Council backs Longwood stadium 13-2

Hamilton council has voted to look at putting a stadium in the McMaster Innovation Park at Aberdeen and Longwood avenues in the city’s southwest.

The historic vote did not take the city’s preferred west harbour location off the table, but opened the door to finding a new site mutually agreeable to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who have rejected playing in a west harbour stadium.

The historic 13-2 vote achieved a needed two-thirds majority to direct city manager Chris Murray to begin negotiations with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the university.

Only councillors Sam Merulla and Brian McHattie voted against pursuing the Longwood/Aberdeen site.

There has been a changing dynamic right from beginning that has been frustrating to deal with, Mayor Fred Eisenberger said.

"We should move forward and explore that opportunity in the next 2 weeks." he said.

"Even if we didn't get perfection, it is still very very good for our city. I'm very encouraged we're on a positive path.".

Councillor Brian McHattie put forward a second motion that no Future Fund money be used at the Longwood site. That was defeated 13-2.