It appears that only two things can stop a player from playing football in Brantford; lightning and the city itself.
Bisons Football announced today that the four scheduled home games against Niagara and Chatham will not be played in Brantford but in Rockton due to the City of Brantford closing the only available football field in the community for the weekend. Upon hearing the news, the Hamilton Wentworth Hurricanes offered their fields located in Rockton to Bisons Football which will allow the games to be played. This is the second time in two weeks where the City of Brantford has been the only centre in Ontario to close their fields to football due to wet conditions.
“Football is the only sport that is played in all kinds of conditions; hot weather, cold weather, rain or snow. The only time we do not play football is when lightning occurs. The fact that the City of Brantford is the only centre in Ontario to close their fields to football when it rains speaks volumes to the deplorable state of disrepair Bisons Alumni field is in. The city has not invested any capital into the redevelopment of Bisons Alumni field since the 1980’s and reinforces the need for artificial turf to be placed at the field.” commented Brad Ward, president of Bisons Football.
“Bisons Football is a non-profit, community owned organization that counts on revenue from our home games to pay our bills. The fact that we will lose an estimated $3,500.00 in revenue due to the City’s actions is unsustainable for any non-profit organization. Money aside, the fact that we are the only centre in Ontario closing football fields in Ontario is embarrassing to us since other centres are asking “What is going on in Brantford”. As well, this weekend was our “Celebrate Football” day where we had planned to hold our Punt, Pass and Kick Competition and recognize two Bisons athletes who have excelled at football. Those events are now cancelled.” Ward added.
“The city fails to understand the ramifications of cancelling home games in a very short season. We only play an eight game schedule with four homes for each team. It is not as simple as rescheduling the games as the city thinks. There are referees, busing, concessions and league scheduling issues that all have to be coordinated but, more important, our players lose an opportunity to display their football skills in front of their parents and fans.” Stated Mike Cherewka, VP for football operations. “The city decision to close our fields this weekend led to hours of time spent trying to find an alternative location. We were fortunate that the Hamilton Hurricanes offered their fields in Rockton for us to use, otherwise it would have been a disaster”. Cherewka added.
The decision by the City of Brantford to close the football fields may have even more ramifications including;
1. The Ontario Football Conference rejecting Brantford’s proposal to host Peewee Day where teams from across Ontario would come to Brantford to play their games in July due to concern over a lack of fields if it rains.
2. The Ontario Football Conference rejecting Brantford’s proposal to host the 2014 Champ Day in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Bisons Football where all the championship games in the OFC are played on the same day due to concern over a lack of fields if it rains.
There have been calls for many years for the City of Brantford to construct an artificial turf field in the community for sports organizations to use. Brantford is the only community of its size in Ontario not to have an artificial turf field. Studies have shown that the benefits of an artificial turf field far out way a grass field including;
1. Lower annual maintenance costs.
2. Greater usage by organizations without concern for wear and tear.
3. No threat of closure except for lightning.
4. Longer season. Field is playable from the time it gets warm in late winter until the end of an organization’s season.
City unfair to football?
The perception that the City of Brantford has been unfair to football is common in our community. Recent events seem to support this perception, including:
1. 2009
a. City acknowledges that football is underserviced through lack of facilities in community.
2. 2010
a. City removes one of two available football fields without consulting Bisons Football to make room for a parking lot at the Gretzky Centre
b. City demolishes field house owed by Bisons Football to make room for a parking lot at the Gretzky Centre without consultation, expropriation or compensation contrary to the Municipal Act of Ontario.
c. City removes scoreboard owned by Bisons Football without consultation and is stored improperly, possibly causing permanent damage to the scoreboard.
3. 2012
a. City misses deadline to have new football field opened for play in September
b. Bleachers not is place as per City commitment
c. Scoreboard not operational per City commitment
d. New field is smaller than field that was removed contrary to City commitment. New field can now only be a practice field instead of a game field, except for the youngest age groups in Bisons Football
e. City unable to construct new field house to replace old one owned by Bisons Football due to budget constraints.
f. City rejects buyout offer for field house demolished by City but owned by Bisons Football that would save taxpayers nearly $300,000.00.
g. Mayor does not respond to proposal from Bisons Football to fully redevelop Bisons Alumni field at no extra cost to taxpayers. Redevelopment would include an artificial turf field, lights, bleachers, media centre field house.
4. 2013
a. City misses mid-May deadline to construct new field house due to budget constraints.
b. City misses June deadline to construct new field house due to budget constraints.
c. City does not respond to new buyout offer from Bisons Football for field house that would save taxpayers nearly $125,000.00.
d. City only centre in Ontario to close football fields on June 29th
e. City only centre in Ontario to close football fields on July 6th
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