Hamilton - Pan Ams Games 2015

[SteelTown]

Bid for Pan-Ams looking good for province, Hamilton

April 01, 2008
By JOHN KERNAGHAN
The Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton’s role in a southern Ontario Pan-American Games bid is gathering steam.

It’s now on the fast track, with the Ontario government taking the lead in finding a way to win the 2015 showcase.

“I’m pumped, this is as good a bid proposal involving Hamilton has looked at this stage of the game,” sports activist Dr. Gene Sutton said Tuesday.

Sutton, a board member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said the Ontario government’s lead role and the COC designating southern Ontario as Canada’s bid site gives the 2015 initiative a jump-start.

“Now we hope we can have commitments from Ontario and the federal government when the COC board meets April 11.”

Then the board could decisively confirm the push for the 2015 Games.

Sutton, of Ancaster, ignited the Games push last fall when she convinced prominent local businessmen like David Braley, Ron Foxcroft and Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young to help the campaign.

The city’s Pan-Am point man says the bid looks good so far.

“It’s positive on all fronts, though there are still lots of questions to answer,” said David Adames, the city’s representative on a committee which spans cities from Oshawa to Niagara Falls.

Adames, the director of Tourism Hamilton, will ask city council Monday for authorization to keep up Hamilton’s pursuit of a piece of the Games.

A share of the Pan-Ams, which feature more than 30 sports and 5,000 athletes, could mean a new stadium, improvements for Copps Coliseum and events at expanded facilities at McMaster University.

[SteelTown]

Stadium a Pan Am benefit

John Kernaghan
Toronto Star
(Apr 2, 2008)

Premier Dalton McGuinty is game for a proposed local bid for the 2015 Pan American Games.

"We think it's worth taking a good look at. We haven't seen any details yet, don't exactly know what it would involve, but we think it's something that we should closely examine," McGuinty told reporters yesterday at Queen's Park.

"It could mean that not only would it help us further put Toronto and region on the international map, it could also act as a catalyst for some important new build -- infrastructure and the like -- so we think it's worthwhile taking a look at," he said.

But McGuinty said any potential bid by cities around the Golden Horseshoe for the Games would need help from Ottawa.

Rival bids from Lima, Peru, Bogota, Colombia, and Caracas, Venezuela, would give a GTA or Golden Horseshoe effort a run for its money.

But the games, which boast participation by 40 nations from North America, South America and the Caribbean, are a major spectacle in this hemisphere and relatively inexpensive at about $2 billion compared with a summer Olympic Games.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger termed the bid push promising.

He noted the idea of sharing financial risks across several cities as well as the reward of new and improved facilities was welcome after Hamilton's two failed Commonwealth Games bids.

On those occasions, the city was the only partner outside of the provincial and federal governments.

Hamilton's David Adames noted the initiative took a big step forward recently when the Canadian Olympic Committee, which is responsible for Pan American Games matters in Canada, decided to pass on a domestic bidding process and award rights to southern Ontario.

The COC made that unprecedented move because Canada's most populous region is underserved in terms of sports and recreation facilities.

And if the two senior levels of government confirm support, it will save the developing bid group time and money, as much as $1 million required to win a national competition.

It is a bittersweet development for Dr. Gene Sutton, an Ancaster member of the COC, and Adames, who were part of Hamilton's 2005 Commonwealth bid.

Principals in that bid thought they had been awarded Canada's bidding rights on merit. But Commonwealth Games Canada changed direction, held a competition and awarded the rights to Halifax. The Nova Scotia capital left Canada with a black eye when it withdrew late in the global bidding war owing to suspect financing.

The big bonus in a 2015 Games would be a stadium, likely seating about 30,000. With Ivor Wynne Stadium crumbling, "the stadium is the jewel, of course," said Adames, the director of Tourism Hamilton.

The new stadium would be a site for soccer and rugby while Copps Coliseum could house basketball, gymnastics or boxing.

If won, a successful Pan Am Games could form the basis of a future bid for the Summer Olympics.

