Province Announces $ 3 Million in Funding for 2021 and 2023 Gray Cup Games in Hamilton – Hamilton | The Canadian News

The provincial government has announced a total of $ 3 million for Hamilton to host two Gray Cup games, including the one less than two weeks away.

$ 1.5 million of the funds will finance the costs associated with holding the 108th Gray Cup on December 12 at Tim Horton’s Field, while another $ 1.5 million will go to the 110th Gray Cup and Gray Cup Festival in 2023.

Ontario’s minister of heritage, sports, tourism and cultural industries made the announcement on Wednesday.

Lisa MacLeod addressed those who might be critical of their tax money being spent on Canadian Football League championship games, saying the city should expect to see a return investment of up to $ 200 million between the two gray Cups.

“It is absolutely key and fundamental to Ontario’s economic recovery that sporting events that host events can continue to occur, that we have a resurgence in our arts and culture sectors, that we recover tourism as we saw a pandemic, and for Of course, we remember our heritage. “

He also said the funding is “a little more” than the province usually contributes to a Gray Cup match.

“We feel this year more than any year that Ontario should support local festivals and events like the Gray Cup … from a tourism perspective, filling our hotels and restaurants, to the cultural side, making sure we have music to life again, which probably he’s been going through the worst of the pandemic, and of course, live sports, getting that back, just making sure we have fans in the stands. “

The funding announcement also included news that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are releasing another 1,000 tickets for the next Gray Cup game, which is anticipated to be sold out.

Scott Mitchell, chief executive of the Ticats, said he expects one in three Canadians to tune in at least part of the game, and the $ 1.5 million should make the experience memorable for fans who watch it on television and in the stadium.

“After missing a Gray Cup last year, we couldn’t be more excited and we don’t think it makes more sense than to bring the Gray Cup back to the city where soccer matters,” Mitchell said.

Pre-game events It will include the cup itself that arrives in Hamilton on Tuesday and the CFL awards on Friday night.

The Tiger-Cats are scheduled to visit the Argos at BMO Field in Toronto in the Eastern Final, the Ticats’ third straight trip to the league’s last four.

– with files from Rick Zamperin

4:21Author Daryl Slade talks about his book ‘1948 Gray Cup… The Stampeder Special’