City council closes door on Commonwealth Games bid

City council has refused to even study the possibility of hosting the 100th anniversary Commonwealth Games in 2030 despite the encouragement of Canadian games officials.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger made a last-ditch plea for council support Wednesday to seek information about possible costs and benefits of hosting the centennial games, which were born in Hamilton as the British Empire Games in 1930.

“Make an informed decision,” he said, later adding council may ultimately decide its contribution to a $1-billion games is “too rich for our blood.” But to do so without the facts, he said, would be “truly unfortunate.”

A growing number of councillors decided Wednesday, however, that they already knew enough to say no.

“We need to focus on back-to-basics needs,” said Coun. Sam Merulla, who argued taxpayers have already spent enough on sports infrastructure — particularly $145 million for a new Pan Am soccer and football stadium.

He argued there was a “collective sigh of relief ” when a smaller number of councillors voted to recommend killing the bid study last week. An unscientific Spectator website poll showed about 70 per cent of 1,500-plus votes opposed doing the study.

Coun. Tom Jackson said he was feeling “games anxiety” following the challenges — and ongoing litigation — linked to the city’s Pan Am Games experience, not to mention two past failed bids for the Commonwealth Games.

He recalled the disappointment and surprise experienced by council members who eagerly supported Hamilton bids in 2010 and 2014 only to lose out.

Ironically, Canadian Commonwealth Games organization officials have encouraged Hamilton to bid for 2030 because of the city’s historic role as the birthplace of the event 100 years prior. CEO Brian MacPherson previously told The Spectator there is a “natural feeling” among international games organizers that centennial events “should go to the birthplace.”

Other city leaders in Canada have indicated they are reluctant to express interest in a 2030 bid because the expectation is Hamilton had the inside track.

Some councillors said it was the wrong time to talk about possible large-scale expenditures given the city’s commitment to a $1-billion, multi-year LRT project, redevelopment of the west harbour and efforts to cut into a $3-billion infrastructure backlog.

City staff said Wednesday there is a theoretical possibility that a new, post-election council could revisit a bid study in 2019 or later.

Eisenberger expressed hope that the debate “would rise again.”