Ivor Wynne Stadium
Encyclopedia
Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football
stadium
located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North
in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
. The stadium was originally constructed in 1928 to host the 1930 British Empire Games
, though playing fields had stood on the site since the city bought the land from a local farmer in 1913. The stadium, which currently seats 29,600 for football, has been the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
of the CFL
since 1950. The club's previous home had been the HAAA Grounds
.
.
Ivor Wynne was the second facility in Canada to use Astroturf
, after Empire Stadium in Vancouver. In the 1980s, the west endzone bleachers were removed for the addition of a new scoreboard, dropping capacity to approximately 29,500. A subsequent retrofit of the north stand lower east section for handicapped access in the 1990s dropped capacity further to just under 29,000.
The stadium was renovated again after the 2002 football season
and had a new AstroPlay playing surface installed. Shortly after the 2003 season, a new scoreboard was erected in the west end of the stadium; owing to sponsorship, it is known as ArcelorMittal TigerVision.
There are plans to renovate the stadium again in 2012, with a completion date in 2014, which would also be used for the upcoming 2015 Pan American Games
. On February 25, 2011, the stadium plans were approved by the Toronto 2015 Pan Am board of directors which would see the south side stands demolished and rebuilt, with the north side stands extensively renovated. The plan calls for a $152 million renovation of the stadium where the Tiger-Cats would have to play at a different venue for at least one season. On August 31, 2011, the team stated that the current stadium would be completely demolished while a new Pan American Stadium would be constructed on the premises.
twice, in 1972 (with a win by the hometown Tiger-Cats over Saskatchewan in a sell out) and 1996. In the 1996 game
, temporary west and east end zone seating raised capacity to 43,000. Actual attendance however, was only 38,595, even with a last minute discount ticket promotion by local coffee giant Tim Hortons
. This resulted in the loss of potential revenues amounting to almost $2.5 million. That game, perhaps one of the greatest of all time, was played in a steady snowstorm, and was won by the Toronto Argonauts over the Edmonton Eskimos.
Some concerts have occurred at Ivor Wynne, the biggest being Pink Floyd
in 1975. It was the last show of the North American Tour so in a dramatic finale, Pink Floyd's crew decided to go out with a bang and used up their remaining pyrotechnics around the stadium scoreboard. The explosion at the climax of the show was so intense it blew the scoreboard to pieces and shattered windows in neighboring houses. The last concert held at Ivor Wynne was Rush
in 1979.
In April 2005, Ivor Wynne hosted Our Game to Give, a charity hockey game similar in concept to the Heritage Classic
.
On January 21, 2012, Ivor Wynne will host an AHL
regular season game between the Toronto Marlies
and Hamilton Bulldogs
, the first outdoor game in Canada in the league's history and the third in an annual series of outdoor AHL games.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North
Gage Avenue (Hamilton, Ontario)
thumb|right|350px|Gage Park WaterfountainGage Avenue, is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at Lawrence Road at the base of the Niagara Escarpment at the south end of Gage Park...
in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The stadium was originally constructed in 1928 to host the 1930 British Empire Games
1930 British Empire Games
The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930....
, though playing fields had stood on the site since the city bought the land from a local farmer in 1913. The stadium, which currently seats 29,600 for football, has been the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
since 1950. The club's previous home had been the HAAA Grounds
Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds
The Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds is a park located on the north side of Charlton Avenue West,between Locke Street South and Queen Street South, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The park served as home to the Hamilton Tigers from 1872-1949...
.
Construction history
The stadium consists of a large grandstand on one side of the field, with a small section curving around the end zone, and a separate grandstand on the opposite side of the field. The stadium was heavily rebuilt in 1970-71 and renamed for Ivor Wynne, the former chairman of the city Parks Board, in 1971. From 1971 to 1975, Ivor Wynne's 34,500 seats made it the largest stadium in the CFLCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Ivor Wynne was the second facility in Canada to use Astroturf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, after Empire Stadium in Vancouver. In the 1980s, the west endzone bleachers were removed for the addition of a new scoreboard, dropping capacity to approximately 29,500. A subsequent retrofit of the north stand lower east section for handicapped access in the 1990s dropped capacity further to just under 29,000.
The stadium was renovated again after the 2002 football season
2002 CFL season
The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
and had a new AstroPlay playing surface installed. Shortly after the 2003 season, a new scoreboard was erected in the west end of the stadium; owing to sponsorship, it is known as ArcelorMittal TigerVision.
