[SteelTown]

Now it's time for me to sit back and watch the Ti Cats.

[raisethehammer]

I don't have cable.

I hope Rogers loses a TON on this stupid idea.
I'll become a Packers fan or a Patriots fan if the Bills ever move to Toronto. Bunch of prissys.

[FairHamilton]

^^ That would make a lot more sense that 20,000! hahaha
I wonder if they'll ever reveal the #s?

Nope, they won't.

[raisethehammer]

another reason the NFL won't ever fly in TO.
They're all too buttoned down. Sitting politely in their seats bored stiff.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/478999

The roof will be closed anytime it's not sunny and 20.5 degrees. Heaven forbid they play football outside like it's supposed to be.
I'm convinced people in TO would die on the spot if they ever had to spend a winter in Green Bay, or heck, even Buffalo.
Sissies.

[DC83]

A whole new BALL GAME

NFL stakes claim in Canada with pricey spectacle in Toronto while Cats battle Bombers out West

Steve Milton
The Hamilton Spectator
TORONTO (Aug 15, 2008)

The veteran scalper, seeing a familiar face among all the non-buyers, started to moan.

"It's a disaster, man, a total disaster. The prices are waaay too high. I'm gettin' half face value."

Last night's first instalment in the five-year, eight-game Bills Toronto Series was certainly not a wise investment for ticket speculators.

But this pre-season National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and your -- according to the stadium announcer -- Buffalo Bills did indicate there is indeed a healthy appetite for the NFL in Toronto.

Appetite, yes. Starvation, however, no.

While the audience generally backed the Bills whenever they made a big play, the loudest cheers of the evening were for the beginning and end of O Canada.

Draw your own conclusion there. And there was a clear restlessness during the unending between-play breaks, which are about twice as long as in the Canadian Football League.

There were a couple of thousand empty seats, and the Spectator and other news outlets found in a straw poll half the respondents did not pay full price, nor any price at all, for their tickets.

Those who did fork out what was asked were left wondering why.

"Well there was pressure to buy our corporate box," said an executive with a major Canadian corporation, which also has a box at Bills games in Buffalo. "They were trying to create a false market. We were told early on that they only had boxes from the 20-yard line to the goal line and when we got here, our box was on the 50, and there were plenty of empty ones.

"We just wanted to make sure we didn't get left out. But if Ralph Wilson passes away, none of this will make any difference anyway."

In one sense, last night's game was really about what will happen when Bills owner Wilson, 89, dies.

The Rogers-Tannenbaum consortium that bought the Bills Series for Rogers Centre, is hoping they can buy the team, which will be sold at auction upon Wilson's death, and move it to Toronto.

Buffalo interests, including everyone who works for the team now, hope that by selling Toronto a game or two per year, and expanding their reach into the GTA market, they will not only be able to keep the team in their fading city, but also establish Toronto as their area, protecting it from another NFL team moving in.

That's why Bills season-ticket holders Greg and Tracy Tranter drove all the way up from their home in Shrewsbury, Mass.

"We think this is great," said Greg Tranter, originally from Corning N.Y. "Buffalo is not going to lose this team. This game is going to help keep them there. Playing maybe two games here and six a year in Buffalo is about right."

The Tranters pay $104 Cdn per game for their two well-placed seats in Buffalo. The same seats last night cost them $330.

For that kind of money, you could purchase one season ticket, with roughly the same sightlines, in the stadium where the Hamilton Tiger-Cats played last night.

While the Ticats performed in front of fewer than 30,000 in Winnipeg, the other team dressed in black and gold, the Steelers, drew about 20,000 more, at more than quadruple the prices.

And that speaks to perception. There are legions of Torontonians who feel Toronto must have the NFL to be a world-class city, and must pay the price.

L.A., without an NFL team, suffers from no such self-doubts and if the NFL has made Jacksonville, Green Bay, Indianapolis and, well, Buffalo "world class" perhaps the phrase needs redefining.

Still, you could sense that people in attendance last night want the NFL here, even if the longterm cost is the death of the CFL, which would certainly ensue.

Everyone was trying to pretend those were real tailgate parties, despite the absence of a truck anywhere in sight, and the presence of heavy business sponsorship for what, in Buffalo and most NFL cities, is really a groundswell phenomenon. Tailgating - especially without vehicles - is a non-Canadian concept, and despite the bands, the noise and the booze, the general mood was, "How are we supposed to do this?"

In the parking-lot-turned-party-room outside Rogers Centre, Bills season ticket-holder Craig Meraw, of Mississauga, said: "There's not a football being tossed around here. It's good, but down there it's fun. This is corporate here. Down there it's the diehard fan."

It was much more raucous and party-like once the game started because a) it was a very good one for an exhibiton game; b) 48,434 people in any setting make a lot of noise, c) the home team was winning and d) the beers were kicking in.

And that's the dirty little secret of American football. Under all that hype, all that money, and all those stupendous athletes, the NFL has derived a large amount of its success from accomodating betting and legitimizing binge drinking on Sundays.

***************************************************

They don't know why they were suckered into this? We all know the NFL game itself is terrible, and that the only reason the NFL is big is b/c (and ONLY b/c) of Hype! Hmmmm I wonder why you went to the game and left dissapointed?

[raisethehammer]

the Ticats suck.
I'm sick of going to their games.

[matt602]

Heh.

[DC83]

^^ Coach Taffe sucks! That missed-op (1.5") 3rd down-conversion which ended up turning into an Argos touchdown was the turning point, imo.

Great game regardless! Had tons of fun, and I was sitting at the edge of my seat.

[raisethehammer]

was a fun game, but yea he sucks.
He sucked last year, he sucks now and he'll always suck. Fire the bum!!
That call at the end stunk as well.
And how can he not know how many challenges he's allowed?? Get rid of the guy.

[DC83]

speaking of the challenges; how pathetic is it when the crowd has to scream at the head coach to toss the bean-bag!?

But re last night, Bob Young sure knows how to distract ppl from a crappy team: parachuters, fighter jets, wacky inflatable flailing arm tube guys...

[SteelTown]

The coach will be gone once the season is over. Danny Mac is the coach in training with Lancaster stamp of approval.

[raisethehammer]

The coach had better be gone by next week.
I'm not going again until he's gone.

[SteelTown]

With Lancaster out with cancer who can come in and be the coach the next day? It's kinda too late now. Unless the ticat admins have a lot of confidence in Danny.

[raisethehammer]

two letters - BO.

That's right... O'Billivich.

[drpgq]

I'm not sure if I buy into Danny Mac as the coaching saviour. I'd rather see him as the offensive coordinator first. Although he probably would be better than Taaffe.

I can't believe the number of games we've lost that stem from the inability to convert on third and one. With a running team, those situations are going to come up over and over, and you need to make them otherwise lights out.

Btw, did anyone see the Vandershank sign in the East endzone at the beginning of the game? I looked over later and it was gone, and I assume the Cats stadium staff confisticated it.

[raisethehammer]

you stole my thunder...I'm sick of Bob Young and his commie-like approach to trying to 'manage' the atmosphere in the stadium.
The 'Vandershank' sign was awesome...it was taken down before the game even started.
Also, they have about a dozen security people stand in front of the front row in the endzone so the fans can't lean over and bang on the wall and yell when the Argo's are coming out from underneath.
Get lost Bob! It's friggin football...just because some loser on the Argos couldn't take the razzing a couple years back and tossed his helmet into the crowd is no reason to start killing the atmosphere that makes Ivor Wynne the best football stadium in the country.
He already yapped about his dislike of the 'Argos Suck' chant.
Imagine trying to tell Red Sox fans that they can't chant 'Yankees Suck' anymore.
They'd run you out of town.
And we should do the same...I want my old Ivor Wynne back, not some sissy, TO style atmosphere.

