Hamilton Stadium - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Dave Cottenie
- Aug 27
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 31
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Hamilton Stadium 64 Melrose Ave N Hamilton, ON L8L 8C1 Canada
Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 23,218
Oskee-Wee-Wee
In Ontario’s steel city, the sound of 20,000 fans yelling out “Oskee Wee Wee”, led by a bearded fellow carrying an odd bowler hat, may be the Hamilton equivalent to heavenly tones. Summer and fall weekends at Hamilton Stadium find the Hamilton Tiger-Cats taking the field and Pigskin Pete leading the crowd in the somewhat famous chant. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the cornerstone Canadian Football League franchise in Ontario.
Although the origins of the team date back to 1869, the official beginning of the Ticats is 1950, when the rival teams, the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats, merged, hence the unique name of the team. The team has enjoyed the success of eight Grey Cup Championships since the merger, claiming another six from the Tigers and Wildcats days. In 2003, local businessman Bob Young purchased the Tiger-Cats and endeared himself to the community, dubbing himself the “Caretaker” of the franchise, a nod to the attachment the team has to The Hammer.
Home for the Ticats is Hamilton Stadium. The former Tim Hortons Field opened in 2014 as a replacement for venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium. After an exhaustive search for a suitable location for a new stadium in Hamilton, the decision was made to build on the site of Ivor Wynne, rotating the orientation of the field 90 degrees. Naming rights were originally held by Tim Hortons, which was founded in Hamilton, until they lapsed in 2024. The city continues to search for a naming rights partner for the city-owned stadium.
Food & Beverage 4
Hamilton Stadium offers a decent array of concession options. Main concession stands are found on both the east and west sides. Pizza Pizza and Butcher Burger are at the permanent concession windows offering slices, burgers, poutine, and other options. Mobile carts are also found throughout the stadium and include Denninger’s Sausage, Cheese Co., Liquor Craft, and Hamilton Smoked Meat Co. Nashville Chicken, Loaded Tater Tots, and Buffalo Chicken Poutine are all good options.
Hamilton Stadium offers a variety of alcoholic beverages. National beer brands including Molson Canadian and Coors Light are available, as well as premium options including Coors Original, Creemore and Heineken. Seltzers from Coors and Cottage Springs, as well as wine and spirits, are available. Fans may want to try a Ticats Lager from nearby Bench Brewing Co., the signature beer of the team. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at Hamilton Stadium, and Tim Hortons coffee is also available.
Atmosphere 4
Hamilton Stadium is an excellent stadium for the CFL. The exterior of Hamilton Stadium does not provide a big wow factor, but it is an attractive stadium. Essentially composed of an east and west grandstand that is in a fairly compact footprint, fans will most likely enter through the north or south gates. There is a large gathering area in the southeast corner where fans can meet before heading in. There are a couple of things fans should note on the exterior.
The southern end of Hamilton Stadium is bordered by Cannon Street East, which has been renamed Bernie Faloney Way between Balsam and Melrose after the legendary Tiger-Cats quarterback. The pillars of the exterior fencing feature the Tiger-Cats Walk of Fame. Member plaques for Hamilton legends like Earl Winfield, Angelo Mosca, Joe Montford, Wally Zatylny, and numerous Pig Skin Petes, and many more are great for fans to explore.
Inside the stadium, fans will be drawn to north and south endzone features. The south endzone has The Hammar bar area with the giant steam whistle on top of giant shipping containers and signifies the working-class demeanor of Hamilton. The north endzone features the videoboard, which is solid. The new Porter Airlines Hangar is a covered club area, which has not been welcomed with open arms. The covered seating blocks the video board from some of the lower seats in the northeast and northwest corners.
On the fascia of the west grandstand is the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour. Tiger-Cats memorialized on the wall include Danny McManus, Joe Montford, Rocky DiPietro, Jake Gaudaur, Ben Zambiasi, Angelo Mosca, Tommy Grant, Less Browne, Earl Winfield, Ellison Kelly, Garney Henley, Bernie Faloney, Don Suthernin, Bernie Custis, Miles Gorrell, Mike Walker, Pete Neumann, Willie Bethea, Tommy Joe Coffey, Joe Zuger, Ralph Sazio, Bob Krouse, Vince Scott, John Barrow, Bill Danychuk, Grover Covington, Paul Osbaldston, Rob Hitchcock and Darren Flutie.
The Tiger-Cats have further retired the numbers of their three most honoured players, Angelo Mosca, Bernie Faloney and Garney Henly on the fascia of the northwest corner. The eight Grey Cups the Ticats claim are memorialized in the southwest corner (1953, 1957, 1963, 1967, 1972, 1986, 1999) along with the seven Grey Cups from the Hamilton Alerts, Tigers and Wildcats (1912, 1913, 1915, 1928, 1929, 1932, 1943). An area that fans should consider checking out is the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, which is located on the Club Level. Fans have access to the Hall of Fame twenty minutes after the game has completed.
Where the Tiger-Cats really step up is in the game day production department. There are certain staples that Ticat fans enjoy and the organization delivers on all accounts, but by no means is the game over-produced. The Hammer area in the south is a great social area to hang out and features a stage with live music. The national anthem is highlighted with the unveiling of the giant Canadian flag, nearly the size of the entire field.