[SteelTown]

Pan Am bid gains strength
Hamilton tourism report likes joint bid with Toronto; urges city to get on board

April 07, 2008
John Kernaghan
The Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton's latest dip of the toe in the international sports pool is warmer than past tests, says city councillor Tom Jackson.

"My political sense of this is that Hamilton is really appreciated this time, that Hamilton is wanted."

Jackson made the comment as a report on the city's role in a bid for the 2015 Pan American Games became available Friday.

He was comparing the feel around a multi-city bid to the rejections Hamilton suffered in trying to get the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Pan American Games are held every four years and are for countries of the Western Hemisphere. They were last held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year and will be in Mexico in 2011.

A report prepared by Tourism Hamilton director David Adames will explain to city councillors today why Hamilton should forge ahead as part of a southern Ontario bid group centred by Toronto and spanning Oshawa to Niagara Falls.

Adames backed Jackson's assessment, noting Steeltown is seen as an important anchor of the bid.

"I'm confident we should pursue the opportunity right now," said Jackson, adding scrutiny will get more intense once dollar figures are assigned to the bid proposal.

Momentum for the estimated $1.5- to $2-billion Games has picked up steam recently as the Ontario government assumed a leadership role in examining a Golden Horseshoe Games.

Also, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is expected to bypass the usual domestic bidding process to hand Canadian rights directly to a southern Ontario bid group.

That's because Canada's most populous region desperately needs more sports and recreation facilities, some feel.

Ontario has staged only one multi-sport showcase, Hamilton's 1930 British Empire Games.

An endorsement by city council to keep pursuing a piece of the 2015 Pan Ams would come as the COC prepares to meet next weekend and vote to back the Golden Horseshoe bid.

Canadian Olympic Committee officials are working feverishly to bring the blessing of the Ontario government to their session.

Adames' report said Hamilton has been joined in exploratory talks by Toronto, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and Markham as well as Niagara and Durham Regions in meetings with provincial and COC officials.

He stressed the shared risks and rewards of a broad-based bid and noted Hamilton could benefit from a new stadium to replace decaying Ivor Wynne and improvements to Copps Coliseum.

Adams cites other benefits such as:

* An enhanced image and profile nationally and internationally.

* International ties with the 40-plus countries in the Pan-Am movement.

* New focus on urban regeneration projects.

* Developing tourism around sports events.

* Promoting healthy lifestyles and recreational sport development.

* Fostering community engagement and civic pride

* Providing economic and cultural development through construction projects and cultural exchange programs.

The Adames' report asks for his department to act as liaison with other cities in southern Ontario and to create an inter-department staff committee to work on the initiative.

That would include financial implications as the bid proceeds. The basic math now for a $2-billion Games would see the federal and provincial governments covering 70 per cent or $1.4 billion.

The remaining $600 million would be covered by Games revenues from sponsorships, ticket and merchandise sales, broadcasting revenues and the shares picked up by eight municipalities.

There are two possible snags to the bid's development.

One is that some Canadian cities could object to the Golden Horseshoe area getting exclusive bidding rights.

But Gerald Ouellette of the Winnipeg Sports Council doubts that will happen.

"I think this is a one-time situation and that it is understood the Games are to be shared across Canada and Ontario has not had any."

Another outside possibility is that Sport Canada, which has a national Games hosting policy, would recommend Canada bid for the World University Games instead of the Pan Am Games.

But that would be contrary to Sport Canada's mandate, which is to maximize sports and recreation opportunities for Canadians.

The Pan Ams develop many new and improved facilities while the University Games generally use existing arenas and fields.

The 2015 Pan Am sites will be determined next year. Already bidding are Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.

A successful Pan Am Games could form the basis of a future bid for the Summer Olympics.

