The city has closed public access to its new $145-million stadium and started a wide-ranging safety review after a tower-hung speaker plummeted several storeys into the eastern stands.

The falling 68-kilogram (150-pound speaker) — about the size of a bar fridge — didn't hurt anyone, but the resulting field closure has cancelled several community sports events so far.

The Monday incident also raises new questions about stadium safety and alleged "deficiencies" that recently spurred multi-million-dollar legal claims involving the city, province, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the stadium builder.

"When a speaker falls from a brand new stadium, I'd call that a deficiency," said ward Coun. Matthew Green, who expressed relief no event was underway at the time. "Had there been people in the stadium (seats) we could have had a real tragedy."

Facilities head Rom D'Angelo said the speaker dropped from 30-metre-high light standards into the top-level eastern stands, rolled down 26 rows and over the railing into the lower bowl. The stadium was empty that morning aside from a surprised crew of workers power-washing seats a few sections over.

It's not yet clear what brought down the speaker. D'Angelo said an investigation and inspection of all speakers will likely continue through Thursday. Councillors were also told late Wednesday the city is looking at safety-checking all hanging structures, including stadium lights.

In the meantime, 11 speakers hanging above the east side of the stadium will be removed as a precaution. West-side speakers are secured in a different way and are not considered a risk.

D'Angelo confirmed the speakers had previously been inspected as part of stadium commissioning, adding the city had no previous indication the equipment was in danger of falling.

The sound system, however, is one of many disputed items listed in competing stadium legal claims by the city and Tiger-Cats.

The city's latest court filing claims damages of $35 million from Infrastructure Ontario and contractor Ontario Sports Solutions over construction delays, contract breaches and mostly unspecified deficiencies.

The Ticat's $13.8 million claim specifically lists sound system problems, including fans complaints about too-loud and inaudible areas of the stadium.

Other problems noted by the city, the team and fans over the last year include water pooled under seats in the stands, outdoor television screens ruined by rain, draft beer lines that were never installed and seat views obstructed by railings.

In theory, the city could eventually use about $6 million in withheld stadium payments to fix some of the deficiencies, but that money is part of the ongoing legal dispute.

The building was turned over to the city unfinished nearly a year late just before the 2015 Pan Am Games. Delays were blamed in part on weather, a bankrupted subcontractor and design issues that forced major reinforcing of structural steel.

Tiger-Cats CEO Scott Mitchell said Wednesday the team has been forced to spend money on the city-owned stadium even as legal negotiations continue over who is responsible to fix remaining problems.

"The reality is that we've spent millions of dollars to continue to address the deficiencies that, quite frankly, the average fan doesn't see," Mitchell said after the Tiger-Cat's practice at McMaster's Ron Joyce Stadium.

"We've augmented and mitigated some of the concerns around the audio system the past couple of years: things like the LED board. And there are various things we've had to invest in while the city deals with the issues with Infrastructure Ontario and (the) contractor."

Infrastructure Ontario said in a statement the agency is taking the incident very seriously and that the contractor will be on hand to help with the investigation. The Spectator was unable to get comment from a contractor representative Wednesday.

D'Angelo said the city hopes the entire stadium will be "back in business" by the weekend, when the Tiger-Cats have an open house planned. A temporary sound system will be rented and used at least through the football team's pre-season game June 17 against the Ottawa Redblacks.

"There will be sound, absolutely," said Mitchell. "The goal is that the fans wouldn't notice any difference. We'll have to see exactly what the situation is."

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The city has also notified the Ministry of Labour. A representative confirmed Wednesday an inspector would be following up with the city, but no orders have been issued.

While the field and stands are off limits at Tim Hortons Field until at least Thursday, D'Angelo said community rooms and offices underneath the west side of the stadium remain in use.

Any groups with bookings affected by the partial closure have been notified, he said.