Hamilton Spectator: Pro Soccer Returns to City
Pro soccer returns to city
Lease agreement last hurdle
today
Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
A Hamilton professional
soccer revival is rumbling across the city's sports landscape after an 11-year
absence.
The Hamilton Thunder -- a fledgling franchise in the 14-team
Canadian Professional Soccer League, appears set to kick into action on
Saturday.
Hamilton's third professional sport team expects to clear its
final hurdle today when city councillors approve a one-year lease for city-owned
Brian Timmis Stadium.
The Thunder debut marks a return of professional
soccer to Steeltown after a 11-year absence.
The Hamilton Steelers called
Brian Timmis home for five seasons as part of the Canadian Soccer League before
folding in 1991.
The Thunder lease pact would see the club pay the city
$1,000 per game for its 13 games.
That's down from the $4,000 per game
rental city staff had originally pitched.
A city staff report suggests
the city is foregoing some $68,000 in potential revenue by not charging full
cost recovery for Brian Timmis, Mohawk Sports Park and Ivor Wynne
Stadium.
The Thunder has practices planned at the latter two
facilities.
But the club has spent $15,000 to repair the dilapidated
south bleachers at the stadium, giving the team a seating capacity of 6,000 of
its inaugural season.
Thunder general manager Nick Catalano said the club
is happy with the proposed lease pact.
Catalano said once the lease pact
is signed by the city, it clears the way for the Thunder to proceed with its
scheduled exhibition game Saturday at 4 p.m. against the Toronto Lynx. Proceeds
from the $4 admission price will be split between Hamilton minor soccer and a
child refugee charity, Catalano confirmed.
The club's home opener is set
for May 23 against the Vaughan Sun Devils.
Tickets are available by
calling the Thunder office at 905-529-5565.
Hamilton Councillor Frank
D'Amico expects the lease won't create a political roar at the
committee-of-the-whole session today.
D'Amico downplayed the loss of
revenue that results from the Thunder pact. He noted the city provides the
Bulldogs with $78,000 annually. The city also spends $700,000 a year to operate
Ivor Wynne Stadium, while offering the facility to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for
about $5,000 a season.
"I think what it says is Hamilton is a great place
to do business for professional sports teams," he said yesterday.
Contact
Ken Peters at kpeters@hamiltonspectator.com or 905-526-3388.
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