A flyover by one of the planes from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is a staple at Tiger-Cat games. The Tiger-Cats cheerleaders entertain the fans on the field and throughout the stadium, and TC and Stripes, the Ticat mascots, interact with fans young and old. However, it is the presence of Pigskin Pete and the Oskee-Wee-Wee chant that are uniquely Hamilton and a part of every Tiger-Cat experience.
Neighbourhood 2
Hamilton Stadium is absolutely a neighbourhood stadium. Located in the Stipley neighbourhood of Hamilton, on the site of the former Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton Stadium suffers from the same location issues as its predecessor. Tiger-Cats Caretaker, Bob Young, attempted to get a different location for the stadium when negotiating with the City of Hamilton; however, the long and drawn-out process ended with no change in location, only a change in orientation. There are not many spots for pre or post-game food or drinks near the stadium. The Capitol Bar and Bernie’s Tavern are nearby. There are a couple of fast food options on Barton Street, but nothing too exciting. The best bet is to hop into the car or take public transit and head to Hess Village. The Gown and Gavel is a good selection, as is the Pub 36. Other selections downtown include Electric Diner and Radius.
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is located on the Club Level at Hamilton Stadium. The Hall is open during game days and well worth checking out. FirstOntario Concert Hall and the TD Coliseum are the other big entertainment spots in the city, hosting concerts and other shows, and they are located downtown. A must-see experience in Hamilton is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.
For those looking for other sporting experiences, Forge FC of CPL shares Hamilton Stadium with the Ticats. If lacrosse is the jam, then seeing the Toronto Rock at TD Coliseum is the way to go. The new AHL Hamilton Hammers and a new PWHL team will be taking up residence at TD Coliseum also. McMaster University fields athletic teams as well. The McMaster Marauders football team plays at Les Prince Field @ Ron Joyce Stadium, and the basketball team plays at Burridge Gymnasium @ Ivor Wynne Centre. Hamilton also has a Canadian Baseball League team in the Hamilton Cardinals.
For fans needing to stay in the area, downtown is again the spot to be. The Crowne Plaza and Sheraton are good selections on King Street.
Fans 4
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have enjoyed solid support over the years. At the time of writing, the 20026 season, the Tiger-Cats averaged over 20,000 fans per game. This ranked third in the CFL. It should be noted that this review was before the Labour Day Classic, which is consistently the top event for the Tiger-Cats of the season. The previous season, the Tiger-Cats averaged nearly 23,000 fans per game, ranking them 4th of the 9 CFL teams.
Ticat fans are loud and proud. They are enthusiastic supporters when Pigskin Pete comes to their section to recite the Oskee-Wee-Wee. They are also notable for their hatred of the rival Toronto Argonauts and travel well to away games in Toronto.
Access 3
Getting to Hamilton Stadium can be a challenge. It is located in The Stipley neighbourhood on the northeast corner of Melrose and Cannon. It is far from the major highways, and fans coming in from out of town will have to travel through the city. It is located east of Highway 403, west of Red Hill Parkway, and significantly south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. King and Main Streets are the main access points to the neighbourhood, but both streets being one-way means that the traffic does flow well.
Parking around Hamilton Stadium is an issue, and there are not too many lots. There are a couple that will charge $15 to $25, and some residents will sell their driveway for the evening. Getting there early to find parking is the best idea if bringing the car to Hamilton Stadium. Fans interested in tailgating should head early to the lot at Chapele and Lloyd, Parking Lot E.
The response to the parking situation is a significant public transit effort. Several buses travel King, Barton, and Cannon Streets. There are some Park and Ride lots throughout the city also. Public Transit is free on game days with a valid ticket. More information can be found at the HSR website.
Getting around the stadium isn’t terrible. There are definitely many sets of stairs at Hamilton Stadium, and a couple of escalators to take the pressure off the elevators would help also. Washroom facilities are more than adequate at Hamilton Stadium.
Return on Investment 4
Hamilton Tiger-Cats tickets start at $35 for the upper deck, end sections. Lower bowl seats start at $61, and club tickets range from $160 to $200. These prices are a far cry from the overpriced National Football League and are even south of power conference NCAA football teams. Parking will cost in the $20 neighbourhood, and concession prices are about what one would expect. In the end, there is good value in a Tiger-Cats game, and the product on the field is solid. A great sporting experience is what to expect at Hamilton Stadium
Extras 3
An extra mark for one of the greatest rivalries in sports. There is nothing the Hamilton faithful love more than beating the hated Toronto Argonauts. The annual Labour Day Classic played in Hamilton each year is the top ticket for the season. Labour Day is the signature day for the CFL, and the two teams have been squaring off for decades on this national holiday.
An extra mark for Tiger-Cat season seat subscribers from Box J. In Ivor Wynne Stadium, the most ardent Ticat supporters sat in Box J. At Hamilton Stadium, the Honorary Box J has been set up in Section 103.
An extra mark for the Hamilton Tiger-Cat Alumni Association, which does a fantastic job of keeping the history of the Tiger-Cats alive with their fantastic website.
Final Thoughts
Participating in the Oskee-Wee-Wee chant at a Hamilton Tiger-Cats game is a truly unique CFL and Hamilton experience. For fans of the league, heading to the Hammer is a must-do, bucket-list item, and fans will not be disappointed.