[drpgq]

I think what we're seeing is the increased professionalization of the way the team is run on the non-football end (although there doesn't seem to be much of it on the football end). So what we're seeing is things becoming a bit more like the NFL and unfortunately overzealous stadium staff overreact to a great sign. Which I think might have been effective, considering the Turf Monster got Vanderjagt in the first half.

you stole my thunder...I'm sick of Bob Young and his commie-like approach to trying to 'manage' the atmosphere in the stadium.
The 'Vandershank' sign was awesome...it was taken down before the game even started.
Also, they have about a dozen security people stand in front of the front row in the endzone so the fans can't lean over and bang on the wall and yell when the Argo's are coming out from underneath.
Get lost Bob! It's friggin football...just because some loser on the Argos couldn't take the razzing a couple years back and tossed his helmet into the crowd is no reason to start killing the atmosphere that makes Ivor Wynne the best football stadium in the country.
He already yapped about his dislike of the 'Argos Suck' chant.
Imagine trying to tell Red Sox fans that they can't chant 'Yankees Suck' anymore.
They'd run you out of town.
And we should do the same...I want my old Ivor Wynne back, not some sissy, TO style atmosphere.

[DC83]

^^ That was so funny!

I agree re: security. There is a police officer infront of like every section. I understand that ppl really shouldn't bang on the walls (the Stadium has been declared unfit for certain events), but no need to make it so police-y.

I still chant 'Argos Suck', ps. Nothing will ever change that.

speaking of security, did you guys see the Argo (I 4get who) get sprayed in the face with a cup of beer? It was so funny but TSN cut it out of the replay.

[raisethehammer]

how about the guy who ran onto the field during play? He was classic.
He points at the security guards as if to taunt them and say "come and get me", and then promptly falls flat on his face. haha.

[raisethehammer]

hey Stubler...it's a real shame that every stadium in the league isn't as boring and crappy as yours.
Loser




The Toronto Argonauts came away with a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Labour Day Classic but head coach Rich Stubler wasn't happy with the lack of security for his players at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

According to reports in Toronto, Stubler would like to see the Tiger-Cats fined and one unruly fan charged after running back Dominique Dorsey was allegedly struck by what appeared to be a balloon filled with beer.

"Hamilton should be fined for that," Stubler told the National Post on Tuesday. "You've got to have better crowd control. I'm going to be real honest with you -- that's not good."

Stubler expressed his concerns to the league but officials concluded in a statement that proper measures "were taken by Hamilton's security following the incident."

According to the Toronto Sun, police escorted the fan out of the stadium and the Tiger-Cats have banned him.

"We take a lot of abuse there," Stubler told the newspaper. "I mean, there's a lot of name-calling, there's a lot of stuff. But you've got to draw a line somewhere in the sand, and when you draw a line, you can't throw stuff at players on the field."

The Tiger-Cats have promised to increase security at Ivor Wynne for future games.

"I would be surprised if we don't spend the most in the league on security," Ticats president Scott Mitchell said. "We actually not only have security that's paid for by the city as part of the facility, we augment that by hiring our own security staff at our own cost. It's been incredibly successful in deterring incidents in the stadium."

The two teams do not meet again in the regular season.

[FairHamilton]

http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/431547

[SteelTown]

About time! Danny Mac the new coach for next season?

[raisethehammer]

thank-you!!!!

[Gurnett71]

possible trade with Winnipeg: Zeke Moreno for Tom Canada

http://tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=248881&lid=sublink03&lpos=headlines_main

...let the purge begin...and then there was talk of Lumsden leaving for Edmonton when he goes through free agency this offseason...

http://thespec.com/Sports/article/431447

...not exactly the tact that most ticat fans would take, I'm sure...

[SteelTown]

Very sad news :(............

CFL great Ron Lancaster dead: reports
The Hamilton Spectator and TSN

Canadian Football League great Ron Lancaster has died.

The CFL icon and former Ticat head coach died this morning, Tiger-Cat team officials confirmed this morning. They informed players in a special meeting at this morning's practice.

Lancaster was 69.

Lancaster had been serving as Hamilton's senior adviser to organizational development and providing analysis on the team's radio broadcasts.

[SteelTown]

The most memorable Ti-Cat moment for me was when Ozzy kicked something like a 55 yards for 3 points to win the playoffs and go to the Grey Cup. I remember Ron going nuts on the field.

RIP Ron Lancaster.

[DC83]

He truly was a CFL Legend.

Rest In Peace, Ron.

[SteelTown]

'He was the epitome of Cat football'

There will be a life celebration for Ron Lancaster at the Bay Gardens Funeral Home, 947 Rymal Road E. in Hamilton. It runs from 2 – 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Juravinski Cancer Centre.

Ron Lancaster fondly remembered as player, coach, GM and family man
September 19, 2008
Steve Milton
The Hamilton Spectator

Inside the Little General beat the heart of the enlisted man.

It's jarring, and depressing, to realize that today -- Game Day and, appropriately, Hall of Fame Game Day -- is the first day we are all forced to carry on without Ron Lancaster.

His huge smile and quick, smoky laugh no longer lighting up, and lightening up, Ivor Wynne Stadium? No more raucous stories of the greats and the goats of the Canadian Football League, back when it rivaled the National Hockey League for popularity?

He and Bernie Custis no longer cackling under the canopy in the east end zone, slapping each other on the back after their own jokes?

He and Bev Lancaster not welcoming friends on the sidelines, an extension of their living room, an hour before game time?

Impossible. All of it.

From coast to coast, the football world has been mourning the loss of a transcendent presence. Thirty years after their playing days, Lancaster and George Reed are still as Saskatchewan as wheat. Ten years after he won the franchise's last Grey Cup, Lancaster was still, as Zeke Moreno said yesterday, "a rock star in Hamilton. But down-to-earth too."

Lancaster was a tribal leader of that beautifully blessed breed: Americans who come north and become bigger boosters of the CFL than most Canucks. He did everything in and around the league: hall-of-fame quarterback, Grey Cup-winning coach; one of the best colour TV analysts the game has ever heard; general manager; community ambassador; oral historian; stand-up comedian.

And, in these parts, franchise saviour six years before Bob Young saved it again.

Lancaster became Ticat head coach in 1998, the year after the club went 2-16 and had no local cachet.

He brought quarterback Danny McManus and receiver Darren Flutie with him from Edmonton, brought his son in as offensive co-ordinator and within eight months they were a last-second Calgary field goal from winning the Grey Cup. They won it the next year, and haven't been close since.

"When I got to the CFL with B.C., in 1991, to me he was just a figure on the sidelines with Edmonton," Flutie recalls. "But he was a very intimidating presence. He never smiled, and I'd see him sneak a smoke.

"Then in '96, when I went to Edmonton and got to know him, he turned out to be a very caring, understanding man. He had played a long time, so the best thing he did was handle players. He knew when he needed to lay off, when you needed to be pushed.

"I think he recognized some kindred spirits in Danny and me. We were not too fast, we were not too big, but we played our asses off. So he gave me a lot of trust on and off the field.

"I'm very sad. It's like a member of the family has passed."

Which is exactly how McManus put it and, not surprisingly, he and his former batterymate handled the news the same way.

When Flutie was phoned about Lancaster's death, he immediately hung up because he couldn't maintain his composure. When McManus was told after yesterday's short Ticat practice, he hurriedly left the field in tears and walked around the stadium -- their stadium -- alone, before returning to talk about the man who'd been his coach, confidante, idol since 1996.

"The big thing was that first day, he said we were a Grey Cup team, and the team needed to hear the leader say that," McManus said.

