Winnipeg | NHL Jets

[bomberjet]

For me, driving or busing from North Kildonan to South Pembina is not ideal and can be the deciding factor on whether I want to go.

Where as going to Jets game. It's one bus for 20 mins to downtown.

Polo Park was much more central than the U of M. No sense in complaining now since it will be this way for the rest of my life.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by drew

There are almost infinitesimal more ways in and out of the Polo Park area (grid system) as compared to the 3 in and out of the current stadium. It's not a close comparison, even comically.

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't they have a "park and ride" system with the new BRT route?

I've attended football and hockey games in Edmonton and Calgary, and each time I go, I leave my vehicle by the nearest designated parking lot, and hop on the train to take me to the games.

Wouldn't that be a faster option for Bomber fans?

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

I've never understood this.

The Blue Bombers play 9 times a year, once per week on average. It is easily accessible to get to from transit, and easy for most people with vehicles. The other location that was discussed was at the Red River Ex grounds near Headingley.

With all due respect, it just sounds like a lazy reason not to attend games. The old stadium location was not great for people near the current location, or places like Windsor Park or Transcona, but that never kept people from attending games.

I can see an argument being made in regards to the Ice, since they play a 70 game schedule, but not for the Bombers.

So that's where I'm at. My laziness prevents me from traversing across town to the game. I still do it a couple times a year. But can't be bothered to di it 10 times per year.

Point Douglas or the Packers lands were being considered as sites. Headingly would be even worse than U of M.

Ideally, the stadium would've been built at Polo Park. But the whole failed redevelopment scheme prevented that. Polo Park is much more central than U of M. Current location caters to their desired fan base, south Winnipeggers.

[CoryB]

Legitimately if moving traffic in and out of the stadium proximity was a priority it would have been built on the Red River Ex site. That site can move a high volume of traffic and you barely even notice it.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

For me, driving or busing from North Kildonan to South Pembina is not ideal and can be the deciding factor on whether I want to go.

Where as going to Jets game. It's one bus for 20 mins to downtown.

Polo Park was much more central than the U of M. No sense in complaining now since it will be this way for the rest of my life.

It's only 24 extra minutes for a round trip.

PS....since I grew up near the U of M, here's a traffic tip:

After exiting northbound on Pembina from the Perimeter, turn right on Dalhousie Drive (or Killarney) and drive down Silverstone, until you are to either hit Kings drive, or a side street that brings you to University Crescent. Going through Fort Richmond will save you from traffic congestion on Chancellor Matheson Drive.

[drew]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Legitimately if moving traffic in and out of the stadium proximity was a priority it would have been built on the Red River Ex site. That site can move a high volume of traffic and you barely even notice it.

The Ex would have been just as bad as the UofM. Maybe even worse. One way out. Good lord. You'd be there all night.

[BlackDog204]

[dennis]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't they have a "park and ride" system with the new BRT route?

I've attended football and hockey games in Edmonton and Calgary, and each time I go, I leave my vehicle by the nearest designated parking lot, and hop on the train to take me to the games.

Wouldn't that be a faster option for Bomber fans?

It has been a while, but I have taken the park and ride from McPhillips Street Station to Bombers games before. Still a bit of a trip but convenient. Also did the Smitties special where you had the beer and the ride to the game. I don’t recall if there was food included…

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by drew

The Ex would have been just as bad as the UofM. Maybe even worse. One way out. Good lord. You'd be there all night.

1. The site plan actually has three ways out, granted two of them are onto Portage. Also Festival Dr and CCW both would need extensions on their planned routes but that would have happened.

2. That the Red River Ex site is literally at the Perimeter and HWY 1 west/Portage Ave east it sits right next to an intersection of two major roads both with very few flow restrictions on traffic. Further, if CCW extension as the planned Headingley bypass was completed you could literally get west past SFX without a traffic light.

The site has far superior traffic management as it is today compared to IG Field at U of M and with some small tweaks if it stadium had be built there the only thing people would be talking about is how far away it is from the east side of the city.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by CoryB

1. The site plan actually has three ways out, granted two of them are onto Portage. Also Festival Dr and CCW both would need extensions on their planned routes but that would have happened.

2. That the Red River Ex site is literally at the Perimeter and HWY 1 west/Portage Ave east it sits right next to an intersection of two major roads both with very few flow restrictions on traffic. Further, if CCW extension as the planned Headingley bypass was completed you could literally get west past SFX without a traffic light.

The site has far superior traffic management as it is today compared to IG Field at U of M and with some small tweaks if it stadium had be built there the only thing people would be talking about is how far away it is from the east side of the city.

It's not really that bad at the U of M. There are 4 ways of exiting- 2 from the south, one from the West, and one from the north. Unsure if there are restrictions to park on side streets in Fort Richmond, but that may be your best bet.

