Western

Saturday January 16, 2016

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday January 16, 2016 Hamilton gets Garth Brooks times 5 Garth Brooks has upped the ante to five record-breaking concerts at FirstOntario Centre. Brooks initially announced that he and his wife Trisha Yearwood would perform one show at the downtown Hamilton arena on Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m. Within less than 45 minutes of tickets going on sale Friday morning for that show, however, four additional concerts were added to the venue in four separate announcements, the first released at 10 a.m. and the fourth released at 10:42 a.m. The timing of the five FirstOntario Centre shows by the American country superstar are between March 24 and 27th. "Garth Brooks has smashed his Hamilton and Toronto ticket sales record combined in 45 minutes," Leigh Ann Pigue, advertising and promotions manager for Nashville-based promoter Varnell Enterprises, said in a statement. "He last played Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Sept. 5, 1996, and SkyDome in Toronto, Sept., 6, 1996, and sold a combined 47,910 tickets. Today he has sold 54,048 tickets for FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton and tickets are still selling." Tickets for all shows are on sale now for $79.81 including service fees and HST, with an eight-ticket per purchase limit. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6234187-hamilton-gets-garth-brooks-times-5/ Hamilton, entertainment, religion, First Ontario Centre, Copps Coliseum, country, western, Garth Brooks

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 16, 2016

Hamilton gets Garth Brooks times 5

Garth Brooks has upped the ante to five record-breaking concerts at FirstOntario Centre.

Brooks initially announced that he and his wife Trisha Yearwood would perform one show at the downtown Hamilton arena on Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m.

Within less than 45 minutes of tickets going on sale Friday morning for that show, however, four additional concerts were added to the venue in four separate announcements, the first released at 10 a.m. and the fourth released at 10:42 a.m.

The timing of the five FirstOntario Centre shows by the American country superstar are between March 24 and 27th.

“Garth Brooks has smashed his Hamilton and Toronto ticket sales record combined in 45 minutes,” Leigh Ann Pigue, advertising and promotions manager for Nashville-based promoter Varnell Enterprises, said in a statement. “He last played Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Sept. 5, 1996, and SkyDome in Toronto, Sept., 6, 1996, and sold a combined 47,910 tickets. Today he has sold 54,048 tickets for FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton and tickets are still selling.”

Tickets for all shows are on sale now for $79.81 including service fees and HST, with an eight-ticket per purchase limit. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Saturday, March 23, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, March 23 2013

Sheriff Glenn Decaire’s Last Stand

It is interesting, and disturbing in some ways, to watch the test of wills between city council and our police. Our elected officials seem set on making it clear they are in charge of the purse strings, even though they have no line-by-line control over the police budget.

As The Spectator’s Emma Reilly has reported, for the first time in recent memory, council is considering whether to reject a budget increase requested by the police with the endorsement of the Police Service Board (PSB). If council rejects the budget presented by Chief Glenn De Caire, it will go back to the board, which could accept council’s suggested increase or appeal to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

These circumstances are unusual in Hamilton. Historically, councillors have not aggressively disputed the police budget in this way. One result has been a push for the PSB to be accountable to taxpayers, not just the chief, and that is good thing.

It is troubling, though, to see the relationship deteriorate between council and police leadership. It appears council’s confidence and trust in the police leadership has eroded as councillors pushed for answers to valid questions on behalf of Hamilton taxpayers. This is not such a good thing and we must be concerned about the outcome if that relationship is not repaired. Police leaders must adapt to the demands of accountability, particularly regarding taxpayers’ money. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)