[Boomtown_Hamilton]

Originally Posted by the dude

i'm surprised that eisenberger's interested in this sort of thing given that he's supposedly a fiscal conservative. honestly, i really don't get it. it seems the city is just randomly pursuing anything and everything right now: world expo, commonwealth, pan am, etc. the bottom line is that few people have any clue what the pan am games is.

it's really hard to make money on these sorts of events as well. winnipeg hosted in '99 and lost money. major american networks won't cover it, not to mention the fact that they never send their best athletes. in the end, the question is whether or not this is a city that can afford to lose money. i would say noooooooo way! if we need sporting facilities then let's harass the government and private sector for those dollars. i'd be more apt to support the commonwealth games because it began here. otherwise, i'd have to be convinced that we'd come out in the black.

I think there are 2 things here to be considered. First, its not like it will be solely a Hamilton bid we also have Metro Toronto and Niagara Falls in our corner. Secondly, Toronto in the past tried to land the Summer Olympic Games but lost out to Atlanta. If Toronto-Hamilton does well in hosting the Pan Am Games then I think it bodes well for our chances in trying to land the Summer Olympic Games down the line in the future. So this then becomes instead of a "waste of money" it becomes "a sound investment" for our infrastructure and for any future Summer Olympic Games bid.

The Future belongs to Hamilton!

[HAMRetrofit]

I agree the synergies of a Toronto-Hamilton bid would be tremendous.

[SteelTown]

Pan Am Games Bid Moves Forward

4/7/2008

Hamilton is officially part of a bid to bring the 2015 Pan Am Games to the Golden Horseshoe.

Local politicians have voted overwhelmingly to authorize the city's participation in the process, which is being driven by the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Councillors have been assured that the cost of chasing the bid will be borne by the provincial government. The city would ultimately be responsible for about 30% of the cost of any venues that would be built in Hamilton.

Mayor Eisenberger remains hopeful that the city could ultimately get a new stadium out of the process.

With the Pan Am bid in the forefront, City Councillors have also voted to hold off for now on deciding whether to pursue the International Expo in 2017.

[SteelTown]

For a good decent stadium with 30,000 to 40,000 seats it'll cost around $150 million. Hamilton will have to pay 30% for any new venues. So Hamilton will have to come up with $45 million. It's likely Ron Joyce, David Braley and Ron Foxcroft will donate. Bob Young will likely have to contribute some money towards the stadium so perhaps all Hamilton will have to pay is most $20 million.

[SteelTown]

Spend on Games bid facilities or lose them, councillors warned

John Kernaghan
The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 8, 2008)

Those who hesitate may be lost when it comes to scoring a Pan American Games stadium.

City businessman and philanthropist David Braley, a prime mover behind the Games initiative, warned yesterday there'll be a fight amongst Golden Horseshoe partners for sports facilities in the bid.

"If we didn't want them, they'd go elsewhere so fast it will make your head spin," he told city councillors.

Hamilton would be in line for a new 30,000-seat stadium to replace eroding Ivor Wynne, win upgrades for aging Copps Coliseum and add to new and improved facilities at McMaster University in a Games bid that would cost between $1.5- to $2-billion.

Braley was on hand as councillors voted to continue pursuing a part in the southern Ontario bid for the 2015 Games, which would feature more than 40 countries and more than 5,000 athletes competing in 34 sports.

He confirmed the southern Ontario bid has its roots in his passion to reshape McMaster University into a sports powerhouse. He wants to make Mac a centre for elite athletes for eastern Canada.

Braley approached fellow sportsman Ron Foxcroft, who referred him to Sport Hamilton president Dr. Gene Sutton. He merely wanted to get the ball rolling and didn't intend to get involved again in an international event after steering the 2003 road world cycling championships to success.

But Braley said Sutton was very persuasive and soon Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Rudge was in Hamilton meeting with him and discussing a Pan Am Games bid.

Sutton, a COC board member, said the bid is an important step to rebuild a dismal amateur and elite sports scene in Ontario.

"It's disturbing that only 10 per cent of Canada's team at the Torino Olympics came from Ontario."

She stressed a COC vote to award domestic Pan Am rights to a region spanning Oshawa to Niagara Falls eliminates an expensive step.