The other benefit, is that the BRT route has been completed, so I would imagine they have designated park and ride locations along the route.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

It's not really that bad at the U of M. There are 4 ways of exiting- 2 from the south, one from the West, and one from the north. Unsure if there are restrictions to park on side streets in Fort Richmond, but that may be your best bet.

The other benefit, is that the BRT route has been completed, so I would imagine they have designated park and ride locations along the route.

Here's the zones that are restricted to street parking on game days unless you apply for a special permit as a resident of those zones.

https://theparkingstore.winnipeg.ca/theparkingstore/pdfs/maps/stadiumzonemap.pdf

Essentially a 10 min brisk walk radius.

I see a lot of people that go just outside that and walk in. Gives you an extra 30 or so minutes of walking.

And yes, there are a lot of park and rides throughout the city if bussing in works better for you.

I do think the U of M site is better than the Red River Ex. They have similar roadways going in/out (sorry Cory B, I don't buy that the current layout would move way more traffic than U of M does), but that the BRT line was built to the U of M and serves the stadium on game days very well.

I really doubt the stadium at the Ex site would have drastically shifted our city's current snail pace on building dedicated transit infrastructure to have a proper BRT line out there by this point.

[esquire]

^ That's a good point WildCake, IG Field has excellent access by both transit and bicycle/AT. Every game, hordes of people use those modes. The Bomber bike valet has hundreds, if not thousands of bikes for pretty well every game except maybe the playoffs, when there is usually snow on the ground.

Even though the Jets, Moose and Goldeyes play downtown, I'd wager that the Bombers blow them both out of the water in terms of the percentage of fans going to games by bus/bike/on foot.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ That's a good point WildCake, IG Field has excellent access by both transit and bicycle/AT. Every game, hordes of people use those modes. The Bomber bike valet has hundreds, if not thousands of bikes for pretty well every game except maybe the playoffs, when there is usually snow on the ground.

Even though the Jets, Moose and Goldeyes play downtown, I'd wager that the Bombers blow them both out of the water in terms of the percentage of fans going to games by bus/bike/on foot.

And car. Loads of cars.

Whatever your maps tell you, it is way easier for me to go to Polo park than U of M. Nevermind someone from Garden City or the Maples. The stadium in the south end is less accessible overall to the City than Polo. If I really wanted to go to every game, I'd go. But it's my laziness preventing me I guess.

[bomberjet]

Anywho, back to the Jets. Got my tickets for playoffs. $90 a pop.

See you at game 3 and 6. Maybe game 4 if nobody buys it.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by WildCake

Here's the zones that are restricted to street parking on game days unless you apply for a special permit as a resident of those zones.

https://theparkingstore.winnipeg.ca/theparkingstore/pdfs/maps/stadiumzonemap.pdf

Essentially a 10 min brisk walk radius.

I see a lot of people that go just outside that and walk in. Gives you an extra 30 or so minutes of walking.

And yes, there are a lot of park and rides throughout the city if bussing in works better for you.

I do think the U of M site is better than the Red River Ex. They have similar roadways going in/out (sorry Cory B, I don't buy that the current layout would move way more traffic than U of M does), but that the BRT line was built to the U of M and serves the stadium on game days very well.

I really doubt the stadium at the Ex site would have drastically shifted our city's current snail pace on building dedicated transit infrastructure to have a proper BRT line out there by this point.

I still remember 30 years ago, when my Dad and I would park a block from the old railroad bridge in River Heights, and just walk across down empress to the stadium. It took 20 minutes each way, and really, it's not bad. Many people in the area were doing this. To say that walking 10+ minutes each way is why one would not attend Bomber games, is pretty lazy.

PS...I just checked out that parking map. A good idea may be to park at Superstore just off Bison Drive, and walk across Pembina to the stadium.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Anywho, back to the Jets. Got my tickets for playoffs. $90 a pop.

See you at game 3 and 6. Maybe game 4 if nobody buys it.

Game 6 sold out yet?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Anywho, back to the Jets. Got my tickets for playoffs. $90 a pop.

See you at game 3 and 6. Maybe game 4 if nobody buys it.

Game 6? I thought the Jets sweep teams in the First Round.

Only slightly kidding. I picked the Jets to knock off Vegas in our office hockey pool.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Game 6? I thought the Jets sweep teams in the First Round.

Only slightly kidding. I picked the Jets to knock off Vegas in our office hockey pool.

I only bet against the Jets historically.

That way I look at the glass half full:

-if the Jets lose, then I do well in my draft
-if the Jets win, I am convinced they did so, due to me betting against them.

[bomberjet]

Hopefully there is a game 6 otherwise it means Jets are done. haha Game 6 had single seats plus 20 or 30 tickets left in the Budweiser Lounge.

Decent amount of tickets available on FansFirst or Stubhub. Prices well above cost.

[harls]

I hope they can pull out at least one win in Vegas. Go Jets.