The CFL is on a roll with the new TV contract guaranteeing that every game be televised and with the successful implementation of instant replay and the likely reestablishment of the Ottawa franchise in 2008. Now comes the next big advancement in the CFL picture and that is stadium improvements.
The first team to make noises in these areas is Winnipeg where not one but two prominent highly respected Manitobans have put forth proposals for a new football stadium complex in the Manitoba capital.
In January of this year David Asper a Can West Global Executive announced a plan for $145 million dollars to erect a stadium /commercial complex at the existing site of the present Canad Inns stadium.The plan he put forth is asking for $80million dollars in funding from the provincial and federal governments and the remainder would come from his own pocket.
There are some obvious problems though as Aspers plans would have the construction of the new stadium and adjoining retail complex occur during the football season and could create some serious overall disruptions at Polo Park.The fans in Winnipeg who are familiar with the Polo Park location because the majority of the Bomber fans live on the west side of the Red River are hoping that the Asper proposal will go through as the current facility which is over 53 years old is badly in need of repair and more seating to insure the Bombers can attain the revenues required to remain a viable entity in the Canadian Football League.
Asper is proposing a partially covered Stadium and he has the support of Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Gary Doer, however he also makes no bones about the fact that once the project is completed he will assume ownership of not only the entire complex but the Bomber football club as well.
The other plan put forward by Leo Ledohowski the president and CEO of hotel chain Canad Inns is for a $520 million plan to build a new completely domed stadium for Winnipeg ,redevelop industrial land and replace the Winnipeg Convention centre at the same time. A domed stadium for the many fans who have to wrap themselves up in layers of outer wear in late October and early November would be welcomed with open arms.This plan would call for the Bombers to own the football facilities that are part of this overall developmental project.
The site would be the former Canada Packers site in St.Boniface.which is in the process of being purchased by the Canad Inns Hotel Chain.and is a location which would be foreign to most Bomber fans.
There are arguments pro and con domed stadiums the most negative being that the atmosphere is not the same as playing outside as the sound affects do not resonate inside the same as they do outside. and everything seems more stereotyped. However anyone who has experienced being chilled to the bone by wind chill factors that are off the wall and freezing temperatures while watching a game in late fall on the prairies can readily appreciate the advantages of a domed stadium.
The truth is the Bombers are indeed fortunate to have both these offers on the table and the fact that retail and hotel complexes will be part of both projects are a good enough reason to believe that the various levels of government will give one of them the go ahead signal in the not to distant future.
There could be a serious fly in the ointment though if the MTS center where the Manitoba Moose play hockey in the American Hockey League who signed an agreement with various levels of government stating that there would be no competing venue for the convention trade for a designated period of time enforce that agreement .It is understood that the completely domed facility proposed by Ledohowski would be counting on getting that highly lucrative revenue from off season convention activity.
There is also the concerns about the future of the CFL particularly if Toronto joins the NFL as has been speculated for years.and if that happened what would happen to the local facility.There are many who wonder if David Asper gets his way and builds the new complex and owns the Bombers would he move them to another location if the right offer came along and how much of a dictator would he be.
The number of proposed seats in the facilities is also a big concern as both proposals indicate that thirty five thousand to fourty five thousand would be maximum and you have to wonder if down the line this would be enough.
The next step is for the Bomber board of Directors to put their heads together and come up with their choice of the facility they feel best suits the needs of the Blue and gold in the next decade and you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be some nail biting,hollering and teeth gnashing in coming to a decision.on such a critical issue. After they make their choice they will make a recommendation to the variuos levels of government to procede with the project.
There is no doubt though that a decision of this magnitude will be monitored closely by all the CFL teams and there is every indication that after the Bombers make up their mind other teams playing in what could be called outdated facilities will follow suit and the CFL will continue to become more fan freindly.
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Weather or not? That is the question.
TO or is that the Argos. A domed or was that doomed stadium was not enough for many years.
If we wanted to become MORE AMERICAN than we already are lets us put the game always inside. ARENA or hockey rink football and play 4 down football and a 40 second or is that 40 minute clock for what was it called????.
The almost NFL. OH YEy OH YEy. Hey weather or not to be weather has and still hopefully will be a part of our game. Winnipeg or rather Whimperpeg Bombmers have a choice to make. Continue on a proud tradition, or lose the team because they could not afford the rent.
Hey the CFL in Winterpeg has a proud tradition. Thank God we are not the NHL where nothing is sacred or scared or is that should be scared as the NHL should be outside of Canada. Maybe the NBC Afternoons should teach us something. We have a great product on the field. don't ruin it.
WE LOVE THE GAME. IT DON'T TAKE NO DARN STADIUM TO MAKE IT BETTER. Winnipeg fans don't care where they play, just do it and make sure we keep the team.
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