"He was a father figure to me. But he was also a career saver.

"He took a chance on me in Edmonton to run his ball club."

McManus appreciated Lancaster's legendary bluntness. As a player, or a journalist, you could ask him a question but had to be prepared for an answer you didn't like.

"He wasn't going to sugar-coat it," McManus smiled. "He had too much respect for football to blow smoke up your rear end."

Better than most who've ever played in this country.

It's been a year of brutally impactful losses for Canadian football. Within the past 12 months the CFL has lost, among others, its most august commissioner, Jake Gaudaur, two pioneering broadcasters in Don Chevrier and Don Whitman (Lancaster's on-air CBC partner), player/broadcaster Lief Petersen, Lions' franchise cornerstone Bobby Ackles, the unique J.I. Albrecht, and thundering fullback Earl Lunsford.

And now, the Little General.

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon, and his assistant Matt Maychak, have become too good at writing obituaries. And they penned a beauty to Lancaster yesterday.

Most complimentary to Hamilton, Ron and Bev Lancaster chose to live here during his broadcasting career, and even after he finished coaching the Cats. He always said the Steel City reminded him of the people, and values, of his Pennsylvania.

"He is -- not was -- the epitome of Ticat football," said interim Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille succinctly.

"A hard-working, down-to-earth person.

"He's a microcosm of this town."

[SteelTown]

Keith is a Tiger-Cat
Rick Zamperin
9/22/2008

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have added some star power to their lineup.

The CFL club has signed running back Kenton Keith through the 2010 season.

It will pay Keith 170-thousand dollars in 2009 and 2010, and includes a "significant" signing bonus.

The former Roughriders running back was cut by the Colts at the end of August.

The 28-year-old ran for 533 yards and scored four touchdowns as Joseph Addai's backup with Indianapolis last season.

But Keith struggled in the pre-season this year, gaining 35 yards on 14 carries.

[DC83]

Keith is a Tiger-Cat
Rick Zamperin
9/22/2008

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have added some star power to their lineup.


That's what they said about Pringles (I call Printers 'Pringles' b/c he's such a joke).

How about they worry about correcting stupid mistakes like fumbling a winning field goal!?

[SteelTown]

Wheeler to pitch name change from Ivor Wynne to Lancaster

September 25, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator

Former Hamilton alderman and Canadian Football Hall of Fame committee member Reg Wheeler has a controversial proposal he will be taking to city hall.

Wheeler would like to see Ivor Wynne Stadium renamed in honour of the late Canadian Football League great Ron Lancaster, who passed away last Thursday.

Wheeler was a member of the city park's board in 1971 that opted to name the rebuilt stadium after fellow parks board member Ivor Wynne.

"I disagreed with it. And I just think with the death of Ron Lancaster, we should name it Lancaster Stadium," Wheeler explained.

"I think it's time to honour football people by naming a vehicle made for football players. What a great memorial it would be for Ronnie."

Wheeler said he plans to discuss the re-naming of the city-owned facility with Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

[DC83]

^^ Good idea, but why not wait until we get our new stadium?

[SteelTown]

Yes, I rather wait until a new stadium or if they renovate IWS.

But instead call it Lancaster Field instead of Lancaster Stadium.

[matt602]

I actually like the sound of it, but I agree it should wait until a decision is made on whether the stadium will be renovated or torn down.

[SteelTown]

Bellefeuille expected to lose interim tag

Rick Zamperin
10/27/2008

The Tiger-Cats have called a news conference for this afternoon.

The speculation is that G-M Bob O’Billovich may remove the interim tag from head coach Marcel Bellefeuille.

Bellefeuille has gone 1-and-6 since taking over from Charlie Taaffe, who was fired midway through his second season in Hamilton.

We'll get the official word at 3 o'clock.

The 3-and-14 Ticats visits the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg this Saturday on CHML and Y108.

[raisethehammer]

so you're probably wondering what the heck I could have to post about the Cats the week before Grey Cup.
Well, nothing.
This is the closest thread I could find where I can come and say "LETS GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!" before heading out to watch the game.
MNF from Buffalo. Doesn't get any better than that!!

[SteelTown]

Khari Jones joins Tiger-Cats staff

Ted Michaels
12/16/2008

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have finalized their offensive coaching staff with the addition of Khari Jones as the team’s quarterback coach.

As a player, Jones spent eight CFL seasons with the B.C. Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos and the Ticats.

In 131 career games, Jones threw for 21,383 yards and 145 touchdowns while rushing for 1,664 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He was named an East Division All-Star twice, a CFL All-Star once and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2001. Jones retired in 2006 to join CBC’s CFL broadcast team.

Jones joins offensive coordinator Mike Gibson and receivers coach Dennis Goldman on the Black and Gold’s offensive staff while Dave Easley will return for his third season as the Ticats special teams coordinator.

[SteelTown]

Losing money. Keeping faith.

December 20, 2008
Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/484969

His won-loss record is 24-65-1.

Worse, his bank account has been drained by some $25 million, maybe more.

Worse still, five years in, his Hamilton Tiger-Cats continue to finish in the red, both on the field and at the box office.

All of that combined with the fact that Hamilton owner Bob Young was less visible this past season than he had been in the past led to speculation that the owner was tiring of his latest toy.

Not to worry. Young admits he was less visible for two reasons. The first is that he was working behind the scenes with his management team, concentrating on trying to fix the Tiger-Cats rather than marketing them.

And the second?

"It wasn't that I didn't like the criticism, I just didn't like the sympathy I was getting. I couldn't take them (Hamilton fans) feeling sorry for me."

But the good news for fans is that a half-decade since Young, the multimillionaire computer software entrepreneur, rode into Steeltown as football saviour, the quirky, somewhat geeky-looking, ballcap-wearing, self-deprecating owner remains as bullish as ever on his perennially losing Tabbies.

That, after acknowledging yearly losses in the millions.

Still, Young candidly told The Spec over the phone from his Raleigh, N.C., headquarters that the past year was easily the most disappointing of any of the five mediocre campaigns.

"At least in the first four years I knew that I didn't know what I was doing. But now I do know what we're doing. So last season was easily the most disappointing.

"But we do have it fixed," Young said, adding he has complete confidence that for the first time he has the right blend of business experience with football acumen.

Young talks ruefully of his 2004 rookie season when the Ticats took the field with an owner, president, general manager and head coach all in their debut seasons.

"The biggest single mistake was I overvalued intelligence over experience," he said, adding in the high-tech computer software business, intelligence routinely trumps experience.

"In football, we have been playing under the same rules for 50 years, so experience counts for so much."

Young believed that 2008 was going to prove the Tiger-Cat turnaround season with president Scott Mitchell in his first full season, Charlie Taaffe in his second and with experienced talent recruiter Bob O'Billovich coming on board as the club's GM.

It wasn't to be.

"We would have been thrilled if we could have gone 9-9," Young said. They might have. But the Cats lost seven games in the fourth quarter by seven points or less.

Young is convinced that the Cats' talent level has finally caught up with the rest of the league, and with O'Billovich firmly in place as the key recruiter, the club will be more competitive in 2009.

But the Hamilton owner has been wrong on football matters far more than he has been right.

The late Ron Lancaster was promoted to general manager after finishing 1-17 as the Cats' head coach in 2003. That proved to be the wrong move. When Lancaster had to be moved out, Young moved Rob Katz into the GM's office. Katz lacked experience and was fleeced in the Jason Maas trade with Edmonton, a major fiasco that cost the Tiger-Cats a first overall draft selection. Katz was moved out to make room for Marcel Desjardins. But the new GM clashed with Mitchell and was soon sent packing.

