Hamilton officials are hoping their 2015 Pan Am Games party Friday is a more joyous occasion than the deflating kick-in-the-butt the city received after the 2010 Commonweath Games announcement left people dejected.

“We are feeling pretty good,” said David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton and the city’s liaison to the 2015 Pan Am Bid.

“(The bid organizers) have done everything they can. They have worked hard and now they will be talking to people on the ground. It’s almost like a political convention.”

The Pan American Sports Organization is expected to decide today (Nov. 6) in Guadalajara, Mexico, whether the Golden Horseshoe bid, which includes Hamilton and 13 other municipalities will play host to the 2015 Pan Am Games, over competitors Lima, Peru and Bogota, Colombia.

A reception and potential party will be held at the Parks Canada Marine Discovery Centre from 5 p. m. to 7 p. m. The announcement is scheduled for around 6:30 p. m.

Hamilton lost out to New Delhi, India to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“Now is the time to focus on our message,” said Mr. Adames, who was involved in that bid process.

Hamilton is not represented in the 50-member bid delegation in Mexico, said Mr. Adames. Toronto Mayor David Miller is included, along with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, the Ontario Minister of Health Promotion Margaret Best, federal Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn, David Peterson, the 2015 Pan Am Games bid chair, bid president Jagoda Pike and Canadian Olympic executives.

He said it wasn’t a snub to Hamilton. The city wasn’t going to be involved in the tedious internal lobbying campaign vital to any bid success, he said.

Hamilton officials are crossing their fingers. Holding the games would mean millions of dollars in infrastructure development, a much-anticipated light-rail transit system and millions more in marketing and economic development.

“There is a lot turning on this decision,” said Ancaster councillor Lloyd Ferguson.

Included in the $1.43 billion budget for the games, Hamilton is expected to reap about $170 million for a 15,000-seat stadium, proposed for the northwest corner of Bay and Barton streets, which could be transformed into a 25,000-seat facility for the Tiger-Cats; $11.3 million for a 3,500-seat velodrome; and $35-million for a pool at McMaster University. Hamilton’s contribution to the games would be about $60 million.

The federal and provincial governments will chip in $500 million each and the province will guarantee any budget shortfalls. The Games will be spread across southern Ontario, from the Niagara Region to Barrie.

But if the bid fails, Mr. Adames acknowledged the city is developing a business plan for a new stadium to replace Ivor Wynne.

Mr. Ferguson was more pessimistic about what would happen if the bid fails.

“It’s a question of can we afford (a stadium) if we don’t get it? I don’t think we can,” he said.