Well the Bombers pic also doesn't take into account one thing. I don't see enough parking for 30000 people. I lived in the 'Peg from 1990 to 1993, the Bombers and Jets always had parking issues. The above stadium is on Maroons rd. Now the kicker here there was PLENTY of parking at the shopping centre (Polo Park) in the same complex as the old arena and across the road from the football stadium but they would let you park and then chain you in. Some cowboy in a big Chevy would always take a run at the gate and power throught the chain but they need to figure it out right. The other problem is I also used to go to see the CSL Winnipeg Fury. Let me tell you, I cannot speak for 2006 but in the early '90s. Winnipeg was NOT a soccer town. One of the biggest games was vs the Victoria Vistas at home, on a summer night for the chance to go to the finals or semis'. 700 people MAX. Ya we were all crammed into the 35000 seat Winnipeg Football Stadium watching the 'event'. The Winnipeg Thunder basketball team had a game the next night and got 12000, the next year the Winnipeg Goldeye's showed up. Good luck with the new stadium but soccer is not a sport that is on the cusp of booming in Winterpeg. The local team tried to set up a PDL team (the Winnipeg Sundogs) and the USL wouldn't let them in, said Winnipeg was a USL 1 city.
If Winnipeg builds a new stadium I think a USL team would become likely. I don't see the 3 levels of government each throwing in $40 million for a stadium thats going to have 1 tennant and be used 10 days a year. I was quite young when the Fury last played here and remember the crowds being absolutely terrible but I firmly believe soccer has grown leaps and bounds since then. More kids play in soccer youth leagues than hockey but as they get older loose interest as they have no supestars to look up to. That's changing though as soccer is getting more and more coverage in the mainstream media, due to last year's WC and the Beckham signing. The problem of course would be you would have 5 000-6 000 watching soccer in a football stadium built for 40 000, end result being a terrrible atmosphere and non-soccer fans being re-afirmed in their belief that soccers boring.
Canad Inns unveils proposal Whole new stadium game Canad Inns unveils proposal By TAMARA KING -- Sun Media http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2007/04/10/3971565-sun.html Canad Inns CEO Leo Ledohowski announces his proposal for a domed stadium for the Blue Bombers at the old Canada Packers site on Monday. (Sun Media/Brian Donogh) It's game on when it comes to a new stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Canad Inns CEO Leo Ledohowski unveiled his $520-million vision for the CFL team's new home in St. Boniface yesterday, which includes $55 million for redeveloping the Bombers' home in Polo Park. That bid will now go up against two other proposals, most notably a $145-million plan from media magnate David Asper for a new complex at the stadium site at Polo Park. Ledohowski's pitch would see the construction of a $265-million covered stadium -- Canad Inns would "gift" 35 acres of land to the Bombers and the football club would own the stadium -- alongside a new hotel and waterpark at the old Canada Packers site in St. Boniface. The city agreed to sell the property to the hotel chain last week for $1 million. Asper's concept would end the long-standing structure of community ownership, with a private corporation running the football team. With the Canad Inns proposal, the Bombers would remain community-owned, Ledohowski said. "This is a true 21st-century proposal which is a true public-private partnership," Ledohowski told media at a press conference yesterday. Ledohowski's plan hinges on an $80-million handout from taxpayers, a 50/50 split between the province and Ottawa. It's the same request Asper had earlier made. "I think if the money doesn't come from the governments, we're going to have a problem pulling this together," Ledohowski said. Premier Gary Doer's spokesman said it's premature for the province to comment on Ledohowski's pitch. "We are letting the Bomber board review all proposals first before commenting on any one proposal," said spokesman Jonathan Hildebrand. Ledohowski said $90 million of financing for the St. Boniface site would come from Maroons Road. Calling it "one of the most valuable pieces of commercial property in Winnipeg," Ledohowski said the site would be converted into the "Blue Bomber Plaza, by Canad Inns," a commercial hub that would be managed by the hotel chain but owned by the football club. 'ROLL-UP TURF' For the plaza, Ledohowski wants the city to forgive $29 million in property taxes for 15 years -- a request Mayor Sam Katz wasn't available to comment on yesterday. With the covered complex and what Ledohowski described as "roll-up turf," the St. Boniface facility could be available year-round. Asper, executive vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp. and the team's former chairman, wants to invest $65 million to construct a partially covered complex which would replace the 29,500-seat stadium. It would be developed with retail and commercial space along its Empress Street boundary. "Both public proposals are very exciting proposals," said Bomber board boss Ken Hildahl. "Both are very credible." There is a third bid in the running to develop a new stadium for the Bombers. It's a public/private venture from the team and a developer that has yet to be publicly revealed. Based on comments from Hildahl, the proposal is not "site specific" and, like the others, requires taxpayer dollars. It's unclear when a decision will be made by the football club's board on which bid will be accepted. Hildahl said the stadium subcommittee is aiming to make a presentation to the board next week, and he hopes it will be weeks instead of months before they can make their pick public.
