high, the arena, Jimmy Thompson, Parkview, King George, etc., all fall to parking and a seniors centre but I want to keep it all. I know it's not my decision but it should be the entire community talking about what they do and don't want to see go. I think we already have a nice little sports and education district currently and I would love to build on that and incorporate it all better, into the stadium.

I just sent emails to the AHL, NHL, and the Toronto Marlies, asking them to advertise this outdoor game at Ivor Wynne in January. That stadium and the community means alot to me and I want it to be a special event. THis is likely the last year of Ivor Wynne barring some miracle and forging of the city building/sports fanatics of this city to truly preserve history both in the stadium and the Cats, build Parkview their systems school within Parkview/KIng George, make Scott Park High a mixed community centre/Hamilton Sports and CFL Hall of Fame, make any needed improvements to Jimmy Thompson, preserve the tailgating and parking on lawns experience that I am hearing rumours of being done away with, and lastly perhaps Scott Park Arena winning Kraft Hockeyville - because you NEVER know, and getting a bit of a facelift. It's the only hockey arena in Ward 3. I spent 4 hours there on Sunday with my two girls. It's likely one of the smallest arena's around and the smallest hockey communities, but there is something strange (in a good way), about that little facility - which is one of the cleanest/well-kept, arena's I have ever been in.

That's a bit of what I envision along Balsam. Oh, and a partnership with the boxing gym on Barton with Parkview/the Cats too. A CFL shop would be good at the Stadium Mall as well. Lot's of space for a football/sports related store or two over there.

I fear losing this team. Fear ticking Bob off or the CFL or IO and losing it all. Something doesn't feel right outside of what we see on the surface and perhaps I am being too Conspiracy Theory about the whole thing - perhaps many of us are, but Canada doesn't have a stadium they herald with the same hurrah as the Fenway's and Lambau's and Wrigley's of the world. Perhaps it doesn't compare in the least and perhaps if I want to be surrounded in that kind of history I should move to Boston or Green Bay, but if we paid our IO fine and gave back the feds and provinces money and had $45M of OUR money to spend, what could we really do? How long does that buy us before our next major upgrade is required.I'd like to know from someone other than IO who has an invested interest in these Pan Am games.

I know nothing. I am just some voice who loves a football stadium, a football team, and a community. The thought of a community run team sounds intriguing as well, but how much work is that? What kind of time is required in fundraising and such to keep the team and the stadium going?

Comment edited by lawrence on 2011-12-12 10:38:21