Update: Tiger-Cats’ plans for 2013

The University recently received a request from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to play its 2013 home games at an expanded Ron Joyce Stadium through June, July and August. The club requires a place to play next year while a new stadium is under construction.

“We have taken a serious look at the idea and spent some time consulting with students, neighbours and Hamilton Health Sciences,” said Gord Arbeau, McMaster’s director of public and community relations. “There was a thorough review by McMaster athletics, parking and security staff as well. We also took into account the University’s position in an established residential community and the impact on the more than 10,000 students who attend summer classes on campus and thousands more who participate in children’s camps and other community activities during these months. Together these reviews determined that it is not feasible to host the games at McMaster.”

During the consultations, stakeholders identified several issues and challenges:

* Increasing the stadium capacity from about 5,500 to 15,000 fans which would involve construction of temporary stands on three sides of the stadium. The main stands would be built on Michell Crescent and would result in the road’s closure for three months

* Traffic congestion around the campus. McMaster is a landlocked campus with limited entrances and exits. Fans arriving and leaving campus would create significant traffic congestion on Main Street and other arterial roads that are the main entry points to West Hamilton and Dundas

* Significant concerns that game-day traffic congestion could impede ambulance and patient access to the hospital which shares the campus with the stadium

* Parking capacity on campus and in the surrounding neighbourhoods is limited. All fan parking for the game would be on west campus. Team, official and media parking would be on the main part of campus. Little parking would be available on game days for normal university activities

* Noise from game day activities would impact the surrounding areas and levels would be significantly higher than for any activities normally permitted within the stadium

* Need to cancel other activities such as community athletic and conference events normally held on campus during the summer

“The stadium and the campus weren’t designed to host this scale of professional sporting event,” Arbeau said. “While we’re unable to host the team for the 2013 season, McMaster continues to value its long partnership with the Tiger-Cats and appreciates the team’s important role in the community.”