Now Mitchell enters his second full season as president. But Mitchell's hands-on, often imperious style has seen him blow up at staff and media alike, and anger fans with such controversial moves as revised stadium pricing for longtime season ticket holders and television blackouts.

And O'Billovich enjoyed an up-and-down first season as GM. He made a mistake in backing the retention of Taaffe as head coach and clearly overestimated his talent level, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. Also, the team clearly overpaid for unproductive running back Kenton Keith and free agent receiver Tony Miles.

On the plus side, O'Billovich engineered two key trades (for defensive back Chris Thompson and linebacker Markeith Knowlton), found a quarterback (Quinton Porter) and upgraded the receiving corps.

The Cats will enter the season with Marcel Bellefeuille, a career assistant, who finished the season with a 1-7 record as interim head coach after Taaffe was fired. Bellefeuille hopes to complete his first full season as a CFL head coach in 2009.

Despite the rocky half-decade, Young insists he hasn't had a minute of regret about taking over the bankrupt franchise in October 2003. "I don't regret it for a second. What gets me out of bed in the morning is the thought of learning new things. I have a low threshold for boredom. I'm learning a new field in sport and in business," Young said.

The Tiger-Cats are not for sale. Young gives no indication he plans on bailing any time soon.

"My theme is still the same. Once we have won several Grey Cups in a row I will sell the team," Young said, adding he wants to avoid a deathbed regret of having sold the team having lost so many contests without a championship.

[SteelTown]

Kevin Glenn Steeltown-bound?

Ticats interested in Bombers QB
January 22, 2009
Ken Peters
http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/500170

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have an interest in veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn.

GM Bob O’Billovich told the Spec that the availability of the veteran Winnipeg Blue Bombers pivot is something that interests his club.

“It’s something to talk about. I would not rule it out completely. It’s worth having a conversation about,” O’Billovich said, adding he would wait to talk to Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille about the issue before saying anything more specific.

But O’Billovich added that Bellefeuille and Glenn worked together in Saskatchewan.

The Blue Bombers wasted little time in putting Glenn on the trading block after acquring Edmonton passer Stefan LeFors Wednesday.

Glenn ramped up speculation that he could be Steeltown-bound when he told Winnipeg media that Hamilton would be at the top of his list as possible destinations.

The quarterbalk talk was further hyped when O’Billovich reiterated remarks he first made to the Spec last month that the chances of veteran QB Casey Printers remaining with the Tiger-Cats this season were just 50-50.

[SteelTown]

2009 Tiger-Cats schedule released
Rick Zamperin
2/3/2009

For the 2nd year in a row, the CFL regular season will kick off at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

The Ticats will host the Argos on Canada Day, Wednesday July 1st, followed by a Grey Cup rematch between the Stampeders and Alouettes in Calgary.

The Cats and Argos hook up on Labour Day, with a 4 o'clock kickoff this year.

Hamilton will also host Winnipeg on Thanksgiving afternoon.

The Ticats will play five games on Friday nights and four on Saturday.

The Grey Cup goes November 29th in Calgary.

---

2009 Ticats schedule (all times Eastern)

Pre-season
Wednesday, June 17 Hamilton @ Winnipeg 8:00pm
Tuesday, June 23 Toronto @ Hamilton 7:00pm

Regular Season
Wednesday, July 1 Toronto @ Hamilton 7:00pm
Friday, July 10 Hamilton @ B.C. 10:30pm
Saturday, July 18 Winnipeg @ Hamilton 6:00pm
Thursday, July 23 Hamilton @ Montreal 7:30pm
Friday, July 31 B.C. @ Hamilton 7:30pm
Saturday, August 8 Edmonton @ Hamilton 6:30pm
Sunday, August 16 Hamilton @ Saskatchewan 7:00pm
Bye Week
Thursday, August 27 Hamilton @ Edmonton 9:00pm
Monday, September 7 Toronto @ Hamilton 4:00pm
Friday, September 11 Hamilton @ Toronto 7:00pm
Friday, September 18 Calgary @ Hamilton 7:30pm
Friday, September 25 Montreal @ Hamilton 7:00pm
Saturday, October 3 Hamilton @ Calgary 7:00pm
Monday, October 12 Winnipeg @ Hamilton 4:30pm
Sunday, October 18 Hamilton @ Montreal 2:00pm
Friday, October 23 Hamilton @ Toronto 7:00pm
Saturday, October 31 Saskatchewan @ Hamilton 2:00pm
Sunday, November 8 Hamilton @ Winnipeg 1:00pm

Playoffs
Sunday, November 15 East Semi-Final
Sunday, November 15 West Semi-Final
Sunday, November 22 East Final
Sunday, November 22 West Final

97th Grey Cup
Sunday, November 29 Grey Cup in Calgary 6:30pm

[SteelTown]

Ticats, city tackle new lease deal for Ivor Wynne Stadium

February 05, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/507672

The city is negotiating a new lease for Ivor Wynne Stadium with the Tiger-Cats.

The old five-year agreement, which saw the team pay $25,000 a year to use the sporting facility, expired in December.

It costs the city $1.2 million a year to run the stadium with the football team as the prime tenant.

Joe Rinaldo, the city's former finance chief who is part of the negotiations, said he's hopeful the city will be able to secure more revenue in the new lease. But he's also mindful of the team's finances.

"They're trying to balance their books as well," he said. "It's a matter of how far you push."

The Ticats recently predicted its sixth money-losing season.

President Scott Mitchell said the team isn't willing to pay more for its lease, but is interested in additional revenue sharing with the city. For example, he said the team would look at a special ticket surcharge to support the stadium.

Mitchell said the lease cost doesn't accurately reflect the team's contribution. Over the years, the Ticats have invested more than $5 million in renovations to the stadium, from the video board to locker room upgrades, he said. "It's gone much farther than the $25,000."

The old lease price covered 11 games per year, plus office space, locker rooms and a neighbouring practice field. The team also benefits from the concession revenues. The city picks up the security costs for games. If the team made the playoffs, it would pay an additional $15,000 per game.

Diane Lapointe-Kay, director of recreation, noted the city must also consider the non-financial benefits of the team, including the fact the televised games give Hamilton national exposure. Besides the Ticats, the city pulled in about $45,000 in other revenue from the stadium.

[SteelTown]

Kevin Glenn reached a tentative deal with the Tiger-Cats and could be announced as soon as tomorrow.

[SteelTown]

Tiger-Cats Sign Veteran QB Kevin Glenn

Hamilton, Ontario - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has signed import quarterback Kevin Glenn.

"Kevin's talent, experience and leadership will make him a valuable member of our team," said general manager Bob O'Billovich. "He will be a great fit in our offence and will give us a better chance to win in 2009."

Glenn, a 5-10, 203-pound native of Detroit, Michigan has played eight CFL seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2001-03) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2004-08). In 132 career games, Glenn has thrown for 20,339 yards and 109 touchdowns while adding 939 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

The Illinois State product enjoyed his most successful season in 2007, when he was named the East Division's Most Outstanding Player and an East Division all-star after leading the league with 5,114 passing yards while also registering 25 touchdown passes. Glenn led the Bombers to a 10-7-1 record and a berth in the 2007 Grey Cup final, but was unable to play in the championship game after suffering an arm injury in Winnipeg's East Semi-Final win over Toronto.

Prior to turning pro, Glenn spent four years at Illinois State where he set 25 school records and let the Redbirds to their first Gateway Football Conference Championship.

[drpgq]

On the ticats.ca forum somebody posted this link to a video from Tom Wilson's
new band. Some shots of Ivor Wynne and a few other Hammer locations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIXkfl-ZjVw

[drpgq]

Tiger-Cats purring over early ticket sales

May 26, 2009
Drew Edwards
The Hamilton Spectator
(May 26, 2009)



Despite a tight economy and years of on-field futility, Hamilton Tiger-Cats faithful continue to support the team at the ticket wicket.

