"Neighbourhood stadium" shifts axis north-south, adds latest state-of-the-art features
HAMILTON, ON, Oct. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Hamilton's storied Ivor Wynne Stadium will rise again as a state-of-the-art sport legacy to Steel Town, the sole host of soccer competitions during the upcoming TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games, officials confirmed today.
The brand new $145.7-million stadium, renamed Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium at Games time, is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, Province of Ontario and the City of Hamilton. It will open in July 2014—a full year before Hamilton hosts all 32 men's and women's soccer games during the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
The overall project costs for this facility are anticipated to come in at $145.7 million. Of the $145.7 million, $119.1 million is the amount to design, build and finance the project. The remainder is comprised of capital expenditures for equipment, transaction fees, project management and other ancillary costs. It is on budget and construction is starting on time.
The new stadium will be built on a 5.45-hectare parcel in Hamilton's Stipley neighbourhood where the venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium currently stands. The design reimagines the historic site—fittingly, the same ground where Canada held its first major international competition, the British Empire Games in 1930—as a flexible "neighbourhood stadium" that can host professional and amateur sports, cultural happenings and prestigious national and international events.
"In almost a thousand days, Hamilton will welcome some of the world's top soccer teams to compete in Canada's newest and most modern stadium," said Ian Troop, Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).
"As the sole Pan Am venue for the world's most popular sport, the Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium will be the focus of some of the most intense interest and passionate spectators we'll see in 2015 and this showpiece legacy venue will help ensure the city shines."
To maximize flexibility, the stadium's footprint has shifted 90 degrees to a north-south axis in line with international standards, and a striking sun-lit pedestrian plaza has been added to encourage residents and sports fans to come together to celebrate big games and cultural events.
It also meets the highest standards for accessibility and the most up-to-date technical requirements of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), including all-new FIFA-approved artificial turf.
"Ivor Wynne Stadium has served Hamilton and its residents for over 85 years but it's time for a new facility to capture the imagination of the city, its sports fans and its athletes," said Hamilton Mayor, Bob Bratina. "With this design, we're creating a stadium our community can use year-round and sets Hamilton up to attract national and international events that will boost the city's tourism and economy as a whole."
The modern and airy stadium will have a solid masonry base topped by a white steel exoskeleton with permanent seating for 22,500 spectators and the ability to expand to up to 40,000 seats for major events. It will have fantastic sightlines and first-class amenities, such as 30 club suites, six elevators, bigger seat sizes, updated press and broadcasting facilities, as well as concession stands on all levels.
With the new north-south alignment, players and spectators will also have a jaw-dropping view to the south of the 90-metre-high slope of the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, known locally as "The Mountain." Wind and sun shading on the field-of-play will also be greatly reduced and allows light into homes along Beechwood and Balsam avenues.
The current 84-year-old Ivor Wynne Stadium will be demolished in December following the end of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 2012 Canadian Football League (CFL) season. Construction is slated to start immediately after the site is cleared.
"The Government of Canada is a proud supporter of the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, which will bring economic prosperity and job creation to the region, the province and our country as a whole," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "As a result of our Government's contribution to the Games, our talented amateur athletes will have the opportunity to compete in state-of-the-art facilities as they take on the Americas in 2015."
Infrastructure Ontario recently announced the hiring of Ontario Sports Solutions (ONSS) as the consortium in charge of the Hamilton project. The consortium consists of developers and constructors Bouygues Building Canada Inc. and Kenaidan Contracting Ltd., as well as the design team of Cannon Design, FaulknerBrowns Architects and Arup Associates.
"The McGuinty government is proud to be bringing the 'People's Games' to Hamilton, boosting the local economy with new jobs in construction and tourism," said Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister responsible for the Pan and Parapan American Games. "This new state-of-the art stadium will be a tremendous legacy for the community to enjoy for generations to come."
The soccer stadium in Hamilton is part of a previously announced construction bundle for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, which also includes the velodrome in Milton and an athletics stadium at York University in Toronto.
The Hamilton stadium will reach a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating with its site selection, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, waste diversion and recycling, and the efficient use of energy, water and other resources.
Last spring, TO2015 announced the cluster and sport program for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. At that time, it also announced details of the budget for both Games. TO2015 will issue quarterly budget updates starting this fall.
About the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games
The Pan American and Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and 26 member nations of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC). The Pan American Games are comprised of all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports, while the Parapan American Games are comprised of the majority of Paralympic Summer Games sports. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games will draw more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials and feature 51 sports in municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10−26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14. For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org.
Image with caption: "Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium (CNW Group/Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121012_C6383_PHOTO_EN_19151.jpg
SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
please contact:
Carlene Siopis
Communications Advisor, TO2015
C: 647.206.0259
[email protected]
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