Canad Inns asking taxpayers to fund fuzzy proposal A pigskin in a poke Canad Inns asking taxpayers to fund fuzzy proposal By TOM BRODBECK -- Sun Media http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2007/04/10/3971563-sun.html There's so little detail in yesterday's Canad Inns' proposal to build a new $265-million football stadium, it's hard to know what to think of it. Except that, just like media mogul David Asper's $120-million stadium plan unveiled earlier this year, Canad Inns CEO Leo Ledohowski wants taxpayers to foot most of the bill. Or at least that's what yesterday's vague proposal seems to imply. Essentially, Ledohowski wants three things from taxpayers to make his plan work. He wants a total of $80 million in cash upfront from the province and the federal government. He wants a $29-million tax break from the City of Winnipeg. He also wants -- and this is where it gets murky -- exclusive development and managing rights for some unspecified commercial venture where the stadium now stands. In other words, Ledohowski wants to use lucrative real estate owned by taxpayers to help pay for the cost of a new stadium. "Excess cash flow" -- whatever that means -- from that development would provide an additional $90 million towards the cost of the stadium. That gets us to $199 million. Supposedly, a new stadium would generate an extra $8.3 million in annual profits, raising an additional $107 million. This is a very fuzzy proposal. And there are a lot of leap-of-faith assumptions in it. 'BLUE BOMBER PLAZA' Canad Inns says it would build a "Blue Bomber Plaza" on the entire Maroons Road site. It would be a "commercial redevelopment" owned by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. But Canad Inns would be the exclusive developer and manager of the site. That could mean anything. Who controls the profits? How much of the net revenues go into financing the new stadium? The proposal assumes $8.3 million in new stadium profits, although it doesn't say where that revenue would come from. Very little of it would come from football games, if recent history is any indication. The Bombers posted on-field operating losses in each of its last two years. The only reason the club ended 2006 in the black was because of Grey Cup revenues. Even if a new domed stadium for 10 home games did generate greater ticket sales -- and it probably would -- higher revenues wouldn't be anywhere near $8.3 million. More conventions and monster truck shows? Perhaps. But who picks up the operating losses should the stadium lose money? It doesn't say. Canad Inns also says the proposed stadium would hold 30,000 seats, which is rather small. The Bombers already attract 30,000 fans to some home games. Shouldn't the goal be to attract more? And what about hosting another Grey Cup? There were 45,000 fans at last year's Grey Cup in Winnipeg. Canad Inns say their proposed stadium could be expanded to 45,000 for a Grey Cup game. A temporary, 50% seat expansion in a domed stadium? I'd like to see the drawings. There's a lot this proposal doesn't cover, which makes it very difficult to analyze. What we do know is the key to any successful new or refurbished stadium has to include tapping into the commercial value of where the stadium now stands. The Blue Bombers signed a 50-year lease with the city a few years ago, giving it exclusive development rights to the land that surrounds it. Done right, that retail or other commercial development can produce enormous revenues to help pay for a new or refurbished stadium. But it has to be a realistic proposal. And taxpayers shouldn't be expected to pony up $80 million for a new stadium, especially when the team we're talking about is barely viable. It just doesn't make sense.