Team president Scott Mitchell told a league-organized conference call yesterday that season ticket accounts are expected to be up 4 per cent from last year.

"As far as the business of the Ticats goes, things are very strong." he said.

According to Mitchell, renewals are in the 87 per cent range -- just 1 per cent off the team's target -- while corporate sales are up 12 to 15 per cent.

But the team is not immune to the struggling economy. Just as the Yankees are struggling to sell the pricey premium seats in their new stadium, the Ticats are seeing a decline in the demand for their top tier packages.

"We haven't sold as many high end tickets as we typically have," Mitchell said.

And he refused to divulge a specific number of the total number of season tickets sold.

"Because of the way we've restructured our operations, it's almost like comparing apples to oranges from year's past," he said. "Total numbers will be up and total revenue is budgeted to be up as well."

Mitchell also voiced his support for GM Bob O'Billovich and head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, saying the three had a good working relationship.

"It's been a strong off-season for us. I think the fans in Hamilton have some genuine enthusiasm and optimism moving forward."

* * *

GM Bob O'Billovich said the Ticats' rivalry with the Argos is important to the well-being of the Canadian Football League.

"It's really important to establish those rivalries so fans can have fun when they come to the football games," O'Billovich said.

In 1983, the Argos won their first Grey Cup in more than 30 years with Obie as their head coach, a job he held for eight seasons.

He joined the Ticats as GM in December 2007.

"Now that I've been in Hamilton, I've really gotten an insight as to the passion and the love and the support that (fans) have for their Ticats."

* * *

The Ticat GM also participated in yesterday's conference call, despite having hip replacement surgery just last Wednesday.

"I just got home last night from the hospital and this is my first official business since the surgery," O'Billovich noted.

"I'm glad to be back in the fold with everybody."

dedwards@thespec.com

905-526-2481

[Gurnett71]

:previous:
Very glad to see that ticket sales are up this year on a gross number basis. Maybe they won't blackout any games this year for those who cannot make it down to IWS.

[drpgq]

I haven't heard anything about the blackout plans for this year. I don't think it made any difference in attendance last year, so I hope they go ahead and skip the blackouts this year. They need all the exposure they can get in the Southern Ontario market.

[Gurnett71]

TSN gets Canadian football fans back on the gridiron on Canada Day with its prestigious and all-encompassing CFL ON TSN broadcast campaign, featuring every single CFL game – including the playoffs and the Grey Cup.

All regular and post-season match-ups will air in High Definition on TSN HD, and games will also be available on demand at TSN.ca. Encore presentations of most games on TSN will air on TSN2 on a three-hour delay.

TSN's complete 77-game broadcast package is part of its exclusive multi-year deal with the CFL, which kicked off last year. Along with every game, CFL fans will be well-served this season with the return of the weekly staple, Wendy's Friday Night Football, plus the CFL on TSN Preview Show, the Grey Cup Playoffs, Grey Cup Saturday, and the season's marquee event: the 97th Grey Cup Championship from Calgary.

TSN kicks off regular season coverage of Canada's game on Canada Day (July 1) with an opening night doubleheader featuring Toronto at Hamilton at 7pm et, immediately followed by Montreal at Calgary at 10pm et in a rematch of last year's Grey Cup final.

Also starting the season in Calgary is the CFL ON TSN studio panel, as host Dave Randorf and analysts Chris Schultz, Matt Dunigan and Jock Climie are live, on location in McMahon Stadium. The panel will bring TSN's coverage full-circle in November, when they return to McMahon Stadium for the 97th Grey Cup.

In addition, joining the CFL on TSN broadcast team this season is recently retired Winnipeg Blue Bombers all-star receiver Milt Stegall.

http://tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=281459

Not sure if the Cats still have the option of blacking out their games in this region.

[SteelTown]

First game day today!

So think the Ti Cats will improve this season?

[drpgq]

I said last year they would be better than the year before and they ended up 3 and 13 for the second year in a row. I'll say seven wins.

[thistleclub]

Ticat loss puts jobs on the line (http://thespec.com/Sports/article/588444)
Argos win 27-17

June 24, 2009
Drew Edwards

In this case, who won the individual battles may be more important than the team that prevailed in the actual war.

The Toronto Argonauts beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 27-17 last night before 16,225 at Ivor Wynne in the final pre-season game for both teams. But the real story was individual players fighting for starting jobs and roster spots.

For the Cats, the No. 1 quarterback job is still up for grabs.

Quinton Porter played the entire first half putting up decent numbers: 10 for 18 passing, 133 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He also ran five times for 33 yards.

But Exhibit A in Porter's case was a sustained drive late in the second quarter, an 84-yard, 12 play march that concluded with Terry Caulley running it in from four yards out. Receiver Drisan James kept it going by hauling in a 21-yard strike from Porter on a third and 10 gamble.

Kevin Glenn, playing behind a weaker offensive line and without starting receivers for much his time, went 6 for 13 for 82 yards with no touchdowns or picks. He played until Adam Tafralis came in with just over four minutes left in the fourth.

After the game, head coach Marcel Bellefeuille wasn't ready to anoint a starter.

"It's still not decided -- we'll go and evaluate the tape," he said.

That evaluation process will also extend to much of the rest of the roster.

"Everyone that was dressed played tonight and in critical situations. We got a great opportunity to evaluate everyone," Bellefeuille said.

"It's different for me. It's my ninth year in the league and I've never had this many competitions for jobs so late in camp."

The game was a sloppy affair, the teams combining for more than two dozen penalties. The Cats had 15 for 96 yards in the first half alone.

It was also another tough start for the Cats. The Argos opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game with Kerry Joseph completing a 25-yard pass to a wide-open Arland Bruce III. They made it 14-0 after turning a Porter interception into a six-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kerry Joseph.

The Double Blue looked ready to take a commanding lead when Ticat linebacker Otis Floyd scooped up a Kerry Joseph fumble and rumbled 95 yards to the house on the final play of the first quarter. That made the score 14-7 and seemed to ignite the Cats.

The veteran Floyd, who was picked up as a free agent in the off-season, was taking some ribbing in the locker room after the game after his long-distance dash.

"I was praying nobody caught me," Floyd said. "I'm 33 but I run like I'm 25 and I had to prove it today."

The Ticats tied the game at 17 in the third quarter on a Dave Stala field goal -- he was filling in for an injured Nick Setta -- but the Argos made it 24-17 when local boy Bryan Crawford ran it in from five yards out and an Eddie Johnson field goal with 4:31 left made it 27-17.

Bellefeuille said after the game that Setta's injury isn't serious.

For the Argos, starting quarterback Kerry Joseph went 14 for 24, racking up 147 yards with one touchdown and an interception playing into early into the third quarter.

The Tiger-Cats and Argonauts will square off in the season opener on July 1 back at Ivor Wynne Stadium for a game that will actually count in the standings.

Despite the 0-2 finish to the pre-season, Bellefeuille said he was pleased with how his team is shaping up. "I'd like to see us play a little bit better as a team but there was great effort out there," he said.

dedwards@thespec.com

905-526-2481

[drpgq]

Go Ticats! No rain and a victory!

[drpgq]

Ok that was disappointing. Argos 30, Cat 17. Looks like another long year.

[drpgq]

Woohoo! Cats 31, Lions 28.

[bigguy1231]

Woohoo! Cats 31, Lions 28.


They actually looked good winning the game too. I was amazed how well they played. Lets hope they don't get too confident and have a letdown next game.

[SteelTown]

Ti Cats are looking good with Davis and quarterbacks.

