Tiger-Cats Propose Comprehensive Alternative West Harbour Vision
Pan Am Park plan includes Velodrome, Legacy Community Recreation Centre and Seasonal Concert Amphitheatre
HAMILTON – At a news conference this afternoon, Tiger-Cats President Scott Mitchell outlined a comprehensive alternative vision for the West Harbour precinct and the north end community. Focused on lower density, higher volume usage, the ”Pan Am Park” plan calls for the delivery of the Pan Am Games Velodrome, a legacy recreation centre inside the velodrome structure, and a 3,500 outdoor amphitheatre to the West Harbour precinct. The club forecasted an annual average in excess of 600,000 people could visit this new West Harbour precinct on a yearly basis.
The velodrome would be converted into a community recreation centre after the Pan Am Games to serve as a legacy for the north end community and all Hamiltonians. The Club also suggested the prominent recognition of the late Dr. Gene Sutton at the velodrome to pay service to her tireless efforts to bring the Pan Am Games to Hamilton.
The Tiger-Cats also announced they have partnered with Live Nation as their music and entertainment consulting partner to develop a 3,500 seat, seasonal amphitheatre in the West Harbour. The amphitheatre will provide an appropriate venue for Hamilton to capitalize on what has become the trend in the touring music industry, shows catering to smaller crowds in intimate venues. The amphitheatre will also serve as a hub for community programming, with suggestions made for concerts of the week, local theatre, church choir performances, high school graduations and an array of other community uses.
The Club proposed a financial model to support the Pan Am Park vision that is summarized as follows:
1. Allocation of $7 million from the Future Fund to develop the Velodrome, legacy recreational complex and amphitheatre – $5 million of which was previously designated for velodrome development and $2 million coming from funds earlier allocated to the stadium that the Tiger-Cats encourage be spent on the West Harbour
2. The Tiger-Cats will contribute $1.5 million towards the development of the Pan Am Park vision
3. The Tiger-Cats will make an annual contribution of $100,000 to support the maintenance and on-going operations of the Park
Mitchell commented, “The Pan Am Park concept delivers north end residents an exciting potential solution in the West Harbour precinct that is consistent with the Setting Sail plans and will not disrupt their neighbourhood as would a stadium development. Pan Am Park allows for the development of the financially sustainable, regionally accessible stadium on the East Mountain. The citizens of the City of Hamilton are now the beneficiaries of two remarkable wins for football, soccer, community sports and recreation, music, arts and culture.”
-30-