Here are the plans ... Here are the plans ... By SUN MEDIA http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2007/04/10/3971564-sun.html LEO LEDOHOWSKI VISION WHAT HE WANTS: To build a $265-million domed stadium at the former Canada Packers factory site in St. Boniface. The city recently agreed to sell the land to Ledohowski's hotel chain, Canad Inns, for $1 million. WHAT HE'LL CONTRIBUTE: For the St. Boniface site, Ledohowski said he'll contribute $200 million, although $50 million would go towards a hotel and waterpark -- not the stadium itself. He's also talking about a $55-million investment to redevelop the Polo Park stadium site into an unspecified commercial venture. WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR: Like Asper, Ledohowski wants $80 million from the provincial and federal governments. His plan also asks the city for 15 years of tax forgiveness at the old stadium site. Ledohowski said the Bombers would remain community owned. WHAT THE STADIUM WOULD OFFER: Documents released to the media yesterday were vague on these points, but it's believed the Canad Inns pitch offers seating for 30,000 in its domed complex. Attached to the stadium would be a 200-room hotel, an indoor water park and "related amenities," according to a news release from the hotel chain. DAVID ASPER VISION WHAT HE WANTS: To build a $120-million stadium at the site of the existing Canad Inns Stadium. The partially covered facility would seat up to 40,000 fans. WHAT HE'LL CONTRIBUTE: $40 million towards a new stadium and $25 million towards a two-storey commercial development with a restaurant pad. Asper said the public would own the new stadium. WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR: The team, which has been owned by the community for 77 years and run by a non-profit organization managed by a board of directors since 1930, as well as the potentially lucrative stadium land. He also wants $40 million each from the provincial and federal governments. WHAT THE STADIUM WOULD OFFER: Seating for up to 40,000, 13 concession stands, 24 private suites, a Blue Bombers Hall of Fame, elite fitness training facility, media centre, modern team offices, Blue Bomber retail operation, and fan interactive exhibition.
Football club will negotiate new stadium with media mogul Bombers choose Asper Football club will negotiate new stadium with media mogul By KIRK PENTON -- Sun Media http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2007/05/02/4147588-sun.html Background info http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/story/3842721p-4446277c.html David Asper, vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp., discusses his plans for a new stadium for the Blue Bombers. (Sun Media/C. Procaylo) The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are one step closer to a new stadium -- and a private owner. The Winnipeg Football Club announced yesterday it has decided to negotiate exclusively with David Asper's Creswin Properties Ltd. to redevelop the 54-year-old stadium and surrounding area in St. James. "This is the start of a process," WFC chairman Ken Hildahl said. "It's a negotiating process. It's not a done deal. There's still a lot of tripwires." The WFC chose Asper's $145-million proposal over Leo Ledohowski's $520-million plan, which included a domed stadium in St. Boniface. Its ultimate goal is to make the Bombers viable in the community for generations to come and, without going into detail, Hildahl said Asper's vision met that criteria. "It was very clear in our minds that David's proposal led us in that direction," Hildahl said. Asper's private-public plan calls for a new $120-million stadium (which requires $80 million of public money) and $25 million worth of retail space, but it also includes his taking ownership of the club. The Bombers have been publicly owned since their inception in 1930, so that aspect -- along with what will happen to the team generations from now -- promises to be a focal point of negotiations. "I don't want to get into our negotiation process or our tactics, but there's certain safeguards that we need to see put in place," Hildahl said. "Those safeguards would ensure obviously that the team remain in Winnipeg, (and) that the interest of the fan and the community are well-served." Asper, the vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp. and a former WFC chairman, said he isn't willing to budge on the ownership issue. "I'm putting up $40 million of my own money, plus another $25 million against the retail," he said. "The co-investors, which would be the public, actually get a guaranteed return through tax revenue. "My money is totally at risk. So, as an investor, I simply take the view that I need to control my business destiny. "... I'm not sure why the board would be even talking to me if this was a serious issue." The sides hope to have a "binding letter of intent" by the end of May, and then Asper would have to approach the federal and provincial governments for $40 million each, which could be the biggest hurdle of all. Ledohowski, the president of Canad Corp., said he's disappointed in the board's choice, particularly in its process in evaluating the proposals. He suggested the board members have not been as open-minded as they should have been toward his dome stadium concept, which he pointed out exists with the Alerus Center and his newest Canad Inns project -- including a water park -- in Grand Forks, N.D.