Braley outlined a possible timeline towards a formal bid next year.

He said the COC is expected to rubber stamp the bid initiative at a meeting in Calgary this Saturday.

"Then Chris Rudge, who is an absolutely fantastic businessman, will sit down with the province and set up what the bid will look like. That will take four to six months."

Braley said city council would be briefed throughout and then have the particulars laid out. He says the most important step then is appointing strong leaders with good business sense.

"Weak leaders can mean overspending. Quality of the people is very important."

[SteelTown]

Hamilton enters games bid, again
By Kevin Werner

Hamilton is lining up to take another shot at landing a major global sporting event.

But this time, organizers, and politicians argue, the bid will be different than the city's two past failures when it attempted to host the Commonwealth Games.

They say the bid to land the 2015 Pan American Games will have the financial and organizational support of the provincial government, and the financial risk will be spread among the Golden Horseshoe municipalities, including Toronto.

"I think this one is different,"said Ancaster councillor Lloyd Ferguson. "We have a dream team (organization). This is something we should move forward with."

Added downtown councillor Bernie Morelli, "This is a no brainer."

Councillors agreed this week to seek the 2015 Pam American Games. A decision on which city will host the event will be made in 2009.

What makes the 2015 bid unique is the idea to form a Golden Horseshoe bid team that involves as many area municipalities as possible, such as Toronto, St. Catharines, Mississauga, and Barrie.

A meeting scheduled for April 12 by the Canadian Olympic Committee, which oversees the Canadian bid process for the Pan American Games, is expected to favour a Golden Horseshoe bid process.

David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton, who also led Hamilton's failed 2014 Commonwealth Games bid, said "nothing is guaranteed in life", but he told councillors there is a strong indication from the COC that a Golden Horseshoe bid would be the preferred choice among Pan American officials.

Dr. Gene Sutton, president of Sport Hamilton, and chief de mission for Team Canada to the 2003 Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic, said the COC have stated the Golden Horseshoe offer would be the only Canadian bid accepted.

"We have learned from our past bids," said Ms. Sutton, who was involved in Hamilton's two Commonwealth Games bids.

"Ontario is leading this bid. I would not get involved if I didn't know the outcome."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said last week he backed the idea of a Toronto-led bid.

"It would mean not only would it help us further put Toronto and the region on the international map, it could act as a catalyst for some important new buildings - infrastructure and the like - so we think its worthwhile taking a look at."

He added that the federal government would have to cough up some money to the province to make the bid successful.

There are other countries that have indicated they were interested in hosting the games, including Lima, Peru, Bogata, Columbia, and Caracas, Venezuela.

The 2007 games, which brings together about 5,000 athletes from about 40 countries in North and South Americas, and the Caribbean, were held in Rio de Janiero in 2007, while the 2011 games will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Canada last hosted the event in 1999 in Winnipeg.

Mr. Adames acknowledged under questioning from councillors no budget has been established for the bid, nor has the cost of the event been outlined. But he trumpeted the benefits for Hamilton to hold the games including a higher profile for the community, needed investment from both the federal and provincial governments and establishing "legacy" facilities such as a possible waterfront stadium.

"This is absolutely perfect for the Golden Horseshoe," he said. "There is not a lot of risk."

"This is low risk and shared risk," said Mountain councillor Terry Whitehead. "It is great to be at the table."

Downtown councillor Bob Bratina said even if Hamilton gets "table scraps" by participating in the games, it could mean expanding the city's public transit system.

"This kind of event will further transit connectivity," he said.

But not all councillors were enthusiastic about the city getting involved.

Stoney Creek councillor Brad Clark and Flamborough councillor Margaret McCarthy remained wary of the lavish talk presented, without the hard-hitting numbers available that taxpayers will have to pay to host the games.

"I always feel like an ogre when these things come out with such fanfare," said Ms. McCarthy.

A 2015 Pan American Games bid could top $2 billion to stage. The games in Rio de Janiero in 2007, originally budgeted for $91 million soared to $1.9 billion.

