Bob Young breaks silence

A city report says a Pan Am stadium at the east Mountain will cost $55 million to $80 million more than a stadium at the west harbour site, the Spectator has learned.

The Great Stadium Debate 

The figure, contained in a draft report presented to councillors yesterday, includes about $24 million in road improvements to handle increased traffic and lost revenue potential through taxes, development charges and building fees the city could earn if the land was developed for other uses.

The building cost for a stadium at the east Mountain is about $15 million cheaper than at the west harbour site. Ticat owner Bob Young has offered $15 million in capital to an east Mountain stadium, and the team said it would spend millions to build a parking lot there.

The city has pledged $60 million to the Pan Am Games, with $45 million going towards a stadium, $10 million to land acquisition and $5 million to the velodrome.

The provincial and federal governments have both offered $28.5 million. The city staff report offers the first indication the east Mountain could require significantly more funding than what's been pledged by all levels of government and private investors like the Cats.