A roof over Blue? Indoor stadium touted
By ADAM CLAYTON, STAFF REPORTER | Winnipeg Sun | Sat, January 20, 2007
new indoor stadium is a realistic option for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, according to a report released yesterday.
The Bombers, the Red River Exhibition Association and Canad Inns released a long-awaited study on the feasibility of a new or revamped stadium for the CFL team yesterday.
The study found a destination complex -- featuring a climate-controlled stadium plus exhibition and trade show space as well as a Canad Inns hotel and water park -- would bring in an average of $7.68 million a year in positive revenue.
"The goal here is to provide a home for football that our fans can enjoy the games in, and this certainly gives us that," said Blue Bombers chairman Ken Hildahl.
The complex would also come with a hefty price tag, with capital costs pegged at $276.3 million.
The study eyed 12 potential locations for the facility, including the existing stadium's Polo Park site and Red River Ex Park near Assiniboia Downs.
The Red River location remains an option, even though there doesn't appear to be much political support for the site.
"I'll be frank, it would be a tough sell even for our fans," said Hildahl.
"We've heard loud and clear that our fans don't want to see the stadium at Red River Ex Park. But the board will consider that, we won't reject it out of hand."
Paul Robson, CEO of the Red River Ex Association, said the organization isn't interested in building a stadium that isn't located on its grounds.
The football club will soon invite interested parties to submit their ideas regarding the complex and hopes to receive expressions of interest during the next couple of months, said Hildahl.
UNDER WRAPS
The study was released five days after media mogul David Asper presented Bombers brass with his own proposal for a new $120-million stadium. The partially-covered facility would be built at the existing stadium site.
The feasibility study was completed in February 2006, but the three funding partners agreed to keep it under wraps until now to avoid distractions while Winnipeg was preparing for last year's Grey Cup.
According to the study, it would cost nearly $30 million to fully upgrade the existing stadium, and the improvements would extend the life of the stadium for about a decade.
The report also stated a retrofitted stadium would only bring $600,000 to $700,000 a year in additional revenue.
Public funds would be necessary to proceed with the $276-million destination complex, but it's not clear how much would be needed.
A spokesman for Mayor Sam Katz said the city is prepared to sit down with the football team once a decision has been made regarding a stadium. A spokesman for Premier Gary Doer said the province won't get involved until the Bombers and its board of directors make a decision on the various proposals on the table.
A spokesman for Treasury Board Minister Vic Toews said yesterday that funding a football stadium in Manitoba isn't among the federal government's highest priorities.
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SEE THE SITES
Possible locations for a new football stadium, hotel and water park:
- Red River Exhibition Site, 3977 Portage Ave.
- West St. Paul
- Kilcona/Springfield
- Dugald/Murdoch Road
- St. Boniface Stockyards, 660 Marion St.
- Fort Garry-SW Bishop Grandin Boulevard
- Fort Garry-NE Bishop Grandin Boulevard
- Fort Whyte
- West End, 1460 Dublin Ave.
- Weston Rail Yards
- Southdale-east Bishop Grandin Boulevard
- Point Douglas-south Nairn Avenue
-- Source: Destination Complex Feasibility Assessment Final Report
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