Scott Radley: Ivor Wynne was promised a spot at Tim Hortons Field. So why isn’t he there?

Not all that long after the wrecking ball had levelled Ivor Wynne Stadium, the family of the building's namesake was told not to worry, his name will live on in the new place.

The Tiger-Cats and staff met with Mr. Bob Wynne to discuss opportunities to continue to recognize Ivor Wynne in the new stadium," says a 2014 report outlining the 20-year lease deal between the city and the Ticats for Tim Hortons Field. The press box will be identified as the Ivor Wynne Press Centre.' The family is honoured and found it fitting as Ivor Wynne spent a number of years doing the colour commentary for CHCH announcing college and professional football."

It was a nice touch for one of this town's most recognizable names and one that's synonymous with Hamilton across the country.

Yet eight years later, there's nothing inside or outside the press box suggesting it's known by that name. No name on the wall, no plaque, no photo of the man, nothing. If it's known as that, the family isn't aware of it. And if there was a ceremony to dedicate it, they weren't told about it.

I don't think they ever really pursued it," says Bob Wynne, one of Ivor's sons. Might have been just an oversight or whatever."

He says he's never raised it again because it's really not his place to do so. It would be lovely if people wanted his dad's name to remain in some fashion but he's not about to make a fuss. For the record, he didn't reach out to The Spectator about this; he was asked about it.

His brother, John Wynne, offers a similar sentiment. He remembers the discussions mentioned in the report but left it alone when nothing happened. He's not going to turn it into an ugly situation.

Fair enough. They're gentlemen.

Besides, you could make a case that everything ends sometime. When an old building disappears, the name often disappears with it. Happened with Taylor Field in Regina and Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa. Corporations slap sponsored names on the new places and the old ones get swept to the dust bins. Even if you hate it, there's no stopping it now.

But there's an important distinction between those examples and this one. Here, a promise was made to the family. Both sons recall those conversations and the report is pretty clear about it. Even the Ticats and city acknowledge it.

That was identified as a big priority," says team president and COO Matt Afinec. I think that's why it was specifically named in the licence agreement."

Your next question is a fair one. If the guy in charge of the franchise that holds the lease says it's important, why hasn't he done something about it?

Afinec points out that the contract gives the Ticats the rights to sell naming rights to basically every part of the stadium except the press box.

To me it's very clear in the licence agreement," he says. It's not an opportunity or an asset that we have control or jurisdiction over. In fact, it's explicitly outlined that we don't and it's the city's right to bestow naming upon the press box."

Does the city agree?

It's good that you raised it because it kind of has me thinking now in terms of who had that accountability on naming it," says the city's director of facilities management, Rom D'Angelo.

He says staff commonly refer to it as the Ivor Wynne Press Box but admits it's unlikely many others would (a number of members of the media who use it all the time say they've never heard it called that). D'Angelo's not sure if there was ever supposed to be an official designation or if it was just to be loosely known by that name.

Either way, he says he'll be doing some digging and will raise this at his next meeting with the team.

One way or another, I think we do need to follow through on it."

Indeed. Doesn't matter who ultimately steps up to do it. A promise was made. Years later, it's time to make sure it's fulfilled.

Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sradley@thespec.com