Tim Hortons Field: Tap water will be drinkable for Sunday's game
Fans will be permitted bring in empty bottles to fill inside stadium's washrooms
Football fans will be able to get their fill of drinking water at Sunday’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats home game, their second at the still-under-construction Tim Hortons Field, the team says.
Glenn Gibson, the Ticats' president of business operations, said the water coming from the stadium’s taps should be deemed potable as soon as Friday night.
“I would expect news on that front sometime this evening or tomorrow, so one way or another fans will know what to expect,” he told CBC Hamilton on Friday afternoon.
During the Sept. 1 Labour Day Classic between the Ticats and the Toronto Argonauts, fans encountered signs stating the tap water wasn’t safe to drink. Minutes after kickoff, concession stands temporarily ran out of Dasani water bottles — which were on sale for $3.50 for a 591-millilitre container — forcing officials to scramble to restock supplies.
Ontario Sports Solutions, the contractor that's building the venue, has been conducting tests this week to determine whether the water is potable, Gibson said.
No public water fountains
It was revealed this week that the stadium won’t be equipped with any water fountains for the general public. But Tiger-Cats management have said fans will be able to bring empty water bottles they can fill using taps in the stadium's washrooms.
In addition, a water fountain will be available on field level for community groups using the field, the team says.
People attending Sunday’s game can expect to encounter additional features at the stadium that weren’t ready for the Labour Day Classic. For example, fans will be able to access the stands via the northeast entrance of Tim Hortons Field, Gibson said.
More “Tiger-Cat logos and different things that wrap the stadium” will be apparent, too, he added. “I think can all see what it’s going to look like when it’s all done.”
The stadium, which will also host soccer competitions during next year's Pan Am Games, was slated to be ready for football action by the end of June. Construction delays pushed the Tim Hortons Field's debut to Sept .1. However, only 18,000 of the stadium's 24,000 permanent seats are currently accessible to fans.
The opening of Tim Hortons Field “has been experience for all of us,” Gibson said.
“I’m just thankful that fans are being very gracious with us. And I think the fans have generally felt that the stadium has exceeded expectations.”