WINNIPEG - Investors Group Field (33,422)

[koolio]

I am not liking the roof. Looks like the kind that all the MLS teams are using these days. Considering the kind of harsh winters in Winnipeg, I expected better protection from the elements for the fans. Overall though, it is still looking good. Now the Riders and Stamps need to get the gears in motion for a new stadium.

[Cjones2451]

Originally Posted by carnifex2005

The province (mostly), the city (a little bit) and the team. That is why it is on the U of Manitoba campus.

The Bombers are on the hook for about $3 Million per season to pay back the province of Manitoba, but think they will get the extra revenue in the new stadium to cover that

[KingmanIII]

Originally Posted by koolio

Considering the kind of harsh winters in Winnipeg, I expected better protection from the elements for the fans.

CFL season lasts from June to November

[krnboy1009]

Nice, so U of Manitoba will also use it. Good, more bang for the buck.

[koolio]

Originally Posted by KingmanIII

CFL season lasts from June to November

You don't know how cold it can get even during November and December in the Prairies

[carnifex2005]

Originally Posted by koolio

You don't know how cold it can get even during November and December in the Prairies

True but apparently they designed the stadium to try to mitigate against wind and cold. We'll have to see how well it works next year.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by krnboy1009

Nice, so U of Manitoba will also use it. Good, more bang for the buck.

It's billed as the new home of the University of Manitoba Bisons and the Winnipeg Bluebombers. The only negative is that this stadium is way too big for the Bisons. The Bisons only need about 5,000 seats tops. They're no Laval.

[krnboy1009]

So tarp part of the stadium off.

[Calvin W]

Originally Posted by isaidso

It's billed as the new home of the University of Manitoba Bisons and the Winnipeg Bluebombers. The only negative is that this stadium is way too big for the Bisons. The Bisons only need about 5,000 seats tops. They're no Laval.

Well other than Laval name one university team that really needs more than 5000 seats then.

The university gets a state of the art, brand new stadium, duh of course they will use it even if it's way to big....

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Calvin W

Well other than Laval name one university team that really needs more than 5000 seats then.

I'll name 3: Sherbrooke, Queen's and Western. But like I said, the Bisons only need 5,000 tops.

Originally Posted by Calvin W

The university gets a state of the art, brand new stadium, duh of course they will use it even if it's way to big....

True, but they've also largely killed any hope of growing the Bisons football brand in Winnipeg. Every sports team on the planet knows that playing in a facility too big kills interest. MLS gets that, and I'm sure the Bisons management get that too.

Nice for the Bisons to play in, but any long term goals of building the brand to the next level are going to be very very difficult because of the size of this stadium. Maybe they're content remaining a spec on the sports landscape, who knows?

[krnboy1009]

I honestly cant see how playing in a overly large stadium kills interest.

It means lower ticket prices and that means more fan interest.

If that doesnt work save money and cover parts of stadium.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by krnboy1009

I honestly cant see how playing in a overly large stadium kills interest.

It means lower ticket prices and that means more fan interest.

If that doesnt work save money and cover parts of stadium.

It doesn't work that way. A quarter or half full stadium kills the atmosphere in a stadium and damages the appeal of a team in the eyes of the public. Marketing departments seek to keep supply below demand, not the other way around. You want sell outs and waiting lists for tickets to create buzz.

Lower ticket prices? The Bisons could make it free and they'd still only fill about 20% of this stadium. What sports leagues around the world understand is that you build capacity at or below demand. Olympic Stadium killed the Montreal Alouettes and its only the return to a vastly smaller, intimate Molson Stadium that led to a football boom in that city.

This phenomenon has been repeated over and over and over again all around the world. MLS has insisted that franchises play in MLS sized facilities rather than 70,000 seat NFL stadia. Why? Because there's nothing worse for a fan and the MLS brand than sitting in a stadium that's 80% empty.

A key part of the Canadian Football League's long term strategy is building CFL appropriate facilities. That means 25,000-35,000 seat stadia. Ottawa, Hamilton, and Winnipeg will all build stadia in this capacity range.

Commonwealth in Edmonton is far too large for the Eskimos. BC Place is too big for the Lions, but they have the option of the smaller soccer configuration (we'll see if that works as planned). The Skydome/Rogers Centre in Toronto is much too big for the Argonauts. That stadium is killing the franchise. Blocking the upper bowl out with bits of tarp and calling it a 30,000 seat facility doesn't fool anybody.

The atmosphere at football games in Toronto is absolutely terrible. I'd rather go watch high school football in the Maritimes. 4,000 people packed like sardines into a high school facility is far better than 20,000 in cavernous Skydome.

[Calvin W]

Originally Posted by isaidso

I'll name 3: Sherbrooke, Queen's and Western. But like I said, the Bisons only need 5,000 tops.



True, but they've also largely killed any hope of growing the Bisons football brand in Winnipeg. Every sports team on the planet knows that playing in a facility too big kills interest. MLS gets that, and I'm sure the Bisons management get that too.

Nice for the Bisons to play in, but any long term goals of building the brand to the next level are going to be very very difficult because of the size of this stadium. Maybe they're content remaining a spec on the sports landscape, who knows?

When will you realize that Canada and university sports up here are not American?

University football here is still about education first, football second the way it should be. I for one hope college sports here remain like they are, first and foremost.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Calvin W

University football here is still about education first, football second the way it should be. I for one hope college sports here remain like they are, first and foremost.

You're entitled to your opinion. Thankfully, some schools in this country are waking up to the revenue potential and marketing value that a good football program can provide for their institutions.

Laval was the first. Sherbrooke and Saskatchewan are following suit. If some schools don't want to unleash that potential due to the concerns you've listed, they are welcome to find money elsewhere. No one's putting a gun to their heads.

Athletes in this country deserve the same opportunities as science students. They shouldn't have to leave the country because some one decided that sports wasn't a worthy endeavour. Deeming some pursuits worthy and stifling others is just wrong. That some schools are recognizing that their mandate evolves is encouraging. Thank you Laval, Sherbrooke, and Saskatchewan!

[koolio]

I don't think athletics and academics should be inversely proportional. In the US, a lot of top football schools are also amongst the best public schools in terms of academics. Heck, Harvard and Yale have pretty big football programs as well and I think we can all agree that those two place quite a bit of importance to academics and research to say the least. My brother attended the annual "the Game" between the two schools and the stadium was packed and the atmosphere was better than any CIS game.

[isaidso]

I agree. It's not an either/or proposition. Why not excel at everything you do? Stunting potential in sports to protect academia is a false logic.

Btw, I've been to a number of CIS games that had better atmosphere than any NHL game I've attended. It depends which school you go watch. Most do leave a lot to be desired, but some have dynamite atmosphere.

[Calvin W]

Originally Posted by isaidso

I agree. It's not an either/or proposition. Why not excel at everything you do? Stunting potential in sports to protect academia is a false logic.

Btw, I've been to a number of CIS games that had better atmosphere than any NHL game I've attended. It depends which school you go watch. Most do leave a lot to be desired, but some have dynamite atmosphere.

Meanwhile back to the topic at hand......

Any updates?

[Cjones2451]

Here is the framework for the EastSide stands almost done. I still find it difficult to believe that this stadium will be ready for the start of the 2012 CFL season in July. Even if they put Winnipeg on thr road for the first few weeks and not have the pre-season games there, can they have this ready in 9 months? If they can, VERY impressive

[isaidso]

This stadium is going up fast.

[Jericho-79]

I visited Winnipeg just last week. I'd have to say that this new stadium is a pain in the arse to get to. You have to drive almost a half hour from downtown Winnipeg to the U of M campus, which is well south.