It has been called “awesome” and “spectacular”, among other adjectives. It rises above the Winnipeg skyline with its unique double-canopy design, a landmark structure that is visible from many parts of the city.
A highly respected local financial company ponied up big dollars in a 12-year naming rights agreement. It is the first new football stadium in Canada since the Skydome (now Rogers Center) was built in Toronto in 1989. And it can be argued that Skydome was built primarily as a new home for the Toronto Blue Jays, not the CFL’s Argos.
And so, it is understandable that the citizens of Winnipeg and Manitoba are chest-thumping proud of “Investors Group Field”, the new home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the U. of Manitoba Bisons.
It has been worth the wait.
Construction on the stadium that would replace the Blue Bombers home since the mid 1950’s, antiquated Canad-Inns stadium, was scheduled to begin in 2009 until a plan spearheaded by David Asper fell apart or was scuttled, depending on your point of view.
The stadium deal underwent significant change, and finally, construction began in 2010 with the province footing most of the 200-million dollar bill, and the Bombers promising to pay back 85-million of that over a 40-year period.
Stuart Olson Dominion Construction promised completion by September of 2012, and the Blue Bombers were hopeful it would actually be finished in time for the 2012 season.
But a series of delays related to a series of issues forced the football club and its fans to wait an extra year. Finally, on June 12th when the Toronto Argonauts came to town for a pre-season game, Investors Group field was unveiled to the world at large.
Investors group field will seat 33,422 fans with close to 80 per cent of those seats covered by the East and West Side canopies. Those canopies are 57 meters above the ground and basically dangle from tension cables that support them from above.
As a result, there are no columns to obstruct the view of and fans. The stadium features a bowl layout with the playing surface 8 meters below ground with seats surrounding the entire field – 22,000 of them below ground.
An open concourse encircles the stadium, and the Bombers proudly tell everyone that no matter where you are on the concourse, you will have an unrestricted view of the field. No more missing half a quarter of action because you had to go “under the stands” to buy your beer or hot dog as in Canad-Inns stadium.
Because of the “bowl” effect, there are only 52 rows of seats. This means that even if you are sitting in the last row, you are much closer to the field than you would be in most stadiums. The field, which was put down in late 2012, is made from the most advanced version of Astro-turf. There are two majestic video replay boards, one at either end.
The 46 private suites have all been sold, and there are loges surrounding the stadium on the concourse that feature four private seats at each station. These are also all sold. And as of this writing, the Bombers had sold an all-time high amount of season tickets.
The facilities for the players and coaches at Investors Group Field are second to none. Bombers head coach Tim Burke and his staff have more offices and meeting rooms than they know what to do with. 
There is an actual “theatre” where players and coaches can watch film on a big screen. There is a players’ lounge and training and treatment facilities that would be the envy of many pro sports teams in North America.
And the Bombers aren’t the only beneficiaries. Long time University of Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie is ecstatic over his clubs facilities, which are just down the hall from the Bombers.
From the moment you make the drive to Winnipeg’s new sporting palace at the Unversity of Manitoba, until you step inside the gates, stroll the concourse, sit in the roomy, comfortable seats with the tremendous site lines, you are left with a feeling of awe.
There is a pronounced “wow” factor.
And so, as football fans in Manitoba get set to enjoy their sensational new stadium, they should hold a thought for David Asper and former Bomber President and GM Lyle Bauer.
The moment Bauer arrived in Winnipeg in 2000 he began beating the drums for a new stadium. Asper was right there in joining Bauer to take up the cause, and there can be no doubt that Asper’s persistence is ultimately what made the stadium project a reality . It would only be appropriate for the Bombers to pay some form of tribute to Asper when the stadium is officially christened.