They keep it up I might actually go to the Labour Day game, haven't gone to one in probably 3 years.

[SteelTown]

Think the Ti Cats will beat the undefeated Alouettes tonight?

[drpgq]

I hope so, but Montreal is amazing this year. Too bad the Cats couldn't have been playing any other team in the league to keep their win streak going.

[SteelTown]

Bruce rumoured headed to Ticats
Calgary and Winnipeg reportedly also in the running to acquire star receiver

July 28, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/608307

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Arland Bruce III saga in Toronto seems to be coming to a quick end.

Two CFL sources requesting anonymity said Tuesday night the Argos were in serious talks to trade Bruce to arch-rival Hamilton, though one of the sources said two other potential suitors were also in the running.

While the source wouldn’t divulge the identities of the other interested teams, Calgary and Winnipeg are reportedly interested in the talented but controversial receiver.

The sources said a deal could be completed as early as Wednesday.

The Argos returned to the practice field Tuesday without Bruce. The start slotback was barred from the team last week by head coach Bart Andrus.

The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Bruce didn’t attend team meetings Tuesday morning and wasn’t on the field when practice began afterwards. Bruce was reportedly poised to rejoin his teammates before being told by club officials earlier in the morning to stay away.

Bruce met with Argos GM Adam Rita on Sunday but Andrus is said to have final say on his future. And on Tuesday, the first-year CFL head coach made it very clear he doesn’t want Bruce around.

“He’s not here today because I don’t want him here today,” Andrus said emphatically. “That’s why.

“We’re looking at a lot of different things, a lot of different ways to bring this to a resolution. But right now I do not want him around the team.”

The Bruce saga certainly has garnered a lot of attention. Maybe three or four reporters attend a typical Argos practice, but Tuesday’s session attracted roughly triple that amount.

Andrus didn’t bring Bruce to Winnipeg for last Friday’s 19-5 victory against the Blue Bombers, saying he was disciplining the six-year Argo for breaking team rules. Instead of quietly accepting the move, Bruce, in his eighth CFL season, made matters worse by publicly criticizing Andrus and quarterback Kerry Joseph.

News of the pending deal was not surprising, as Andrus’s body language and the emphatic tone of his voice when he spoke earlier Tuesday strongly suggested Bruce’s days in Toronto were numbered.

“No,” Andrus said when asked if he’s spoken to Bruce. “I had a nice talk with him last Thursday and that was enough.”

Adding to Bruce’s precarious state in Toronto was the Argos signing of receiver Chad Lucas to the active roster Tuesday. Lucas played for Andrus with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe in 2006.

Andrus did say had Bruce handled the situation differently, chances are he would have still remained in the team’s plans.

“I would say there would’ve been a good possibility because that’s the way a professional responds when they’re reprimanded,” Andrus said. “The fundamental reason (Bruce isn’t with Argos) is him and the reaction that he had with being disciplined.

“It all lies there.”

Bruce, 31, has been Toronto’s leading receiver the past three seasons and his absence would seem to hurt an offence that’s struggled this season. The Argos are 2-2 and tied with Hamilton for second in the East Division despite averaging 256 passing yards a game — third-worst in the CFL.

Without Bruce and injured veteran Andre Talbot, Toronto’s most experienced and productive receiver is sophomore Reggie McNeal, a converted quarterback with 58 catches and 837 receiving yards to his credit.

Toronto managed just 144 yards passing against Winnipeg and McNeal was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 60 yards.

Despite that, Andrus doesn’t believe Toronto’s offence is better with Bruce in the lineup.

“I’m not so sure he makes our offensive team better,” Andrus said.

McNeal, though, disagreed.

“He’ll make any offence better,” McNeal said of Bruce. “He can play, he’s good.”

Linebacker Willie Pile says the uncertainty surrounding Bruce wasn’t a distraction in the Argos locker-room leading up to Saturday’s rematch with Winnipeg at Rogers Centre (TSN, 1 p.m.).

“Not at all,” he said. “We’re so focused on trying to get these wins and stringing them together.

“We’ve been up and down all season that we want to string some positive wins together especially in front of our home crowd.”

Bruce wasn’t suspended and remains on the Argos’ roster pending the outcome of the trade talks, meaning he’s still being paid his reported $190,000 salary.

Should trade talks fall through, Toronto can still release Bruce or keep him on the roster — and continue paying him.

Toronto has until Friday to name its 46-man roster for Saturday’s home game against Winnipeg. But the Argos will have until an hour before kickoff to announce their 42-man active roster.

Last week in Winnipeg, Toronto included Bruce on its 46-man list but he was among the team’s four players scratched from the active roster.

Bruce has been fined four times by the team this season for several missteps, including failing to attend two special teams meetings, being late for an offensive meeting, playing his music too loud in the locker-room and leaving his playbook on a plane after a flight to Calgary.

Bruce has also got into trouble with the CFL.

Following a playoff game three years ago, Bruce was fined by the CFL after saying on-field officials were racist. Last season, he was penalized financially for donning a Spider-Man mask after scoring a touchdown and received another fine earlier this year for removing his helmet and shoulder pads and lying down in the end zone as a tribute to Michael Jackson.

But there’s no questioning Bruce’s football ability. He has surpassed the 1,200-yard receiving plateau three of the past four years and three times been named an East Division all-star. And Bruce was a member of Toronto’s Grey Cup championship team in 2004.

[SteelTown]

Disgruntled Bruce to Ticats
Angry Argo headed for Steeltown

July 29, 2009
Drew Edwards
http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/608613

Multiple sources told The Spectator last night the Tiger-Cats were close to completing a deal to acquire Toronto Argonaut wide receiver Arland Bruce, possibly for a draft pick or a player not on the Ticat roster.

One name that has come up as possibly going to Toronto in exchange for Bruce is non-import defensive tackle Corey Mace, who was released by the Buffalo Bills. He has been attempting to sign with another National Football League club but as training camps open, still finds himself without a team.

The Tiger-Cats acquired his rights as part of the deal that sent linebacker Zeke Moreno to Winnipeg.

Tiger-Cat officials declined to comment last night after telling The Spectator on Monday that a deal for Bruce wasn't imminent.

A Canadian Football League source requesting anonymity said last night the Argos were in serious talks to trade the receiver to arch-rival Hamilton. The source added the deal could be completed as early as today.

[drpgq]

Ticats win!

Beat BC 30 to 18 at Ivor Wynne.

[BCTed]

Good win, but quite a small crowd.

[SteelTown]

The crowd will definitely grow once word spread the Ti Cats are back.

[realcity]

20,103
is good attendance

[BCTed]

20,103
is good attendance

It is only good attendance relative to that which the Tiger-Cats had prior to 2004 or so, when they would be lucky to cross 20K more than once a season --- some seasons they did not cross it even once. The smallest crowd outside of Hamilton or Montreal (which sells out its tiny stadium every game) this season has been 26,885, which is still 33% larger than last night's attendance. Incidentally, that was for the game in which Hamilton played at BC.

[bigguy1231]

They played a great game, finally starting to look like a real team. I am not under any illusions that they are going to win a Grey Cup, but at least they are competative.

As for the attendance, the league should never schedule a game on a long weekend in the summer at least not in this city. The team knew that they would be lucky to break 20,000. Maybe in the future they will realize that they can't draw on a long weekend and schedule the team to be away.

[FRM]

:previous: can you two find anything positive about this city ??:koko:

[realcity]

does anyone know what the break even attendance is? Im sure 20k is profitable. and it was a long weekend. Just wait for Sats game vs Edmonton. that should be sold out.

[drpgq]

Not sure what the break even number is, but this article says that
70% of revenues are derived from ticket sales which I assume includes concessions and maybe merchandise bought at the game.


