Raise the Hammer

Are real waterfront? how bout that beach by Confederation you know the one right by the QEW??

Do people really believe a stadium that will host 20k people for 10 games a year will help rejuvanate our downtown?? Ya, cause thats worked so good before.. How bout the city cleans it up and puts some much needed housing and condos there instead.. :O

All one has to do is look at what Pittsburgh has done to their waterfront and city to realize the potenial Hamilton has. Of course it's the same old thing (including the Ticats), nobody wants to have anything remotely to do with the downtown....if Pittsburgh thought the same way, they would be in the same mess we are in. It amazes me how short memories are in this city. It was just a year ago when jim basillie wanted to bring a NHL team here ..and plans for a converted Copps making it a top 5 arena in the NHL (yes in that dreaded downtown)...just basically a few blocks from where this stadium could be. So i ask anyone..what is the major difference of a NHL team here getting 18,000-19,000 for 40 or more games per year...and the ticats getting 20,000-25,000 for 9 games a year?. Why was that so wonderful and no major complaints about traffic..etc but putting a stadium down there is so horrible??.20 yrs ago hardly anyone was going down to the west harbor area, now..tens of thousands a year go down there after they turned it into a people place (finally)..the stadium belongs down there...if the ticats don't like it..sell the team to someone else

Dear Nate,

With all due respect, I think your comment is oversimplifying things. No one is saying that building a stadium will result in a downtown full of lululemons, pottery barns, and other posh stores that the beautiful people will flock towards. Residential development as you propose is a fantastic idea, but I doubt anyone would buy 350 K condo next to a brownfield. Where is the money going to come from to pay for brown field clean up to get it to residential standards? There is a reason why these brownfields remain unremediated,and that is because it is cheaper to build on greenfields with new publicly funded highways and interchanges courtesy of your tax dollars. We have an opportunity to get tax dollars from upper levels of government to fix the legacy of pollution left behind by industry. That industry propelled this nation to be one of the best. Queen's Park, and Ottawa for that matter, owes Hamilton some money to fix this. Taking money to fix this one brownfield is a good first step. I have to go now, because I'm going downtown for dinner - I actually like it there, and know that it can be even better.

The east mountain is a deadzone. Forget it. And just wait for all the complaining when people get event parking fees like $15 or $20. See how much they like that location then!

I cannot believe how the CFL and the Tiger Cats are trying to take over running this city. If they succeed well poor Hamilton.

"I cannot believe how the CFL and the Tiger Cats are trying to take over running this city"

Well the TigerCats don't have a vote come Aug. 12 and HOSTCO makes the decisions, not the TigerCats, so I don't think this has anything to do with the TigerCats being able to run the city.

Is there a rally happening for people who don't support any new sports stadiums being built?

"The Ticats' parking proposal stalled the release of a city staff report comparing the costs of the two potential sites that councillors were expecting yesterday.

Several councillors said the east Mountain was rumoured to be more expensive than west harbour by between $42 million and $50 million.

"We were hoping to get our head around our numbers today," said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said.

He said the city had previously understood it would be on the hook for the cost of parking.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said plans for the west harbour site -- which covers about 8 hectares -- included 600 onsite parking spots to be paid for by the city.

The east Mountain site is only 6.8 hectares."

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/819691

There was never going to be a perfect site, the Tigercats and Council have got into a giant ego contest and are going to cost Hamilton the Stadium. We already lost the best part of the games, everybody can pretend otherwise. The loss of track and field is the loss of millions of TV viewers and thousands of visitors.

Bob Young's problem since he purchased the Tigercats is his loyalty to staff. He has hire wrong in the past and stuck with them far too long, Scott Mitchell has been the Tigercat front man from the beginning and together with the Mayor made Hamilton the laughing stock of Ontario. Both should lose their jobs no matter the outcome of the situation.

Sure the West Harbour has some issues, all of which could have been over come with some positive input from the Tigercats and some serious hard work from our elected officials. Instead both parties have expended their good will and energy on fighting.

If you think this has been sickening wait until round 2 of this starts. "The Blame Game" or the "I told you so" staring Bob and Fred.

I suggest everyone who supports the West Harbour Site take the time and attend the rally. In doing so, we send a strong message not only to the Councilors but the Ti-Cat leadership as well.

It shouldn't be too hard to get a large turnout for this in dt Hamilton. All the bums are located down there already.

Interesting news about the feds rescinding their previous b.s. stance. Gawd, what balls to have made that ridiculous ultimatum in the first place. Galvanizes our mistrust of both the provincial and federal governments. I realize that the game plan is changing every few hours, but it would have been nice to hear some course(s) of action at the rally today. I know it's forthcoming; just would have been good to hear.

The City Council discussion and vote on Tuesday should be real interesting. If the vote is not unanimous for a West Harbour site then heads should roll. It is crucial that our elected municipal officials demonstrate solidarity to the Hamilton tax paying public, and provincial and federal elected officials. It is just so glaringly obvious how a West Harbour site has so much more to offer Hamiltonians - now and for generations to come. City Council members: DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!