Ontario adds to the Kitty cash call

They can continue to unfold the blue prints for the rejuvenation of Ivor Wynne Stadium, at as close to the last minute as possible, the Province of Ontario agreed to fill in the funding gap for the most discussed, argued and almost abandoned stadium project in the land.

The last minute financial boost erased the much discussed funding gap, which at one point seemed to be the tipping point for the Tiger Cats efforts to remain in Hamilton, taking away the final discussion point on the stadium project among the city's municipal politicians.

With the cheque in the mail as they say, Hamilton City council gave it's final approval on the renovation plans, turning the political aspect of the entire situation back over to the Province, which is now being accused of seeking political gain from their added largess.

So while that debate will carry forward on into whatever election cycles come next in the province, the actual stadium plan it would seem can go ahead.

That construction will apparently require the Cats to find a temporary home for the 2013 season, offering up the potential of auditions we imagine for Quebec City, Moncton or maybe Halifax to adopt the Cats for a year with an eye on a potential expansion franchise in the future.

Or, the Cats may seek a rental a little closer to home hello London, that of course being a discussion for a different day.

Some of the details and reviews of the Ivor Wynne deal can be found below:

Hamilton Spectator-- Touchdown! Ontario boosts in $22M
Hamilton Spectator-- Council backs Ivor Wynne deal
Hamilton Spectator-- Province commits $22.5M to stadium
Hamilton Spectator-- Council love in doesn't disguise its cuplability
Stoney Creek News-- Liberals need to give stadium funding NDP
Stoney Creek News-- Hamilton Scores new stadium
National Post-- It's official: Hamilton council approves stadium plan

Location, location, er location?

The long and winding road that leads to a new football stadium for Hamilton will apparently be a round about, as the City of Hamilton and Tiger Cats finally come to an agreement that in the end, while not a perfect solution, the best place you can be, is where you are.

This week details were released on the plan to refurbish Ivor Wynne Stadium,  a rehabilitation project that will see the south side seating area rebuilt, with improvements made to the north side seating area.

Though it being Hamilton, controversy seems to follow every announcement, this time the surprise nature of the Mayor's discussions with the Tiger Cats and the sudden, surprise announcement that Ivor Wynne was in the picture, with dreams of a sparkling new stadium now banished to the coulda, shoulda filing cabinet.

Should the latest plan fall through, the city intends to build a 5,000 seat stadium on the West Harbour for Pan Am soccer and the Cats we imagine would begin the process of looking for a new home, most likely out of Hamilton, though we suspect they can cross Burlington off of any relocation short list now.

In the wake of the latest twist in the tale of the Tabbies, the folks who call Burlington home are feeling just a little bit used, from their recent discussions with the Tiger Cats management team.

All in all, a pretty messy affair for the Tiger Cats to try and mend over (perhaps either discounts for season tickets for the Burlington postal code, or not mailing any pamphlets at all the two options for the Cats there).

Still, once Hamilton council approves the plan (never a sure thing we guess) the actual blue prints will be passed out, showing what the "new" Ivor Wynne (how long the name lasts in this era of corporate branding remains to be seen) will look like.

One thing we'll all be watching for is to see if the cramped sidelines are to be relegated to the past, the character of the current stadium has always featured the "heads up" approach to football, where a push out of bounds has a fifty fifty chance of sending the shovee off to intensive care, we imagine that feature of the old Ivor Wynne will be but a foggy memory in the future.

The reviews of the latest chapter of the Cats stadium desires can be found below.

Hamilton Spectator-- Council gives Ivor Wynne plan cautious support
Hamilton Spectator-- The imperfect compromise
Hamilton Spectator-- Wynne win situation
Hamilton Spectator-- Ivor Wynne not so bad after all
National Post-- Ticats, Hamilton mayor strike stadium deal
National Post-- One man never gave up on Ivor Wynne
National Post-- Pan-Am Games boss has questions about Ticats’ stadium plan
Globe and Mail-- Tiger-Cats staying put in Hamilton
Globe and Mail-- Hamilton stadium decision expected by mid February
Toronto Sun-- Ticats fans are happy they're staying at Ivor Wynne