New digs for Bombers New digs for Bombers And with it comes a new owner in David Asper By KIRK PENTON, SUN MEDIA http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2007/06/23/4284607-sun.html WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Football Club has unanimously agreed to a letter of intent with David Asper on a new stadium proposal, which would effectively end 77 years of community ownership of the Blue Bombers. Asper must now acquire $40 million from both the federal and provincial governments to put towards a new $120-million facility. If the media mogul can secure that funding and build a new stadium, he said he would also assume control of the team. Asper is willing to put $40 million towards the stadium and another $25 million towards commercial development on the existing Polo Park site. The retail portion of the proposal would generate revenue to help Asper operate the Bombers. "It's a very exciting time. We think we can create for the community what the baseball park (CanWest Global) created and what MTS Centre, along the same partnership model, has created for Winnipeg, and to become a beacon for a revived and rejuvenated Blue Bombers and for the Canadian Football League," he said yesterday during a media conference. "So we're looking forward to it. There's a lot of work left to do, but it's very gratifying to be in a position to do it." The team chose Asper's Creswin Properties Ltd. as its lone negotiating partner on May 1 and Thursday night's unanimous vote concluded six weeks of talks. It appears the ownership details -- believed to be the biggest hurdle going into the talks -- were ironed out but WFC chairman Ken Hildahl cautioned that a final deal has not been done. "The final deal won't get voted on until the whole package is before the board," he said. "What we've done is agreed to take it to the next step. It's far from a done deal." Lawyers, accountants and politicians will get to work on the funding details. No timeline has been set for those discussions, but Asper plans to make some calls next week. Asper said if the rest of the negotiations go as planned he will wind up being the sole owner of the team.
Asper has plans for new stadium Working out the details Asper has plans for new stadium By JIM BENDER -- Sun Media http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2007/08/16/4422592-sun.html David Asper is waiting for a report concerning the design for the new football stadium. (Sun File/Marcel Cretain) Although the progress has been slow, details for plans to erect a new football stadium in Winnipeg should be unveiled as soon as next month. "I think it will all start to unfold next month," David Asper of CanWest Global, said yesterday. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers accepted Asper's proposal to build a $120 million facility at the current location of Canad Inns Stadium earlier this year. Asper offered to pony up $40 million, hoping both the federal and provincial governments would match it. Asper would also invest $25 million to add a retail development on the site. But first, Asper is awaiting a report concerning the stadium design. "We are doing our due diligence," he said. "The overall report will include financial and legal details, then we will apply them to the stadium designers. Then we'll sit down and say, 'OK, does it work the way we envisioned it? Does it make sense?' " Asper expects that report within the next two weeks. If satisfied, Asper will then sit down with reps of the governments that he hopes will become partners. Although MP Vic Toews has publicly expressed some reluctance to commit public money to the project that will essentially make Asper a private owner of the local CFL club, Asper did not seem concerned. WE'LL LISTEN "I gave Vic a briefing in January and he said, 'When you're ready to make a presentation, we'll listen,' " said the former Bomber board chair. "I have no problem with Vic being careful with public money." Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has already expressed his willingness to support the project, Asper added. Although Bomber board members had been helping Asper gather the necessary details, that process slowed when they turned their attention to running the club once the season started. "Then we got into summer," Asper said apologetically. "This is the tough sledding you go through to come up with a plan." Asper had originally hoped to have the new digs up during the 2008 season. "Everything goes slower than I want it to, it's just the reality of the situation," he said. "As an investor, I want to know in detail what I'm getting into. And I've got to understand all the potential risks. It's a ton of money." The Bombers have been hoping to either build a new stadium or re-build the current facility for years as the present structure is badly in need of repair and many of the seats are too cramped. But before the shovels can start digging up dirt, Asper will need a financial commitment from the various governments, which could also take some time.
