Stadium builder complains of red tape

(Updated)

The original June 30th deadline will pass without a finished stadium to replace Ivor Wynne, but tonight officials say Tim Hortons field should be ready in time for the first Tiger Cat home game on July 26th. That’s despite delays caused by weather, and a complaint from the builder that the city was holding back key building permits.

The stadium site is a hive of activity, but councillors want to know if a letter sent to Infrastructure Ontario was right to blame Hamilton for some earlier delays.

“Point blank, did the city create any delay in this process, as was communicated in the press,” said councillor Terry Whitehead.

“This is not unusual for a construction project to have letters go back and forth like this. As far as I’m concerned it’s behind us and we need to focus on the future,” said John McKendrick of Infrastructure Ontario.

Ticat business president Glenn Gibson says it doesn’t matter if everything is done by the 26th.

“What we need to play a game is we need a field and seats and an occupancy permit. So I think a high level of confidence that’s going to be delivered by the first game.”

Food and drink may still be served from trucks at first.

“We’re hearing positive things but that might be one area where our concession partner is going to have to be creative,” says Gibson.

The seats are going in now, some of the widest seats in any North American stadium, with cupholders. Gibson says the stadium will be first class.

“The food and beverage experience, the internet activity during the game, the scoreboard is going to be twice the size.”

It’s not just the stadium that has to be ready in time for that first game. Leinster Ave has been taking the brunt of all the heavy construction vehicles entering the site, and now the street looks like it’s been hit by an earthquake.

The problem started about three weeks ago, when the trucks changed their route. Now the asphalt squishes under their tires.

“A neighbour this morning was getting out of her car and almost twisted her ankle. I’ve seen a couple cars bottom out so it could be pretty costly as well,” says resident Adrian Dyke.

Others say there are trucks on the streets running from early in the morning until the evening.