Tim Hortons Field • mackaycartoons

Friday April 10, 2015

April 9, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 10, 2015

“Inexcusable” Pan Am Stadium delays continue

The city has cancelled community events booked for its new $145 million stadium this month as construction — and damage repairs — continues on the long-delayed project.

City Pan Am committee chair Lloyd Ferguson said Thursday the 22,500 seat stadium is “very, very close” to being done, more than nine months after it was supposed to be completed.

Ferguson said a critical building inspection walk-through is scheduled for Monday and an occupancy permit could be granted within a couple of weeks.

Pan Am Stadium Chronology

But he added contractor Ontario Sports Solutions has also been busy fixing water damage caused by faulty water seals in the east stands on top of finishing touches to the new stadium.

Last summer, the beleaguered contractor also had to repair $25,000 in damages from a fire that broke out in a ventilation room just before the Labour Day Classic Ticat game.

Infrastructure Ontario and the contractor can’t hand over the stadium to the city until it achieves “substantial completion,” a contractual threshold that will also trigger more than $80 million in withheld building payments.

Four requests from the contractor for substantial completion have so far been rejected by IO’s independent certifier, according to city staff.

The ongoing delays have forced the city to cancel an unspecified number of community bookings for the stadium and May is currently on hold.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger called that “inexcusable.”

“We’ve been held up for how many months now?” he asked at the committee. “I want to have assurances we’re not going to continue to hold up … community events.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Saturday August 23, 2014

August 22, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

Illustrated by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 23, 2014

Two-Thirds of the New Stadium for Labour Day Classic

At so many steps along the way in the endless saga of Tim Hortons Field, it’s been easy to come to the conclusion that things couldn’t possibly get any more ridiculous.

Apparently they could.

While it’s certainly encouraging to hear that progress is being made and the place may be partially ready for the Labour Day game — a final decision will be made early next week — the fact that the word partially is included in that sentence is just another head-shaking moment in a long string of them.

Honestly, who opens a brand-new stadium halfway? These moments come along once every generation or longer in most cities.

You’d have to be 92 years old to have been alive the last time a new stadium opened here. So it’s a big deal. Yes, even historic.

Pan Am Stadium Chronology

Can you imagine any other major city unveiling its largest construction project and one of its centrepieces when it’s not yet done? Neither can we. Yet in Hamilton, it appears we’re going to ease our way into it as if we’re moving into our new house but can’t use the unfinished master bedroom, dining room and kitchen.

If the word embarrassing hadn’t been so overused, we’d throw it out here again.

On the flip side, what other choice is there? Blame the Ticats all you want for refusing the West Harbour, but that’s old news now. At this point, the team has been backed into a corner and has no choice but to do what it can with this situation.

If the city says the stadium can be used, the Cats probably can’t refuse to play there and still expect the contractor to pay them $1 million a game in penalties. Not without a fight. Besides, where would they play instead?

Back at Mac? They’re going to turn down 18,000 seats to go with 6,000? Even if they wanted to do that, the Marauders have the field locked up for their opener, which starts at the exact same time. Right as thousands of students are trying to move into their residences, which would create traffic havoc on campus.

Could the Cats go back to Guelph? Possibly, though there are only 4,500 seats, so most fans would have to stand or sit on the hill around the field. That said, the university’s athletic director has expressed his willingness to make something happen if needed. (Source: Scott Radley, Hamilton Spectator)

Stadium Chronology 2009-2015

August 20, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

A CARTOON CHRONOLOGY of HAMILTON’S PAN AM STADIUM

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

July 8, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Tim Hortons Field won’t be ready for first two Ticat home games

Two weeks ago, the vice-president of Infrastructure Ontario was asked if there was time to get Tim Hortons Field done in time for the Tiger-Cats’ July 26 home opener, assuming good weather and no bankruptcies by subcontractors.

“Yes,” said John McKendrick. “Yes, there is. Yes.”

Apparently there wasn’t.

As if to put an exclamation point on a project that has divided, excited, angered, intrigued, frustrated and baffled Hamiltonians for the past half-decade, it was announced Monday that the building wouldn’t be ready for the Ticats’ games on July 26 and 31 after all. Instead, those two contests will be played at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Stadium.

“All partners, including IO, confirmed today that the stadium would not be ready in time,” said Infrastructure Ontario communications adviser Mandy Downes.

While news of the announcement came suddenly — following the second long meeting in a week involving all the principals — it can’t have been much of a surprise to anyone who’s driven by the site lately.

There’s definitely been some progress made over the past few days. Most of the steel frame for the huge scoreboard has gone up since late last week. The turf isn’t ready for action, but it’s been laid. Other work has been done under the stands in the bowels of the building where it can’t be seen.

However, these incremental improvements were clearly moving at a slower pace than the hands on the stopwatch are spinning toward D-Day. With just seven days to go until the building department was going to be asked to begin its inspection toward granting an occupancy permit, there’s still more than a little to do.

Pan Am Stadium Chronology

According to Infrastructure Ontario, tasks remaining to be completed include: “Field of play installation, exterior building facade work, sprinkler systems installation, all mechanical and electrical work, installation of seats, VIP and box suites, installation of broadcast facilities, installation of railings and elevators throughout public areas.”

Sound like a lot? Walk around the site and it sure looks like a lot.

“They just haven’t been able to progress as they thought they would,” says Hamilton general manager of public works Gerry Davis.

So there’s another delay and another twist written into one of the most convoluted narratives this city has ever produced.

Even in its current state, this stadium looks like it has the potential to be really nice when it’s finally finished. Until now though, it’s been an ongoing migraine that flares up at regular intervals, with Monday being a Tylenol 3 day. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)