Re: Asper has plans for new stadium This stadium has very little to with MLS and actual football (soc***). These people have too much money to burn but unfortunately there is nothing in for us.
Asper has plans for new stadium Who cares about MLS? And if by "us" you mean Canadian soccer fans and not EPL "football" poseur it has everything to do with us. Every large stadium in Canada has the possibility of hosting a WCQ. The only issue is the flexibility of having (or adding) a suitable playing surface. That is why this thread was posted. In this new age of versatile playing surfaces it would likely have FieldTurf with football lines or possibly no markings at all. If it is a tray system it can be removed and replaced with a FieldTurf field with soccer markings or the football lines could be erased. An expensive and unlikely scenario would put a turf field over the artificial turf (like Boston at the Gold Cup). Expensive and not a particularly great idea. Or the very latest technology the screen on a field Try to think outside the box man.
ASPER INVITES FANS TO EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF STADIUM-SPECIFICS http://blueandgold.ca/pdf/news_release_oct11_2007.pdf ‘Getting It Done’ Fan Forum Slated for October 22 at MTS Centre Winnipeg, MB – October 11, 2007 --- Before shovels go in the ground to construct a new stadium for Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers, David Asper is looking for a little help from the fans. “As we enter the home stretch, it’s all about getting it done,” he said. “But before construction begins, I want fans to have the opportunity to explore our most up-to-date plans.” Asper said fans will be provided an exclusive preview of stadium-specifics with a focus on seats, concessions, washrooms, plans for amateur football and youth programs as well as an overview of design, site and construction plans. “Building a new stadium is about more than just football,” said Asper. “It’s about improving Winnipeg and growing our confidence as a province while ensuring a long-term, stable future for our Blue Bombers.” The ‘Getting It Done’ fan forum will be held at the MTS Centre on Monday, October 22, 2007. Main doors open at 5:30. Presentation begins at 6:00 featuring David Asper and his Development Team along with Lyle Bauer from the Winnipeg Football Club and Emcee, Kathy Daley. If fans aren’t able to make it to the MTS Centre, they’re invited to go to blueandgold.ca to complete a fan survey.
