Dein erstes Forum » r Diane Ruberton said Palmers co-operati

HAMILTON, Ont. -- Hamiltons new stadium isnt quite half finished with just seven months before its scheduled to open, but Pan Am Games CEO Ian Troop and Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina vow it will be done on time and on budget. "You bet," Troop told reporters Thursday during a tour of the construction site. "Were right on track." The CFLs Hamilton Tiger-Cats are slated to move into the $145.7-million state-of-the-art facility on June 30, 2014. "We started it with that in mind and were right on track," said Troop, who heads up the organizing committee for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The stadium, which will host all 32 mens and womens soccer games at the Pan Ams, is being built on a 5.45-hectare parcel of land where the historic Ivor Wynne Stadium once stood. Bratina said if there are things that arent completed by June, they will be minor and wont threaten the scheduled opening. "There may be some washrooms that need painting or something like that," Bratina said. "With several months to go and assurances from contractors were looking good, Im sure it will be minor cosmetics that may be left over. "But certainly I think by the end of June well be playing football and soccer in this stadium." Hamilton will want to avoid the issues Winnipeg had with its new stadium, which was scheduled to open for the 2012 CFL season but didnt see any football until 2013 due to construction delays. The Pam Am Games organizing committee says the stadium is more than 46 per cent complete and "progressing on time and on budget." The structural steel frame is roughly 96 per cent done while more than 80 per cent of the high voltage electrical work has been finished. The committee says pre-cast concrete installation (over structural steel frame ) is 22 per cent done, more than half of the underground mechanical and electrical work is complete, masonry block installation on the west and south sides has begun, steel decks for pedestrian areas are more than 90 per cent finished and foundation work is also complete. Pre-cast concrete will be complete early in the new year, the organizing committee said, while seating and turf installation will happen in the spring. The stadium will feature two tiers of seats on both sides of the field with an initial seating capacity of 22,500. But that could expand to 40,000 seats for major events like the Grey Cup. It will meet all the technical requirements of both the CFL and FIFA, soccers governing body. The new field has shifted 90 degrees to a north-south axis from Ivor Wynnes east-west format. The move is designed to minimize the effect of the sun on athletes and reduce wind inside the facility. "You think in terms of the old Ivor Wynne and you come here and start realizing whats being built here is quite an impressive facility," Troop said. "You can see the size and height and the nature of whats going to be here and your mind quickly wanders to what its going to be like when youve got the championship soccer games during the Pan Am Games." It will have a seating capacity of roughly 24,000 for Ticats home games and also feature 700 club seats, 400 group sales suites seats, 30 VIP suites, six elevators, larger seats, updated press and broadcasting facilities and concession stands on all levels. The stadium will be able to host professional and amateur sports competitions as well as cultural events. There will also be a public plaza in the south end. The federal government is footing $69.3 million of the bill. The city of Hamilton is paying $54.1 million with the province chipping in the remaining $22.3 million. Bratina understands people doubting the project will finish on time and on budget but said hes sensing a shift in public sentiment regarding the stadium. "Overriding that is actual pride in the building," he said. "Im hearing less concern and more,Wow. The stadium is located in a residential section of the city but Bratina says its a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. "The neighbours are all excited about it and some of them are even saying their property values have gone up so theres another conversation going on I dont think its as strongly oriented towards budgeting and time," he said. Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey . Case in point: LeBron James vs. Ben McLemore. James was driving to the rim in the first quarter and McLemore decided to try to take the charge, which was quite admirable and predictably futile. Teemu Selanne Jersey . 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Fielder has been out with a herniated disk in his neck, and surgery was recommended after a follow-up exam and another scan Thursday with Dr.MAYS LANDING, N.J. -- Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice pleaded not guilty Thursday to assault charges stemming from an incident with his then-girlfriend in an Atlantic City casino elevator. His lawyer said Rice is "ashamed" and "sorry" about his conduct but would not specify exactly what Rice did. After the five-minute court hearing, Rice applied for New Jerseys pretrial intervention program, which allows for charges to be dismissed against first-time offenders who participate in the program and meet certain conditions. The county prosecutor will decide whether Rice is allowed to enter the program. If not, prosecutors have offered Rice a plea bargain that would spare him jail time if he participates in anger management counselling. "Hes ashamed of his conduct and hes sorry for what he did," attorney Michael Diamondstein told reporters outside the courthouse. "There was a disagreement between him and his wife," Diamondstein said. "He made a mistake. He loves Janay and wants to move forward. This was a momentary lapse of reason." Security video obtained by TMZ Sports shows Rice removing the motionless body of Janay Palmer from an elevator at Revel Hotel Casino on Feb. 15. She did not comment as the two walked into the courthouse. The couple married a day after Rice was indicted. If convicted, Rice could face three to five years in prison. The former Rutgers star walked to the courthouse holding hands with Palmer. He said he is a "happy father and a happy husband.&quuot; When asked by reporters what he hoped would happen, Rice responded, "for you all to have a blessed day.ddddddddddddquot; Originally, Palmer and Rice were charged with simple assault, but the Atlantic County prosecutors office reviewed the case and dropped the charge against Palmer. A grand jury lodged the more serious charge of aggravated assault against Rice. Through her lawyer, Palmer has indicated she does not want the case to proceed. But prosecutor Diane Ruberton said Palmers co-operation is not crucial to it. "Im confident with the evidence we have that I could secure a conviction at trial, with or without her," Ruberton said. She said prosecutors have additional video evidence beyond what was published by the website, but she would not describe its contents. Ruberton said Rices celebrity played no role in the case, adding that plea deals are routinely offered to defendants charged with third-degree crimes, as is the case with Rice. Diamondstein said he expects a decision on whether Rice will be allowed into pretrial intervention within the next few weeks. "Hes an excellent candidate for it," he said. "Hes just a high-character individual. Hes a good guy." The conditions of pretrial intervention would include staying out of trouble for a year, as well as undergoing counselling and remaining gainfully employed, the attorney said. "Theyve been going to counselling and working on some of the issues they have," Diamondstein said. "Theyre very happy." ' ' '