Ticats try to expand reach

Focus is on London, 3 other cities
August 07, 2009
Drew Edwards
The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 7, 2009)

Like all burgeoning superpowers, Ticat Nation is looking for lands to conquer.

The team has identified four communities -- Burlington, Guelph, St. Catharines and London -- as it tries to expand its fan base, develop its brand and, perhaps most importantly, put butts in the seats at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

The team has held events in all four communities in 2009 but Tiger Cats president Scott Mitchell said the greater London area, with a population approaching half a million, is of particular interest.

"London is an important market for us and it's a great football town," Mitchell said. "There is some interest developing there but it's up to us to plant some roots and get more involved in the community."

As part of that effort, 40 kids from the Boys and Girls Club of London will be at the game tomorrow as part of the Hage's Heroes program. Established by offensive lineman Marwan Hage, it lets kids from economically challenged situations attend a Ticat game, get field-level access, spend time with Hage and go home with a T-shirt.

This will be the second year a group from London has attended.

"The experience for these kids is tremendously valuable because many of them have never been outside London before," said Christopher Hood, who runs an educational program with the Boys and Girls Club. "Things like going to a football game is something other kids get to do, not them.

"When they get to meet and spend time with Marwan, it has an impact. Some of the kids don't take those T-shirts off for weeks afterwards."

The Boys and Girls Club partnership is just one element of the plan to reach London. With former McMaster director of athletics Therese Quigley now at the University of Western Ontario and former Hamilton head coach Greg Marshall running the school's football program, Mitchell said there are some "natural relationships" already in place.

"In the short term, you're looking at some practices, a lot more community events and potentially part of a training camp or a full training camp within the next few years," Mitchell said.

With 70 per cent of the team's revenue derived from ticket sales and no sell-outs yet at Ivor Wynne this season, Mitchell hopes ticket buyers from outside the main Hamilton market can help fill the gaps.

"What we'd like to do is get more destination transactions where people are buying tickets ahead of time," Mitchell said. "We're after the higher-end ticket-buying public that's going to put the date on their calendar and look forward to it accordingly."

Ticket sales for tomorrow's game against Edmonton have been steady but not spectacular, Mitchell said, after a crowd of 20,103 saw last week's win against the Lions.

"The B.C. and Edmonton games were always going to be our two toughest challenges this year," he said. "The week's been very good but we have a long way to go to get to the crowd we want to get to."

The team's strong start is beginning to manifest itself at the gate, Mitchell said.

"It is helping. If every single person that told me they were coming to the game actually showed up, we would be sold out. Certainly there's a lot of talk about it."

dedwards@thespec.com

905-526-2481

[SteelTown]

Had a good game against Edmonton even with the pouring down rain. Labour Day game should be interesting with a resurging Ti Cats.

[BCTed]

does anyone know what the break even attendance is? Im sure 20k is profitable. and it was a long weekend. Just wait for Sats game vs Edmonton. that should be sold out.

Unfortunately, it was not even close to sold out. The attendance was 19,206, which set a new league low for this season. It did rain pretty much all game, so I guess that kept a good number of people away.

[drpgq]

The Cats are turning into a real team this year. There should be a good crowd for Labour Day, provided it doesn't rain. Wish I could be there this year.

[SteelTown]

The current long term lease for IWS with the Ti Cats is up any day now but Council is going to push the lease date until December. We'll know know who won the Pan Am bid by that time. After that Bob Young will know to sign a long term lease for IWS or start building up a financial plan for a new stadium.

[SteelTown]

Tiger-Cats Expect Labour Day Sell-Out

September 2, 2009
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3898873

Hamilton, Ontario - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that over 27,500 tickets have been sold for this Monday's Labour Day Classic and the team is expecting a sold-out crowd of 29,600 for the annual clash between the Ticats and the Toronto Argonauts.

"The organization is very pleased with the enthusiasm our fans have shown for this game as we're anticipating that Ivor Wynne will be sold out on Monday," said President Scott Mitchell. "The response from our fans this season has been tremendous and our recent ticket sales and TV numbers confirm that."

The Ticats television ratings are among the league's best as Hamilton has averaged 413,500 viewers for all home games and has participated in TSN's two most-watched games this season, drawing 526,000 viewers for their home game against B.C. on July 31 and 515,000 viewers for their away game in Saskatchewan on August 16. Last year's Labour Day Classic between the Ticats and the Argos was the most watched regular season game of the year.

Only Gold and Silver level tickets remain for Monday's game. The last time the Tiger-Cats sold out Ivor Wynne Stadium was on September 5, 2005

[SteelTown]

Oskie Wee Wee: Oskie Wa Wa: Holy Mackinaw: Tigers... Eat em RAW!!

[drpgq]

Go Cats!

Last Labour Day victory was 2006. Hopefully Bruce scores several TDs.

[SteelTown]

The Lancaster is flying around the Mountain. Guess it's getting ready for the flyover.

[SteelTown]

Tickets to Ivor Wynne Stadium is now officially sold out.

http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/629943

[drpgq]

Cats 18-10 at the half. Shame about the missed Setta field goal.

[drpgq]

Ticats win 34-15 against a sucking Argo team. Overflow crowd of 30,283 which is sweet.

[SteelTown]

Great game!

[highwater]

!!!!!!!!!!!

[c@taract_soulj@h]

Ticats, city tackle new lease deal for Ivor Wynne Stadium

February 05, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/507672

The city is negotiating a new lease for Ivor Wynne Stadium with the Tiger-Cats.

The old five-year agreement, which saw the team pay $25,000 a year to use the sporting facility, expired in December.

It costs the city $1.2 million a year to run the stadium with the football team as the prime tenant.

Joe Rinaldo, the city's former finance chief who is part of the negotiations, said he's hopeful the city will be able to secure more revenue in the new lease. But he's also mindful of the team's finances.

"They're trying to balance their books as well," he said. "It's a matter of how far you push."

The Ticats recently predicted its sixth money-losing season.

President Scott Mitchell said the team isn't willing to pay more for its lease, but is interested in additional revenue sharing with the city. For example, he said the team would look at a special ticket surcharge to support the stadium.

Mitchell said the lease cost doesn't accurately reflect the team's contribution. Over the years, the Ticats have invested more than $5 million in renovations to the stadium, from the video board to locker room upgrades, he said. "It's gone much farther than the $25,000."

The old lease price covered 11 games per year, plus office space, locker rooms and a neighbouring practice field. The team also benefits from the concession revenues. The city picks up the security costs for games. If the team made the playoffs, it would pay an additional $15,000 per game.

Diane Lapointe-Kay, director of recreation, noted the city must also consider the non-financial benefits of the team, including the fact the televised games give Hamilton national exposure. Besides the Ticats, the city pulled in about $45,000 in other revenue from the stadium.

Prime tenant...Only tenant?

[FairHamilton]

President Scott Mitchell said the team isn't willing to pay more for its lease, but is interested in additional revenue sharing with the city. For example, he said the team would look at a special ticket surcharge to support the stadium.

A ticket surcharge is not "revenue sharing", it's having the customer pay more.

Do they really think we are that stupid??

[drpgq]

There's a lot of other events in the stadium besides the Tigercats. Go down to the stadium on a weekend and there's often various soccer games, plus the Hurricanes. Problem is none of those community groups have any money to cover the million.

[SteelTown]

sHmfv3YhSCw

[SteelTown]

http://static.cdn.mrx.ca/cfl/ham/images/splashpage/2009/09/sept25splash1437.jpg

[SteelTown]

Ticats going with Glenn

October 14, 2009
Drew Edwards
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/653395

This season, Ticat head coach Marcel Bellefeuille has doled out varying degrees of punishment for a consistent inability to hang on to the football.