Asper Unveils Year-Round Sport, Fitness & Recreational Facility Under the Bubble Asper Unveils Year-Round Sport, Fitness & Recreational Facility Inflatable ’Bubble’ will Convert Proposed Stadium into Hub of Community Activity http://www.blueandgold.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=21 January 5, 2008 – Following extensive consultations with the amateur sport community, Bomber fans and with clear direction from the Premier and Mayor, David Asper today announced plans to ensure Winnipeg’s proposed new stadium will be a year-round sport, recreation and fitness facility capable of attracting nearly a half million Manitobans annually. “We’ve heard from thousands of fans and consulted directly with amateur sport organizations representing tens of thousands of young Manitobans,” said Asper. “While many fans have offered up interesting ideas for year-round stadium usage, the overwhelming and most pressing concern was one that helps ease Winnipeg’s half billion dollar sports infrastructure deficit by providing affordable, year-round opportunities for young Manitobans to play, train and learn.” In unveiling plans to inflate a massive Tedlar dome directly on the playing field post Bomber season, Asper said the pressurized, opaque structure will rise up five stories, be connected via tunnels and airlock doors to dressing rooms and washroom facilities while remaining fully accessible to the handicapped. “The ‘bubble’ is a proven, practical approach to ensuring our proposed new stadium is a year-round centre for community activity,” said Asper. “With a construction price tag of approximately $1.8 million and $450,000 in annual operating costs, the ‘bubble’ is an affordable way to ensure our proposed new stadium becomes the largest ‘community centre’ in Manitoba.” A 2004 study found that Winnipeg has a $400 million recreational infrastructure deficit and is hard pressed to simply maintain its network of old and dilapidated community centres. A more recent study found that about 8,000 young people would play recreational soccer if they had a facility to play in. Winnipeg Football Club President and CEO, Lyle Bauer, strongly supported the concept and said the ‘bubble’ will open up a whole new era for the Blue Bombers in terms of year-round community involvement, with sport, recreation and fitness opportunities aimed especially at young Manitobans. “This year-round facility will be a major hub of community activity in Winnipeg,” said Bauer. “Just add up the numbers starting with Bomber games, nearly 150 amateur football events throughout the summer and finally, events during the ‘bubble’ season that could very well number nearly 2,000.” Operating as a cost recovery facility, Asper said his philosophy is to ensure the ‘bubble’ is not only accessible but affordable to all. “I’m committed to further discussions with the amateur sport and recreation communities,” he said, “to ensure rental rates reflect the community’s ability to pay.” Based on the ‘bubble’ experience in other cities, Asper expects demand will be strong right from the start. “In other cities, soccer teams have been the largest users,” he said, “and, with three fields in our ‘bubble’, we are hopeful the same will hold true here.” He added that there is also strong usage by amateur football, Ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse, baseball and softball. “We’ve even heard stories of seniors booking ‘bubbles’ for walking and lawn bowling plus model airplane organizations reserving space so they don’t have to wait for summer.” Currently, there are more than 600 air-supported structures around the world including ‘bubbles’ in Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa. In that city alone, more than 7,000 soccer players are attracted each week to the Ben Franklin Soccer Park. Key Details: (subject to final design): * Approx. 450 feet long by 250 feet wide (137 x 76 metres) * Three soccer fields * Shape maintained using computer controlled, internal pressurized air * Opaque and insulated with interior lighting * Tested to meet Manitoba weather standards. Able to withstand 120 mph (193km/h) winds and snow loads of up to 40 pounds per square yard * Inflated post Bomber season; dismantled in the spring “We’ve spent many months listening to Manitobans,” said Asper, “and believe today’s announcement goes a long way to ensuring our proposed new stadium is an unrivalled, year-round facility offering new and affordable sport, fitness and recreation opportunities to our young people and our community at large.”
Now Asper looks to U of M for stadium Now Asper looks to U of M for stadium By PAUL FRIESEN, SPORTS COLUMNIST Move over Point Douglas, goodbye Polo Park -- hello, University of Manitoba. David Asper's bid to build a new football stadium in central Winnipeg has taken a dramatic turn to the south, with the media mogul setting his sights on an expanding U of M campus in Fort Garry. A source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Asper has approached the federal government with a request to commit money to a stadium at the university. Asper made the request, believed to be for $15 million in federal funds, last month. "It'd be great," U of M athletic director Coleen Dufresne said. "It would be fantastic to have them out at our place. It would be awesome to get people to the south end of the city. When football fans get used to coming out to that neck of the woods, hopefully they'll come every weekend, when we're playing and when the Bombers are playing." A strong supporter of both the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers