New Winnipeg Blue Bombers Stadium
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This article or section is about a planned or proposed stadium. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the stadium approaches. |
| New Winnipeg Blue Bombers Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Location | 1465 Maroons Road Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Broke ground | TBN |
| Opened | |
| Owner | Asper Family/Creswin Properties |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $120 million |
| Architect | Raymond S.C Wan |
| Tenants | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) |
| Capacity | approx 40,000 (football) |
New Winnipeg Blue Bombers Stadium is a proposed football stadium planned for Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada.
The proposed development will include both the site of the current stadium and it's surrounding commercial real estate. The project is being promoted by David Asper, a member of the well known Asper publishing & broadcasting empire (CanWest Global). Mr. Asper is a former member of the Blue Bomber's board of directors and owner of Creswin Properties, the proposed developer of the commercial real estate surrounding the stadium.
This facility will be the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Capacity will be approximately 40,000 (partially covered) seats, and the playing field will be covered in the winter (as with BMO Field in Toronto) allowing year round recreational use.
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[edit] Financial Details
As indicated in the references below, Mr. Asper's proposal involves both Federal and Provincial financial contributions ($40 Million each), as well as a transfer of assets (the publicly owned Blue Bomber franchise itself will be transferred into Asper's control, and the existing undeveloped commercial real estate surrounding the stadium). As part of Creswin's commitment to the project, Mr. Asper has pledged to contribute $65 Million toward the Maroons Road development. In addition to stadium construction, the Asper proposal includes 217,000 sq ft (20,200 m²) of retail development and a two level parking facility.
[edit] Status
As of September 2007, Creswin has stated that they have completed '90%' of due diligence requirements. Asper has signed a letter of intent with regard to his investment in the project. To date, neither the federal nor provincial government have agreed to provide any financial support for the project. However, both governments have agreed to review the proposal in detail when forwarded by Creswin. Creswin is currently in the process of actively marketing the non-football portion of the redevelopment to potential commercial tenants.
[edit] Issues Outstanding
Few Winnipeggers refute the need/desire for a replacement stadium for the community's football team. The existing Canad Inns Stadium, while upgraded regularly in recent years, dates back to the 1950s. However, there is considerable concern in the city at present as to the net benefit of transferring both the community owned team (which is hard to put a financial value on, as it's income/loss varies from year to year) and the lands in play to the hands of a successful and very profitable privately owned business. The commercial lands alone around the stadium have been valued at approximately $10 Million by the city of Winnipeg.
The community owned Football Club's board of directors have given approval for Mr. Asper to proceed to the next step of his proposal, namely to do more financial and planning work, and have agreed conditionally (in principle) to transfer the football club to private ownership when 'all parties have agreed to the funding and development proposal'. It is unclear when, or if, these conditions will be satisfied.
One of the major concerns the team has in relation to any redevelopment of this site is where the team will play during the redevelopment phase. Asper's proposal, unlike some other options, will allow the team to continue to play at the site while development is undertaken around the existing stadium (The current plan is for the new stadium to be built in "halves", along the lines of European Football stadium construction). It is thought that the team would not have to relocate while the new stadium is completed, however this possibility is highly dependent on proposed start dates and completion schedules, construction difficulties and unforeseen issues. Typically, building facilities using this method raises construction costs, but reduces the financial impact to the team's operations. Other development proposals involved two or more seasons played at a temporary venue. As no other suitable facility exists anywhere near the city, even for short term relocation, use of the current facility during as much of the construction phase as possible is vital to the team's continued financial health.
[edit] Stadium Options
Other developers have expressed interest in the commercial lands surrounding the stadium. The owners of Canad Inns, a Winnipeg based hotel business and current naming rights holder for the Blue Bomber's existing stadium, forwarded a plan to redevelop the entire site for commercial use and construct a football stadium for the Blue Bombers in another location. This proposal was rejected in favour of Mr. Asper's plan.
The board of the football team itself has investigated the possibility of rebuilding or substantially upgrading the existing stadium, largely with funds generated from sale or lease of the adjacent commercial lands (The team holds the right to develop this property itself as part of it's refinancing agreement with the City & Province). Being a community owned business, however, the Bombers organization would have difficulty in accessing the capital required to move forward with such plans directly. The board agreed to place such plans on hold pending the outcome of Mr. Asper's proposal.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Canad Inns Stadium |
Home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers TBN |
Succeeded by Future |
