The CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ontario-based QSR Tim Hortons "formally unveiled their deal" to name the city's new C$146M stadium Tim Hortons Field at "an extravagant event Friday," according to Meredith Macleod of the Hamilton SPECTATOR. The 10-year naming rights deal will bring C$750,000 "in revenue to the city annually." Tiger-Cats Owner Bob Young acknowledged that selling naming rights to corporations "can be controversial." But he said that the deal "speaks to the history and core identity of both sides." Tiger-Cats President Scott Mitchell said that the deal with Tim Hortons is "the most comprehensive in CFL history." Tim Hortons COO David Clanachan said that it was "local franchise owners who urged the company to make a deal" with the Tiger-Cats. Macleod noted the "only other venue carrying the company's name is a hockey arena in Tim Horton's hometown of Cochrane, Ont." The 24,000-seat Tim Hortons Field will "play host to Pan Am Games soccer in 2015 and the Tiger-Cats beginning next year." The venue will feature "large terrace spaces in each end zone, a museum of city, Ticat and Tim Hortons history, 30 private suites and club seating." Mitchell said that the stadium will "play host to concerts, a high-performance sports centre and youth soccer and football leagues" (Hamilton SPECTATOR, 7/13).