and national champion U of M Bisons, Asper's latest vision would provide a state-of-the-art facility for both teams in an area easily accessible by public transit. Space shouldn't be an issue: the U of M recently completed the purchase of Southwood Golf and Country Club, part of an aggressive expansion plan that will see significant upgrades to the province's largest post-secondary institution. Officials at the school are believed to have approached Asper with an offer of free land, turning his attention away from two previously proposed sites. Poised to take over the community-owned Bombers once he has a stadium deal in place, Asper initially targeted the current stadium site at Polo Park more than a year ago, proposing a $120-million facility, of which he would contribute $40 million, with the province and feds both matching with equal amounts. In late June, stalled by a less than enthusiastic response from Ottawa, Asper's focus shifted to Point Douglas, where he touted a stadium as part of a massive revitalization plan for the area. Dubbed Project 85 -- named after Blue Bomber star Milt Stegall's jersey number -- the neighbourhood makeover was said to be worth some $400 million, including $150 million for a stadium ($40 million from taxpayers) and $70 million for a hotel/water park. Enthusiasm for that project has cooled, due to the complexity and the huge infrastructure costs -- including road and bridge improvements -- associated with it. The Point Douglas plan would also have forced the expropriation of dozens of homes. SEEKING $25 MILLION Enter the U of M, where federal financing might be more palatable and where neighbourhood residents already see a steady stream of thousands of people coming and going each day. It's believed Asper is seeking $25 million from the province. A spokesman for premier Gary Doer wouldn't comment on the new plan. Neither would Asper, saying he'll make an announcement when a final deal is in place. Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz also wouldn't comment on the location change. "I'm hopeful this whole football stadium situation would be brought to fruition by the end of September," Katz said. "It's been going on for a long time."
Re: Here are the plans ... Any word on why they would want to go with a 40 000 seat venue? The Winnipeg metro is only about 700 000 and the average Bombers crowd is about 27 000. That's great support, really, but not something that would seem to require 40 000 seats. Also, from a soccer perspective, a smaller stadium would be more useful.
The Bombers get decent attendance in a dumpy stadium that lacks the amenities and revenue generating facilities that are required today. Obviously with a more fan friendly environment they hope to attract more patrons and other revenues. Seating capacity will be between 35-40 thousand seats. In the CFL, 24,000 was usually seen as the break even point. They are pretty passionate about their Bombers, I have no doubt the extra seats can be filled and hopefully someday we'll have another home for WCQ.
If a soccer team was to be placed in Winnipeg (I'm thinking probably USL-1), would they be better off in the new stadium (which would be cavernous) or in the Winnipeg Soccer Complex (which, I'm told, requires renovations)?
How many true World Cup class stadiums does Canada have? You can't play the world cup in BMO Field or Saputo Stadium. I don't think they want the World Cup on Turf either.
I don't think there's much hope for us hosting the WC, though I think hosting the Gold Cup is something we can and should aspire to.
Canada could host the world cup by using CFL stadia. Every one of them can be temporarily expanded to about 50 000 like they do when the teams host the Grey Cup (obviously some of them are that size already). I'm not sure that that's what FIFA would most enjoy as there are many countries with vastly superior soccer infrastructures. But if FIFA called and said, "South Africa is a scratch for 2010 - can you host?" it could be done.
You can't host the World Cup on a shoestring budget by trying to use old, small CFL stadiums. South Africa is hosting the 2010 World Cup in 10 stadiums, six with capacities between 40,000 and 50,000 and four with capacities of 60,000 to 95,000. Canada currently has 4 stadiums that would only need renovations to host an event like the World Cup. Commonwealth, BC Place, the Big Owe and Skydome. There are 4 other current CFL venues (McMahon, Taylor Field, Canad Inns and Ivor Wynne) and one past/future stadium (Landsdowne) that would never make the cut for a World Cup. But all 5 of these cities/CFL teams could use new stadiums. The failed Halifax Commonwealth Games bid included a $120,000,000 stadium that would have seated 50,000 for the games and 28,000 after the games to make it a sustainable facility. London's 2012 Olympic Stadium will have a reduced capacity after the games too. 5 stadiums like the one planned for Halifax could be built in CFL cities for $600,000,000 plus another $100,000,000 for renovations to the other for existing stadia and I bet it would cost a minimum of $700 million in facilities to host the World Cup in Canada. It might even be less if Winnipeg/Asper actually build a new stadium for the Bombers and Toronto/Hamilton get the 2015 Pan-Am games and build a new stadium in the Hammer. Compared to the $580 million on venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics, it seems doable to me. Especially since the wealth would be spread across the whole country. But we would need to build new stadiums.