Ms. McCarthy pointed out Manchester, England, which staged the 2002 Commonwealth Games have yet to eliminate the debt created by the games.

"It is not justified," she said. "There has to be a sense of reality."

During Hamilton's 2014 Commonwealth Games bid process, the city spent about $450,000.

David Braley, president of Orlick Industries, and chair of the 2003 Road World Cycling Championships, said he believed there is a 65 per cent chance of Hamilton winning the bid process.

"I don't mean this is a slam dunk," he said. "But the province is talking the lead on this event."

During the Commonwealth Games bids, the province, he said, only reluctantly joined the bid process at the last minute which contributed to the city losing out.

Mr. Adames said there have been two meetings held with provincial officials last month to discuss the possibility of hosting the games.

Other communities that have expressed an interest in becoming part of the games bid include Niagara and Durham regions, Markham, Mississauga, Burlington, and Oakville. No formal agreement has been established with the municipalities yet, said Mr. Braley.

Mr. Braley said if Hamilton doesn't get to the table first, it could be left outside looking in when it comes to hosting any of the events. He warned councillors there will be heightened competitive interest among the Golden Horseshoe communities to snatch up the best events and facilities to showcase them, including a stadium.

He suggested Hamilton could host up to five events during a Pan American games event.

Hamilton last hosted a major global event in 2003 with the cycling championships. But the city hasn't hosted a multi-sport athletic event since the 1931 Empire Games, when Ivor Wynne Stadium was constructed.

"Let's keep our fingers crossed for us to be a bride and not a bridesmaid," said a reluctant Mountain councillor Tom Jackson. In the previous bids "we were played."

[SteelTown]

Province lends support to 2015 Pan Am Games bid
Apr 11, 2008 03:56 PM

Jim Byers
City Hall Bureau


Queen's Park has sent the Canadian Olympic Committee a letter of support for a Pan American Games bid for southern Ontario.

In a move that further strengthens the chance of a Golden Horseshoe bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games, deputy Health Promotion minister Cynthia Morton wrote in a letter to the COC that Premier Dalton McGuinty and Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best "are fully supportive of a provincial leadership role in the development of a business case to assess the viability of a successful bid."

"The Premier has asked this Ministry to take the next steps to assess the federal and municipal commitment to a fiscally sound bid," Morton wrote.

The letter noted that the province is "very impressed with the level of engagement and excitement amongst the affected communities and their leaders."

In addition, it states that Queen's Park is reviewing southern Ontario's sports infrastructure to gauge what's needed to host the games and "establish a sound sports legacy for the future of all Ontarians."

The COC's executive is pushing for a southern Ontario bid and the full COC board is expected to endorse the concept at a meeting in Calgary on Saturday.

In addition to the COC letter, Queen's Park this week sent letters to municipal leaders advising them that they're continuing to study a bid and that a decision could come in late June.

The COC has estimated the Games could cost $1.5 to $2 billion. Early plans call for sports to be spread out from Toronto to Hamilton to St. Catharines, which could help attract support from the federal Tories.

The Pan Am Games are held every four years and attract athletes from 42 countries in North and South America and the Caribbean. Some 5,500 athletes attended last year's games in Rio de Janeiro and took part in some three dozen sports.

[SteelTown]

Let the discussions begin
Eight municipalities expect a tug-of-war as they pitch what Pan Am events they want to hold

Stories by John KERNAGHAN

Now it gets interesting, eight sets of interests seeking to divvy up as many as 40 of the sports they play in the Pan American Games.

The prospective 2015 bid, which would embrace eight municipalities in southern Ontario, gears up over the next two weeks as Ontario government officials meet with representatives from Hamilton and others spanning Oshawa to Niagara Falls.

Discussions will focus on where each city fits into the Pan Am puzzle.

They want to hear what sports each municipality wants and what facilities each hopes to get.

“We’ve submitted a list of venues, existing and proposed, to the province,” said David Adames, the Tourism Hamilton director who is carrying the ball for Steeltown in the Pan American Games’ meetings.

