Football fans need not worry. David Asper has said he expects to meet his 2012 deadline for completion of the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium.
“Planning for the stadium is progressing very well, both in terms of the basics, such as the site surveying that some may have seen over the past couple of weeks on campus, as well as the detailed design process,” said Asper.
“From the outset, we had included a high degree of flexibility in our budget numbers and continue to move forward with the challenging but achievable task of creating a terrific facility with fan comfort and game day experience foremost in mind.”
This comes as good news for Bison Football coach Brian Dobie, who has said the team is in need of new facilities.
“It is next to desperate measures at this point,” said Dobie.
Dobie explained that both the visitors locker room and the Bisons’ locker room are “about as rock-bottom as you can get” and that the grass field is currently inappropriate for competitions.
If and when the stadium is completed, Dobie has said the team would have one of the best sports complexes in the country.
“In terms of the world of football, there is unquestionably no university that would have what we would have, a brand new state of the art stadium,” said Dobie.
“I can’t even exaggerate what this project means to us. It’s the best thing since sliced bread.”
Although Bison Sports does not currently have any formal agreement with David Asper or the Asper’s real estate company, Crestwin Properties, Asper stated that he and his team have developed a very strong relationship with the Blue Bomber Board and staff.
He also said that he and his team are working to ensure the construction of a great facility and a smooth transition, and look forward to an equally productive relationship with Bison Sports when the time is appropriate.
In April 2009, the opening of the stadium was slated for the start of the 2011 football season, but a 12-month extension was announced in October 2009.
According to Asper, the delay was a result of the U.S. recession, which has slowed the progress of the companion retail development at Polo Park shopping centre that will help pay for the stadium.
“The interest by retailers has been very strong although, as a result of the U.S. recession, their planning for new stores has been delayed until overall sales start to improve on a sustainable basis,” said Asper.
Dobie explained that he has not been in communication with the university administration recently, and is not currently involved in any direct way with the progress of the stadium.
“Every time I drive out of the parking lot, [ . . . ] I just picture the Winnipeg stadium sitting right there,” said Dobie.
“It is unbelievable for our program. It’s incredible. But where does it stand literally today? I can’t tell you. I don’t know.”
When asked if the financial situation of Canwest has in anyway affected the progress on the stadium Barbara Biggar, a spokesperson for Asper, said the two were “totally unrelated.”
Currently the U of M is still involved in talks about the stadium, said John Danakas, director of public affairs at the U of M.
He continued, “Discussions are ongoing. There was an extension given to the Crestwin Group, who were going to take on much of the financing of the project, and that’s the phase that we’re at right now.”