Hamilton is presently looking at a new stadium because Ivor Wynne structurally has about two/three years left. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=610078 Ottawa has to have a new or totally rebuilt stadium as a condition of getting back into the CFL (they've been awarded a conditional franchise) and they have the ownership with the wherewithal to do it. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=604065 Winnipeg will have a new stadium, so you are looking at three new stadiums within the next five years. The CSA has a bid plan for the WC from a few years back on their site (if not still there it is probably posted here somewhere). It was done relatively on the cheap before the idea of the new facilities outlined above. It should also be noted that fantastic stadiums are not the only criteria for a WC. Many other factors come into the situation, finances, profits, security, these are things where Canada would excel.
I think we should be looking at hosting the Gold Cup first, it's much more feasible and a good way to demonstrate our abilities to host an international footy tournament before trying to jump to the big show.
I agree. Also, when I posted above that Canada could host the World Cup using CFL stadia that what I meant. It could be done as in "would provide the required number of stadia with an acceptable capacity". Obviously, however, from a venue perspective it would not be ideal.
The big picture finally unfolds What David Asper’s Creswin Properties has proposed for the University of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Polo Park: At Chancellor Matheson Drive and University Crescent: A 30,000-seat football stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and University of Manitoba Bisons, expandable to 45,000 for special events. The stadium bowl would be eight metres deep, allowing for almost half the rows to be built at or below ground level. Asper also promises better legroom, washrooms, concessions and private suites at the new facility. A training centre for the Bombers and Bisons within the stadium. A bubble over the playing surface to allow winter use. A Blue Bomber Hall of Fame within the stadium. A new 700-stall parkade outside the new stadium, plus a “fan tram” to connect the stadium with 7,000 existing parking stalls at the university. Shovels could be in the ground late this year, if governments sign on to the plan. At the existing University Stadium: Refurbishment of existing seats, locker rooms and washrooms. A second bubble for the playing surface during the winter.,/p> Track and field facility remains in place. Elsewhere at the University of Manitoba: A new fitness centre to replace aging facility at Frank Kennedy Centre. Will be open to the public as well as university students and staff. At Polo Park: New commercial development at the existing site of Canad Inns Stadium, which would be demolished. Asper says he knows what he wants to build there but is not prepared to let the cat out of the bag. For the Winnipeg Football Club: Asper would own the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but would sign an agreement ensuring the team would remain in the city in perpetuity. Who pays for it all? Asper plans to spend “up to $100 million” toward University of Manitoba components of his plan, which would cost a total of approximately $150 million. Asper plans to use debt-financing to start the project. The University of Manitoba will contribute 10 hectares of land. The province will be asked to contribute $20 million. Ottawa will be asked to contribute $15 million. The City of Winnipeg would offer the new facility the same tax exemptions enjoyed by Canad Inns Stadium right now. That means the new U of M stadium will not be subject to property and education taxes. The city will also sell Creswin the existing site of Canad Inns Stadium at fair market value, allowing Asper to use proceeds from that development to fund both the stadium and the Winnipeg Football Club. Creswin will pay all property and education taxes on the Polo Park land. The city and province are expected to earn approximately $7 million a year from those taxes. And who has signed on? Creswin and the University of Manitoba are on board. The Winnipeg Football Club has yet to see a business plan or approve the proposal. Mayor Sam Katz is OK with the plan, which faces city council approval. Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has previously said he is amenable to funding a a stadium project but has not signed on for $20 million. Senior Manitoba MP Vic Toews has previously said he would attempt to secure $15 million for a stadium with a strong amateur-sport component. But Ottawa has not signed on.