Gates still shuttered at Tim Hortons Field

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It cost 145 million dollars, and was supposed to open last July. But now, eight months later, the gates are still shuttered at Tim Hortons Field. City officials were hoping to get answers from Pan Am and government officials at a meeting today. The group in the know- was a no show.

Members of Hamilton’s Pan Am committee were expecting an update from a delegation representing Toronto 2015, the province and Infrastructure Ontario as to the progress of the 145 million dollar stadium, but the group was a no show citing a conflict in its schedule.

“The province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario…potentially the contractor who is doing the work. I think they should all be here answering questions as to what’s the nature of the delay. Can you give us now a hard and firm specific date in terms of completion” said Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger.

The stadium may be home to the Hamilton Tiger-cats and the site of the upcoming Pan Am soccer games, but it’s main use will be events hosted by community groups. Already, some of those events have been cancelled or postponed because of the ongoing delays.

“We are holding up community events now, cancelling community events because we can’t get occupancy of the facility. So I’m frustrated yes. I’m hopeful that the province will lean on them to move more quickly so that we can get all of our events in.”

CHCH News contacted the province and Infrastructure Ontario, who did confirm a scheduling conflict kept them from attending the meeting. They also sent a letter saying with less than 100 days until the games – the push is on to complete the final elements of the project.

Building inspectors will be at Tim Hortons field monday and city officials are hoping enough work has been done to get the green light to open the stadium to the public.