Press box at Hamilton’s Tim Horton’s Field named after Ivor Wynne

The name Ivor Wynne is no stranger to Hamilton Tiger-Cats fans and the city, and on Tuesday, the name of the old stadium is being resurrected at the top of Tim Hortons Field.

The stadium’s press box has officially been named the “Ivor Wynne Media Centre”, placed right at the south end of the media zone.

The City says it’s a tribute to Hamilton’s sport heritage but also to Ivor Wynne’s contributions to the city. According to the City’s lease contract with the Tiger-Cats, this initiative was agreed upon back in 2014.

After a nine year wait, the name Ivor Wynne lives again at the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

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Bob Wynne says he and his family are honoured by the return of their father’s name, as it joins other Tiger-Cat legends at Tim Hortons Field.

“My brother and I never felt we had the need to make a request or a reminder to have his name up, I guess it dragged on and went out of sight out of mind,” Wynne said.

The City says its commemorating Ivor Wynne and the contributions to sports and the community.

“Its really something to have his name on a renowned national property,” Wynne said.

That property being the former Civic Stadium. Following a renovation in 1970, city officials renamed it Ivor Wynne Stadium and the name stayed put for 41 years at the Tiger-Cats’ historic home.

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Wynne says just before the stadium’s renovation and renaming, his father died of a rare blood disorder at the age of 52.

“He was chairman of the parks board at the time of his passing, and the board was entrusted to rename parks, so the stadium was renamed after him and he was well known in the community and it just went forward,” Wynne remembers.

Born in 1918 in Wales, Ivor Wynne and his family moved to the Hamilton area and built an athletic legacy and became dean at McMaster University. He also called football games right here on CHCH TV.

“His life is one of concern for people, and that’s what really stood over and above his athletic history and intelligence, he had empathy for people.”