This unfolds as Ontario probes the economic feasibility of the sports showcase with a report due in June.

Adames stresses Hamilton will push first for a 30,000-seat stadium to replace eroding Ivor Wynne Stadium, make a case for an aquatic centre and press for improvements to Copps Coliseum and added facilities at McMaster University.

But both Mississauga and Markham have pool ambitions too, meaning a battle for who would win that sporting jewel.

City Councillor Terry Whitehead, who has pushed a feasibility study for an aquatic centre in Hamilton, agrees a tugof-war could break out.

But, he says, the process of determining who gets what, assuming the bid goes forward successfully, will be a matter of give-and-take.

“I understand that the stadium is the priority here,” Whitehead said.

“I just wish we were further ahead with our aquatic-centre study at this point.”

Markham seems out in front in terms of preparation with detailed pool plans as part of the proposed Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.

The multi-faceted proposal already has almost $70 million approved by Markham council provided the federal and provincial governments pitch in, too.

Though none of the other seven parties has shown interest in a mid-sized stadium like Hamilton would propose, the allure of potential Games booty has drawn interest from as far away as Ottawa.

An Ottawa Citizen editorial this week suggested that city try to join the Pan Am push in an attempt to replace aging Frank Clair Stadium.

Whitehead noted the nation’s capital is substantially out of the footprint the Canadian Olympic Committee had in mind when it designated the Golden Horseshoe as Canada’s bid area.

The rare occasions when far-flung venues are part of a major Games scenario generally revolve around sailing facilities.

[SteelTown]

A partial list of what six parties would like to host
Who has what and who needs what as the 2015 Pan American Games initiative forges ahead?

Here’s a partial list as six of the eight parties to the Golden Horseshoe Games begin to make their case to host events.

Hamilton:
Would propose new 30,000 stadium to replace Ivor Wynne Stadium for soccer, athletics and rugby, identify improved Copps Coliseum for basketball, volleyball and boxing, McMaster University for squash and athletics and Royal Hamilton Yacht Club for sailing.

Toronto:
Would identify Air Canada Centre for basketball, volleyball and boxing, BMO Stadium and Varsity Stadium for soccer and rugby, the Rexall Centre for tennis and Ricoh Coliseum and National Trade Centre for combat sports.

Mississauga:
Would propose new international-calibre aquatic centre and identify the Hershey Centre for gymnastics, martial arts and boxing and Port Credit Yacht Club for sailing.

Markham:
Would propose major multi-sport facility called the National Sports Centre Ontario for swimming and diving, basketball, volleyball, combat sports and sports medicine centre.

Durham Region:
Would identify 5,000-seat GM Centre for basketball, volleyball and combat sports, Durham College Wellness Centre for sports medicine and therapy.

Niagara Region:
Would identify Henley rowing course in St. Catharines as a world-class site and the Welland River for canoe and kayak events.

Oakville and Burlington are the other two municipalities in the Golden Horseshoe Games bid.

[SteelTown]

Hamilton closer to PanAm Games
Canadian Press
6/7/2008

Hamilton is a step closer to co-hosting the 2015 PanAm Games.

The Ontario government is backing a 1.77-billion dollar bid to host the games, which would be held in Hamilton and in cities from Niagara, around Lake Ontario to Durham Region, and north to Barrie.

Provincial officials say it's now up to the federal government to decide whether to get on board.

The Golden Horseshoe PanAm Games bid would include the construction of four to six Olympic-sized pools and possibly a new multi-purpose stadium in Hamilton, which would later be used by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Local politicians have voted overwhelmingly in April to authorize the city's participation in the process, which is being driven by the Canadian Olympic Committee.

It's expected that Hamilton would ultimately be responsible for about 30% of the cost of any new venues.

The PanAm games are held every four years, and were last was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2007.

The next event will be in Mexico in 2011.

The 2015 PanAm Games will be awarded next summer.