There are plans to renovate the stadium again in 2012, with a completion date in 2014, which would also be used for the upcoming 2015 Pan American Games
2015 Pan American Games
The 2015 Pan American Games, officially the XVII Pan American Games or the 17th Pan American Games, will be a major international multi-sport event that will be held from July 10–26, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Ajax, Barrie, Brampton, Caledon, Hamilton,...
. On February 25, 2011, the stadium plans were approved by the Toronto 2015 Pan Am board of directors which would see the south side stands demolished and rebuilt, with the north side stands extensively renovated. The plan calls for a $152 million renovation of the stadium where the Tiger-Cats would have to play at a different venue for at least one season. On August 31, 2011, the team stated that the current stadium would be completely demolished while a new Pan American Stadium would be constructed on the premises.
Events
Ivor Wynne Stadium (while being officially named Ivor Wynne) has hosted the Grey CupGrey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
twice, in 1972 (with a win by the hometown Tiger-Cats over Saskatchewan in a sell out) and 1996. In the 1996 game
84th Grey Cup
The 84th Grey Cup, also known as The Snow Bowl, was the 1996 Grey Cup Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario...
, temporary west and east end zone seating raised capacity to 43,000. Actual attendance however, was only 38,595, even with a last minute discount ticket promotion by local coffee giant Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
. This resulted in the loss of potential revenues amounting to almost $2.5 million. That game, perhaps one of the greatest of all time, was played in a steady snowstorm, and was won by the Toronto Argonauts over the Edmonton Eskimos.
Some concerts have occurred at Ivor Wynne, the biggest being Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
in 1975. It was the last show of the North American Tour so in a dramatic finale, Pink Floyd's crew decided to go out with a bang and used up their remaining pyrotechnics around the stadium scoreboard. The explosion at the climax of the show was so intense it blew the scoreboard to pieces and shattered windows in neighboring houses. The last concert held at Ivor Wynne was Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
in 1979.
In April 2005, Ivor Wynne hosted Our Game to Give, a charity hockey game similar in concept to the Heritage Classic
Heritage Classic
The Heritage Classic was an outdoor ice hockey game played on November 22, 2003, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first National Hockey League game to be played outdoors as a part of regular season play...
.
On January 21, 2012, Ivor Wynne will host an AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
regular season game between the Toronto Marlies
Toronto Marlies
The Toronto Marlies is a Canadian professional ice hockey team currently playing in the American Hockey League . The top affiliate of the National Hockey League 's Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies play at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario...
and Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
, the first outdoor game in Canada in the league's history and the third in an annual series of outdoor AHL games.
Grey Cup at Civic / Ivor Wynne Stadium
Hamilton had hosted five Grey Cup finals at the HAAA Grounds. The 84th Grey Cup of 1996 is, to date, the only Cup final played in Hamilton that did not feature a Hamilton team.| Grey Cup | Date | Champion | Score | Loser | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th Grey Cup 20th Grey Cup The 20th Grey Cup was played on December 3, 1932, before 4,806 fans at the Civic Stadium at Hamilton.The Hamilton Tigers defeated the Regina Roughriders 25 to 6.... |
3 December 1932 | Hamilton Tigers | 25-6 | Regina Roughriders | 4806 |
| 23rd Grey Cup 23rd Grey Cup The 23rd Grey Cup was played on December 7, 1935, at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds, with 6,405 fans in attendance. It marked the first time that a team from west of Ontario won the cup.... |
7 December 1935 | Winnipeg 'Pegs | 18-12 | Hamilton Tigers | 6405 |
| 32nd Grey Cup 32nd Grey Cup The 32nd Grey Cup was played on November 25, 1944, before 3,871 fans at Civic Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario.The St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy defeated the Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7 to 6.... |
25 November 1944 | Montreal Navy | 7-6 | Hamilton Flying Wildcats | 3871 |
| 60th Grey Cup 60th Grey Cup The 60th Grey Cup was played on December 3, 1972 before 33,993 fans at the Ivor Wynne Stadium at Hamilton. It was the last Grey Cup played in December... |
3 December 1972 | Hamilton Tiger Cats | 13-10 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | 33,993 |
| 84th Grey Cup 84th Grey Cup The 84th Grey Cup, also known as The Snow Bowl, was the 1996 Grey Cup Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario... |
24 November 1996 | Toronto Argonauts | 43-37 | Edmonton Eskimos | 38,595 |