Council digest: council backs Grey Cup bid by Ticats

The city will keep secret the amount of cash it is willing to spend on a Grey Cup - unless we win the rights to host Canada's top football championship. Council officially voted Wednesday to support the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in its bid for a 2020 Grey Cup game, which along with a lead-up festival is expected to bring thousands of football fans and tens of millions of dollars in tourist spending to the city. Ticats owner Bob Young quickly tweeted out thanks to the city for its support. "We are now one step closer to bringing back Canada's largest annual sporting event and festival to our great community." Some councillors argued the city should let taxpayers know how much money is being committed on their behalf to the event, but council ultimately accepted staff advice to keep secret the "upset limit" of spending for fear of hurting bid negotiations or future efforts to lure high-profile events. Instead, council agreed to reveal the numbers after - and if - Hamilton is awarded hosting rights for the event. The number won't go public if we lose the 2020 bid, though - mostly because it is expected the Tiger-Cats would then aim at the 2021 event.