Receivers Airese Currie and Chris Davis were sent packing while Drisan James got benched.

So it's hardly a surprise that Bellefeuille, after standing by starting quarterback Quinton Porter for much of the season, finally demoted him today after the second-year pivot lost two fumbles in last Monday's 38-28 loss to Winnipeg. They were Porter’s eight and ninth turnovers in the last four games.

"We're going to start Kevin Glenn. It was the fumbles – that's the only reason. We've won with both guys and I still believe in Quinton but at this time of year, we can't turn the ball over," Bellefeuille said today after practice at Ivor Wynne.


"We have to treat that position the same as any other and we've gotten rid of players and sat players down who have dropped or fumbled the football so the same rules apply for the quarterback position," he said.

Porter said he wasn't surprised by the decision, given that the team has lost three straight games for the first time this season and head to Montreal this Sunday tied for second in the East Division with Winnipeg.

"It's OK. I feel fine. I'm not dumb, I knew this could happen at any point in the season if we weren't winning – we lose three games and that's what happens," Porter said.

Glenn's start will be his fourth of the season but his first since Sept. 11. He's also come on relief of Porter five times this season and has 12 touchdowns to go with just five interceptions. He's fumbled once, but the Cats recovered.

The nine-year veteran got the majority of the reps with the first team offence in practice today – something he hasn't had for much of this season.

"I wouldn't say it's been difficult, but it's hard to get in a groove when you're playing, then not playing, then playing. But that's the nature of pro football," Glenn said. "I don't think you need all the first team reps to play well, but it does help get the timing down with the receivers."

Bellefeuille said he expected Glenn to have success but stopped short of naming him the starter for the remainder of the season. And the coach still expects Porter to be the team's quarterback of the future.

"I shared with Quinton that we believe in him and we still believe that he's going to be a good player. He just wants to win. He's not in this for himself and whatever his role is, he'll do it," Bellefeuille said.

Porter said his confidence isn't shaken, despite his recent struggles.

"It doesn't change how I feel about myself as a quarterback. I know what I've done on the field and what I can do. And I also know when other members of the team aren't doing what they need to do," Porter said. "I can see the bigger picture. I'm 26 years old and have plenty of good football left to play."

In the meantime, Glenn will try to get the Cats to the playoffs and beyond.

"I've been here before where it's been crunch time, late in the season when you have to get wins. We're still in control of our own destiny and if we go out and handle what we need to handle, then we'll be alright," he said.

[drpgq]

Cats win 24 to 6 versus Saskatchewan! Local boy Dave Stala caught nine passes for 126 yards to lead the Cats to victory. On to the Peg!

[matt602]

Wow, very nice to hear :)

[drpgq]

With BC losing, Hamilton is in the playoffs unless Edmonton and BC tie next week.

[Blurr]

Big Win for the PussyCats!

[SteelTown]

Ticats all but assured playoff berth

November 01, 2009
By Drew Edwards
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/article/664270

The Tiger-Cats look to be headed to the playoffs.

After beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 24-6 on Saturday afternoon, Hamilton got some help when Calgary defeated the B.C. Lions 28-26 in a game that ended early Sunday morning.


That means, barring a tie in the Edmonton at B.C. game next Friday, Hamilton has made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The loser of the Esks-Stamps game will have eight wins - not enough to get past Hamilton (8-9) in a East Division crossover.

But the first order of business was taking down the Roughies in blustery Ivor Wynne Stadium yesterday, where wind gusts up 60 km/h made the kicking and passing games challenging for both teams.


"It was pretty bad," quarterback Kevin Glenn said of the wind. "I actually thought I was going to throw a pass to myself, let the wind blow it back to me."

The Cats took the wind in the first quarter and used the breeze to their advantage and took an early lead when Nick Setta hit a 34-yard field goal just over three minutes into the game

The Roughriders then fumbled on back-to-back possessions, the latter of which the Cats turned into seven points. Glenn hit Dave Stala for gains of 22 and 11 yards before hitting Arland Bruce from 12 yards out for Bruce's eighth TD of the year. Setta added a single on the next possession – from 63 yards out – to make 11-0 with three-and-a half minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

The Riders turned it over a third time when Darian Durant's pass was picked off by Dylan Barker for his first career CFL interception. The Cats made them pay again driving 69-yards for the TD, the last 23 on a scamper by DeAndra' Cobb. Just over a minute into the second, Hamilton had an 18-0 lead over the visitors.

The Riders got on the board with a single and were set up in Cat territory when Glenn fumbled after scrambling to his own 45. But the Hamilton D held and the Cats got the ball back, albeit inside their own 10-yard line. The Cats conceded a safety to make it 18-3.

But that decision paid off when Hamilton held on defence then drove the ball 74 yards on 13 plays that chewed up an all-important 6:05 against the wind. Setta hit a 10-yard field goal and the Cats had 21-3 lead with less than a minute to go in the half. The Riders' Luca Congi hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired.


The Riders started the third quarter with the wind as well and Congi tried a 55-yarder on their first possession but it hit the crossbar. His 50-yarder a few minutes later was wide right.

The Ticat D came up big time and again in the third, holding the Riders off the scoreboard as they played with the winds at their backs. It enabled the Tiger-Cats to take their 15-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Hamilton defence forced four turnovers and racked up six sacks against the Riders on the day.

"The defence was dominant," head coach Marcel Bellefeuille said. "I had a feeling they could play that type of football game. They've been poised for a big game like that. I thought the front seven did a great job and the secondary as well in coverage. We played good situational defence."

Steven Jyles came in at quarterback to start the final frame for the Roughriders after Durant went eight for 20 for 66 yards and one interception.

But it was the Cats who scored next. They went 46 yards in nine plays and Setta hit 47-yard field goal to make the score 24-6 with just over five-and-a-half to play.

Stala had career game with nine catches for 126 yards while Cobb ran the ball 25 times for 160 yards and a touchdown. Glenn finished with a tidy 237 yards on 22 for 27 passing, one touchdowns and no picks. The Hamilton offensive line did not allow a sack for the third straight game.

The Ticat D held the Roughrider offence to 168 total yards and no touchdowns. Linebacker Jamall Johnson had five tackles, while Otis Floyd had four and two sacks. Khari Long had two quarterback takedowns, Justin Hickman and Matt Kirk added the others.

The Cats can still host the East Division semi-final by beating Winnipeg on the road on Nov. 8. Hamilton will enter the game against the Bombers as winners of two straight.

"It's critical in terms of our momentum going forward," Bellefeuille said. "You want to be playing well this time of year."

Notes: On his first quarter touchdown run, DeAndra' Cobb went over 1,000 yards rushing on the season becoming the first Ticat to reach that mark since Troy Davis in 2004… Jamall Johnson also reached 100 tackles, the first Tabbie since Zeke Moreno in 2007… Attendance was 24,586, the Cats third-largest crowd of the year.

[realcity]

25,000 attendance for a Halloween day game

[realcity]

btw that graphic.... very nice quote from Foxy..... but to the designer/copywriter.... you don't apostrophe a number... ie it's the 80s, 90s, 1000s etc. Not... 80's, 90's, 1000's

just a pet peeve forgive me

[urban_planner]

I was at this game and they played very very well. Especially the Defence.

[SteelTown]

Ti Cats win! Big game next week at Ivor Wynne against I believe BC.

[matt602]

Wow, the Ti-Cats are doing awesomely. I'm really amazed. The Grey Cup is actually looking very possible right now... for the first time in a VERY long time.

[drpgq]

The two boat celebrations after the INTs were the best part.

[SteelTown]

Yea loved the boat celebration heheh.