The Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats are temporarily relocating as they await the construction of a new stadium in Steeltown.
Hopes were high that at least some of the Ticats home games would be played in Moncton, but the team has chosen to stay closer to home and play in Guelph, Ontario.
Ticats fan Art Moore grew up near Hamilton, but now lives and works in Moncton.
He is disappointed the city won’t get a chance to host the Ticats in their season of displacement.
"I didn't think Moncton had a problem filling the U de M stadium,” says Moore. “I was hoping we'd get to do it six or eight times this season, it's too bad that they've decided to go to Guelph."
While football fans in Moncton are expressing disappointment, city officials remain hopeful.
"It doesn't preclude us from hosting games here with Hamilton or any other CFL team for that matter, so we're still hopeful,” says city spokesman Paul Thomson.
“We've got a great relationship with the CFL, they know what we can do here, they've been here before and they've seen what we can do and, again, we're hopeful for 2013 and for future years as well."
The city says they’ve had no communication at this point from either the Tiger-Cats or the league. They’re hoping that when they do, there might be something to help ease the disappointment Moncton football fans are feeling today.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
