- Pan American Stadium
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This article is about the proposed stadium in Hamilton, Canada. For for other stadiums with the same name, see Estadio Panamericano.
Pan American Stadium Location Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Opened 2014 Construction cost $102 million Capacity 15,000 (Pan Am Games) Tenants 2015 Pan American Games (Athletics)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)Pan American Stadium is a description of a planned stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada [1] for the 2015 Pan American Games Track and Field athletics events. The games are being hosted by Toronto and the surrounding Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
Following the games, it was planned that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats would move into the new stadium [2]. The stadium would replace Ivor Wynne Stadium as the home of the Ti-Cats. The seating capacity of the venue will initially be for 15,000 spectators. Recommendations to increase this capacity to 25,000-28,000 was to follow to accommodate Ti-Cat fans. However, due to the city's selection of the West Harbour site, Ti-Cats owner Bob Young announced the team was withdrawing from negotiations and would not play in a stadium at West Harbour [3].
On August 31, 2011, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced they had reached an agreement to construct a new stadium for the Pan-American Games, which will be opened in 2014. Ivor Wynne Stadium will close in 2012 and be subsequently demolished to make room for the new stadium; the Tiger-Cats have not announced where they will play for the 2013 season.[4]
Contents
Proposals
Prior to the selection of the former Ivor Wynne Stadium site, there were two locations for the new stadium:
West Harbour - City Preferred
The city preferred location of the stadium will likely be on the Hamilton waterfront in the West Harbour location on a brownfield site. This site (bounded by Barton, Hess Street North, Stuart Street and Bay Street North) is located south of Bayfront Park and located southeast of the CN Rail yard. The location is accessible to Ontario Highway 403 and Barton Street West. The city plans for the area would see the expansion of current residential growth and parkland (with future connections to both Bayfront Park and Dundurn Park) in the area around the stadium. This location is accessible to public transit:
- 2.0 kilometres from Hamilton GO Station
- 0.5 kilometres from nearest Hamilton Street Railway's 4 Bayfront bus stop at Colborne Street and McNab Street North (also served by nearby Routes 99 Waterfront Shuttle, 2 Barton, 3 Cannon, 8 York and 9 Rock Gardens
- 4.0 kilometres from Highway 403 King Street West exit
East Mountain - Team Preferred
An alternate location has been proposed by football business interests to relocate on a greenfield site on the East Mountain. The possibility that the stadium would be built on the East Mountain arose as the result of mediation talks between the City of Hamilton and the Tiger-Cats [5], necessitated by the Tiger-Cats refusal to accept the West Harbour location, previously selected by Hamilton City Council [6].
The East Mountain site had been subjected to criticism by Hamiltonians who cite the benefits of an urban stadium that is accessible by public transit and would remediate a brownfield property [7].
The East Mountain site is located along Rymal Road East near Pritchard Road in Hannon. It is located near Hamilton International Airport and close access to Red Hill Expressway. Compared to the Bayfront site, the East Mountain offers public transit access and is catered to patrons driving by car:
- HSR 44 Rymal bus stops in front of the site
- 0.4 kilometres from Red Hill Valley Parkway exit at Mud Street West
Other
A proposal by the Whitestar Group to build a stadium may have kick started a much needed urban redevelopment on the waterfront and blend well with future city planning [8]. Though ambitious, especially for climate considerations, a retractable roof would've made the stadium an all season venue.
As of July 29, 2010 the prospect of a Hamilton Stadium for track and field will not likely materialise. Ongoing challenges by football business interests and political indecisiveness have attracted Athletics Canada to ask the City of Hamilton for a committed decision. AC is further concerned that the ti-cats will rip up the track following the games thus negating any legacy value and would prefer the crown jewel of the Pan Am games be returned to Toronto[9].
Possible locations for track and field in Toronto could include York University, Etobicokes Centennial Park, or possibly a location in Mississauga if not something adjacent to the future athletes village on Toronto's waterfront; conceptually and esthetically mirroring what would have been built in Hamilton.
As of August 11, 2010 Hamilton City Council voted to build a the new stadium at a proposed downtown site.
New Toronto Area Stadium
In the event the Hamilton site does not materialize, the Pam Am organizers may opt to relocate the events to Toronto.
York University
Toronto’s subway system has been extended to Metro Toronto Track and Field Centre at York University. York’s Rexall Centre is an established prime venue and is schedulled to host Pan Am tennis. The North York location is sensible but may be a busy dual venue. There is land for a new stadium (replacing York Stadium), but cost for new stadium may not be funded by city, province or the federal governments. Previous attempts to land a stadium (for CFL and MLS) fell through due remote locattion.
Etobicoke
Centennial Park Stadium located in the borough of Etobicoke already has an existing dedicated track facility. The stadium was used for the 1976 Summer Paralympics. There is an opportunity to refurbish, retrofit and expand the seating capacity is readily viable. City of Toronto may need government or private funding for this to happen. The proposed site is close to Toronto Transit Commission bus stops, but service would not be sufficient to handle large crowds during the Pan Am. Games.
Mississauga
The neighbouring city of Mississauga had considered an aquatic venue but declined involvement early on[10]. Though already hosting Judo and Taekwondo, the city could reconsider an athletics stadium if the federal contribution portion remains for a stadium. None of the athletics fields have sufficient seating space for such a venue.
For water front view the old power generation grounds south of Lakeview Park next to the Port Credit Yacht Club is within several hundred meters of a rapid transit system, the Lakeshore GO train line. Mississauga Transit service is limited, this not unable to handle large loads.
Downtown Toronto
If the athletics venue is returned to Toronto consideration for a stadium adjacent to the athletes village as outlined in the Precinct Plan [11] could even support the opening and closing ceremonies. Transit services would be able to handle large crowds within the city and beyond (GO Transit, TTC, VIA Rail, Greyhound).
External links
- Toronto wins 2015 Pan Am Games
- Designs of stadium
- Citizen group opposing the East Mountain location
- Ticats' East Mountain support site
References
- ^ http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/668370
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/breakingnews/article/722389--toronto-wins-2015-pan-am-games
- ^ http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=330193
- ^ http://www.ticats.ca/article/new-stadium-announcement-caretaker-s-commitment
- ^ http://thespec.com/article/802359
- ^ http://thespec.com/article/764349
- ^ http://thespec.com/article/807248
- ^ http://thespec.com/article/811397
- ^ http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/816196
- ^ http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/819875--ex-premier-talks-pan-am
- ^ http://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/explore_projects2/west_don_lands/2015_pan_american_games
Coordinates: 43°15′59″N 79°52′20″W / 43.2664876°N 79.8721504°W
Categories:- Athletics venues in Canada
- Sports venues in Hamilton, Ontario
- Proposed stadiums
- Venues of the 2015 Pan American Games
- Proposed buildings and structures in Canada
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