The Hamilton Sports Group, a partnership that owns and operates the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, has announced it has obtained all approvals on its new ownership structure.
“It is a great pleasure to officially welcome Stelco and their Chairman and CEO Alan Kestenbaum, my great friend and colleague Scott Mitchell from the Ticats, who was also my co-founder of the CPL and CSB, as well as Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, as owners and board members of HSG,” said Bob Young in a statement.
“Their participation will help ensure both that the Ticats and Forge FC will continue to prosper in Hamilton for another 100 years and that we do so very successfully on the field.”
The City of Hamilton has now also approved the official transfer of the master license agreement with Tim Hortons Field to the Hamilton Sports Group. The CFL board of governors and the CPL board of governors had both previously unanimously approved and sanctioned the new ownership structure.
The formation of the Hamilton Sports Group and its new ownership structure was announced in January 2022. The ownership group now includes “Caretaker” Bob Young, Hamilton-based company Stelco Holdings Inc. as well as senior sports executives Scott Mitchell (current Tiger-Cats and Forge FC CEO) and Jim Lawson (CEO of Woodbine Entertainment).
Young remains as the chair and largest single shareholder of Hamilton Sports Group, while Mitchell becomes the managing partner.
The Tiger-Cats hosted and played in the CFL’s 108th Grey Cup in December 2021 with the team representing the East Division for a second consecutive season. Forge FC is one of the inaugural teams in the CPL, winning back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020, and competed in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.
Tim Hortons Field has recently hosted a series of major events including the 108th Grey Cup, and NHL Heritage Classic, along with CONCACAF and FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches.
In addition to a full slate of Tiger-Cats and Forge FC games, upcoming events at Tim Hortons Field include the Canadian Championship between Forge FC and Toronto FC, the Nitro Circus and a special performance by Hamilton band Arkells all in June 2022.
The Tiger-Cats will also host the 110th Grey Cup in 2023.
