Hamilton will be an “ass-kicking town” in 2018.
Canadian Country Music Association President Don Green revealed during a news conference on March 9 at the Lister Block that the city will be hosting Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards show from Sept. 6 to 9.
“We will make you proud,” said Tim Potocic, co-chair of the host community. “And you will not want to leave. We are an ass-kicking town.”
This will be the sixth time Hamilton has held the event, with the last time in 2011. This year’s awards are in Saskatoon.
“Hamilton has everything we ever wanted for Country Music Week,” Green told reporters. “We had such a great time in 2011. It’s time we get back.”
And after the success Hamilton had hosting the Junos in 2015, Green said it was an easy decision to return to the Steel City with his event. Hamilton tourism officials say they were asked by the Green's organization to submit a bid to host the award show.
“We know there will be a lot of fans here, a lot of support,” said Green.
Carrie Brooks-Joiner, manager of tourism, said the event is projected to generate about $7 million in economic benefits. She said the figure is from numbers that were gathered from other cities, such as Halifax and London that have hosted the event.
“It supports many businesses,” said Brooks-Joiner. “It will bring a lot of money to our community.
She said an estimated 25,000 attendees, including tourists, are expected to arrive for the four-day event.
The festivities will use eight venues in Hamilton, including FirstOntario Centre, the Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s, the John Weir Foot Armoury, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Theatre Aquarius.
The last time the awards were held in Hamilton, CBC televised the event at FirstOntario Centre, attracting about 1 million viewers to a sold-out show.
The show is second only to the Junos as the largest music awards in the country.
Brooks-Joiner said Hamilton hosting the Junos proved to the Canadian artistic community that it could handle such a major event.
“It certainly showed we are a wonderful place to hold such prestige events,” she said.
Hamilton politicians last year approved spending $250,000 for the event, which was taken from a reserve account. It costs about $750,000 to host the awards. The rest of the money came from private sponsors and the province of Ontario.
Brooks-Joiner said Tourism Hamilton has an economic development goal to land five major events by 2020 that generate about $50 million in economic activity.
She said officials are “working on the Junos” and other events that are similar in size and prestige.
There has been some discussion that Hamilton could host another Juno event either in 2019 or 2020.
Hamilton will be an “ass-kicking town” in 2018.
Canadian Country Music Association President Don Green revealed during a news conference on March 9 at the Lister Block that the city will be hosting Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards show from Sept. 6 to 9.
“We will make you proud,” said Tim Potocic, co-chair of the host community. “And you will not want to leave. We are an ass-kicking town.”
This will be the sixth time Hamilton has held the event, with the last time in 2011. This year’s awards are in Saskatoon.
“Hamilton has everything we ever wanted for Country Music Week,” Green told reporters. “We had such a great time in 2011. It’s time we get back.”
And after the success Hamilton had hosting the Junos in 2015, Green said it was an easy decision to return to the Steel City with his event. Hamilton tourism officials say they were asked by the Green's organization to submit a bid to host the award show.
“We know there will be a lot of fans here, a lot of support,” said Green.
Carrie Brooks-Joiner, manager of tourism, said the event is projected to generate about $7 million in economic benefits. She said the figure is from numbers that were gathered from other cities, such as Halifax and London that have hosted the event.
“It supports many businesses,” said Brooks-Joiner. “It will bring a lot of money to our community.
She said an estimated 25,000 attendees, including tourists, are expected to arrive for the four-day event.
The festivities will use eight venues in Hamilton, including FirstOntario Centre, the Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s, the John Weir Foot Armoury, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Theatre Aquarius.
The last time the awards were held in Hamilton, CBC televised the event at FirstOntario Centre, attracting about 1 million viewers to a sold-out show.
The show is second only to the Junos as the largest music awards in the country.
Brooks-Joiner said Hamilton hosting the Junos proved to the Canadian artistic community that it could handle such a major event.
“It certainly showed we are a wonderful place to hold such prestige events,” she said.
Hamilton politicians last year approved spending $250,000 for the event, which was taken from a reserve account. It costs about $750,000 to host the awards. The rest of the money came from private sponsors and the province of Ontario.
Brooks-Joiner said Tourism Hamilton has an economic development goal to land five major events by 2020 that generate about $50 million in economic activity.
She said officials are “working on the Junos” and other events that are similar in size and prestige.
There has been some discussion that Hamilton could host another Juno event either in 2019 or 2020.
Hamilton will be an “ass-kicking town” in 2018.
Canadian Country Music Association President Don Green revealed during a news conference on March 9 at the Lister Block that the city will be hosting Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards show from Sept. 6 to 9.
“We will make you proud,” said Tim Potocic, co-chair of the host community. “And you will not want to leave. We are an ass-kicking town.”
This will be the sixth time Hamilton has held the event, with the last time in 2011. This year’s awards are in Saskatoon.
“Hamilton has everything we ever wanted for Country Music Week,” Green told reporters. “We had such a great time in 2011. It’s time we get back.”
And after the success Hamilton had hosting the Junos in 2015, Green said it was an easy decision to return to the Steel City with his event. Hamilton tourism officials say they were asked by the Green's organization to submit a bid to host the award show.
“We know there will be a lot of fans here, a lot of support,” said Green.
Carrie Brooks-Joiner, manager of tourism, said the event is projected to generate about $7 million in economic benefits. She said the figure is from numbers that were gathered from other cities, such as Halifax and London that have hosted the event.
“It supports many businesses,” said Brooks-Joiner. “It will bring a lot of money to our community.
She said an estimated 25,000 attendees, including tourists, are expected to arrive for the four-day event.
The festivities will use eight venues in Hamilton, including FirstOntario Centre, the Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s, the John Weir Foot Armoury, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Theatre Aquarius.
The last time the awards were held in Hamilton, CBC televised the event at FirstOntario Centre, attracting about 1 million viewers to a sold-out show.
The show is second only to the Junos as the largest music awards in the country.
Brooks-Joiner said Hamilton hosting the Junos proved to the Canadian artistic community that it could handle such a major event.
“It certainly showed we are a wonderful place to hold such prestige events,” she said.
Hamilton politicians last year approved spending $250,000 for the event, which was taken from a reserve account. It costs about $750,000 to host the awards. The rest of the money came from private sponsors and the province of Ontario.
Brooks-Joiner said Tourism Hamilton has an economic development goal to land five major events by 2020 that generate about $50 million in economic activity.
She said officials are “working on the Junos” and other events that are similar in size and prestige.
There has been some discussion that Hamilton could host another Juno event either in 2019 or 2020.