The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have until September 2015 to lure a professional soccer team to town under the terms of a proposed licensing agreement for the new Pan Am stadium.

The agreement governs the football team's rent, parking and soccer obligations at city-owned Tim Hortons Field, a $145-million stadium scheduled to open in July.

Legal concerns with the still-unsigned agreement will be discussed by councillors behind closed doors Wednesday.

But a public staff report shows the city will extend the Ticats' soccer exclusivity deal until September of next year. The city nixed an amateur Toronto soccer club's hopes to move to Hamilton and turn pro late last year, citing that exclusivity deal.

The original deadline to finalize plans for professional soccer and a community training academy passed more than a year ago. A team is now supposed to start playing in 2016.

Councillor Lloyd Ferguson, who chairs the city's Pan Am subcommittee, said he remains concerned about the "dragging" lease agreement negotiations.

He wouldn't say if soccer remains a concern for the city, but added a lawyer will walk councillors through the remaining legal issues Wednesday.

Ticats CEO Scott Mitchell has consistently said the team is committed to finding "the best possible solution for professional soccer" in Hamilton, but he has yet to give a public timeline for bringing in a team.

The staff report also outlines the city's financial stake in stadium operations — including $750,000 annually from the naming deal, $450,000 for football-related rent, and $150,000 for eventual soccer games — and a plan to suspend parking enforcement related to commercial parking lots used during game days.

Councillor Jason Farr said football fans have shown "a lot of creativity over the years" in finding room to park around the former Ivor Wynne stadium.

"I think all parties will probably have to continue that effort," he said.

Ticats president Glenn Gibson said in a statement Tuesday the team has been working for 18 months on identifying potential event parking around the stadium.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

He said the study has shown "an abundance" of existing parking within a reasonable distance of the stadium.

"Our job moving forward is to educate the public and our fans about where those spots are."