[SteelTown]

Hamilton to score big if Pan Am bid is a winner

EXCLUSIVE
BY DANA BROWN

Hamilton stands to gain as much as $250 million in legacy facilities if southern Ontario’s bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games is successful, sources say.

Facilities that could be built or revamped to accommodate the games include a new 30,000-seat stadium to replace Ivor Wynne.

In the unsuccessful bid for the 2010 games, the price tag for a new stadium was pegged at about $170 million.

A new aquatic centre, improvements to Copps Coliseum and added facilities at McMaster University are also on the wish list.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton to score big if Pan Am bid is a winner
Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 9, 2008)

Hamilton stands to gain as much as $250 million in legacy facilities if southern Ontario's bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games is successful, sources say.

Facilities that could be built or revamped to accommodate the games include a new 30,000-seat stadium to replace Ivor Wynne.

In the unsuccessful bid for the 2010 games, the price tag for a new stadium was pegged at about $170 million.

A new aquatic centre, improvements to Copps Coliseum and added facilities at McMaster University are also on the wish list.

A high-level provincial source told the Toronto Star that the Ontario government is ready to back a $1.77-billion Golden Horseshoe bid to host the games in 2015.

"This is a very significant development," said Tourism Hamilton director David Adames, who has represented Hamilton at recent Pan Am meetings.

"It's a great signal."

The federal government must now decide if it is also willing to support the southern Ontario bid. Hamilton is among a dozen municipalities from Barrie to the GTA to Niagara that has expressed interest in a collective games bid.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said there had been a sense the province was "very supportive going forward on a Golden Horseshoe bid."

Eisenberger said if southern Ontario lands the games, a new stadium would be a sensible thing to pursue and probably very doable.

The project would need funds from the provincial and federal governments, Eisenberger said.

"And I would expect that those that are currently in need of a stadium, like the Tiger-Cats, would also produce some dollars to help assist in the rebuilding or building of a new facility."

Hamilton would likely be forced to compete with other cities for new facilities and events. The provincial source said the games would require 70 venues or more.

The games are expected to attract 10,000 athletes and a quarter of a million visitors.

At least three other international cities are expected to bid for the games.

The provincial endorsement is important because it takes the responsibility solely off the backs of municipalities or a national sports organization, said Adames.

"Here we see the province taking leadership."

Adames said he's been waiting to hear the province's response after it reviewed the bid's business plan. He plans to follow up with the province today.

Once the government offers up formal confirmation of its support, Adames said he will go back to Hamilton city council with a report. To date, the city has only agreed to investigate the bid. No money has been committed.

The cost of hosting the games would be shared by three levels of government. The majority, 70 per cent, would be paid for by the federal and provincial governments. Municipalities and the private sector would be responsible for 30 per cent.

[SteelTown]

McMaster wants to build a Sports Complex so that's probably included in the bid. David Braley is a major supporter of the Pan Am bid so obviously he'll donate money towards the Complex. Ron Foxcroft and Ron Joyce will probably be the other private donators.

This bid might include a stadium and an aquatic centre at the waterfront like the last Commonwealth Games bid.

[DC83]

^^ I definately think the waterfront Stadium is the #1 choice, and what a great choice it is.

I was down at the site last week, and this neighbourhood is perfect for a stadium! Not too many houses to annoy residents, empty lots to add parking garages, and of course the fact that it would have waterfront AND downtown views!

[SteelTown]

For a waterfront stadium I would like something like Vancouver's proposed stadium.....





Spending $170 million for a new stadium that would be used at most 12 times for the Tiger Cats a year isn't wise so it should be able to function as a concert stadium as well. Perhaps get a minor soccer team as well.

[beanmedic]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

For a waterfront stadium I would like something like Vancouver's proposed stadium.....





Spending $170 million for a new stadium that would be used at most 12 times for the Tiger Cats a year isn't wise so it should be able to function as a concert stadium as well. Perhaps get a minor soccer team as well.

That's way too small for the Ti-Cats. The design is nice though.

[matt602]

Too small? Are you serious? The rendering makes that thing look enormous.