Hamilton wants to live stream final Tragically Hip show in Gage Park

The city of Hamilton will look at live streaming the final Tragically Hip show this summerin what it hopes will be a low-cost or free event at Gage Park. But not everyone likes the idea.

If we're not about bringing the community together to celebrate our own culture, we're in the wrong line of work.- Matthew Green, Ward 3 councillor

City council voted 15-1 on Wednesday to get permission to livestream the final show of the Man Machine Poem tour on Aug. 20.

The city envisions broadcasting the CBC's stream on a screen at Gage Park, with tickets offered at cost to residents.

The idea came from Matthew Green, Ward 3 councillor, who called it a chance for Hamiltonians to come together to celebrate an iconic and distinctly Canadian band.

"I'm interested in a family event that brings people together," he said.

"If we're not about bringing the community together to celebrate our own culture, we're in the wrong line of work."

But not everyone was in favour. Donna Skelly, Ward 7 councillor and former CHCH reporter, said such an event isn't the city's job.

• Broadcast final Tragically Hip concert live in Gage Park: Matthew Green
• Tragically Hip's final concert to be broadcast live on CBC

There are capable private sector companies that want to do the same thing, Skelly said. And people can already watch it on the CBC.

Also, different bands are iconic to different generations, she said. Why do it for this band?

City staff will report back in July about the feasibility of the project, including whether the CBC can offer streaming rights. The broadcaster has fielded numerous requests from cities and venues for similar events, it said on Monday. The CBC isstill in discussions with the band on details.

The final tour comes after the band announced that its lead singer, Gord Downie, has incurable brain cancer.

Tickets for the tour sold out in seconds, then popped up at inflated prices on resale sites such as StubHub.

It's not the first time the city has live streamed an entertainment event, saidAnna Bradford, Hamilton'sdirector of tourism and culture.

For example, when local musician Brian Melo wonCanadian Idolin 2007, the city live streamed the finale at Hamilton Place.