Investors Group Field | Winnipeg

[trueviking]

It's an odd article. Garry obviously isn't well versed in the legalities of construction. Funny he says the architect's renderings had deficiencies. I think he meant construction drawings.

The arguments that the client knew about deficiencies, the timeline was rushed and the budget insufficient are not likely to be an acceptable defence. None of those things forgive negligence.

Issues like the the press boxes not meeting cfl requirements are unfortunate but not likely winable in a lawsuit. It was an added cost but they didn't pay for something they didn't get. Same with the sprinkler system and plumbing insulation.

The owners need to prove negligence. They need to show that mistakes were made beyond what is typically acceptable. Having to add exit stairs from the field for concerts, probably not, tearing out all the handrails, probably. No drains in the upper deck, probably.

It will be interesting to see where it ends. BBB cast a wide net and threw everything at the wall. How much sticks we will see.

[Dillweed]

Remember when Asper was going to build this stadium and the budget was $135 million. When I read that I said to myself "WTF kinda stadium are they gonna get for that price. Even spending $200 million I'm not too surprised to hear about these repairs needed for IGF Field, It sounds to me that there were corners cut and rushed from the beginning.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by Dillweed

Remember when Asper was going to build this stadium and the budget was $135 million. When I read that I said to myself "WTF kinda stadium are they gonna get for that price. Even spending $200 million I'm not too surprised to hear about these repairs needed for IGF Field, It sounds to me that there were corners cut and rushed from the beginning.

That doesn't explain the major oversights in design, the shoddy workmanship, the delays, and the poor location chosen for the stadium!

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

That doesn't explain the major oversights in design, the shoddy workmanship, the delays, and the poor location chosen for the stadium!

It was always a horrible location. At the least, it's better than the half-baked idea to put the Stadium in the middle of Point Douglas. To reroute roads, underground facilities, and construct a footbridge from St.Boniface, would ahve set us back $600 million.

Why did they not just accept the Canada Inns design near Assiniboia Downs?

[snowmobile]

Federal $$$ only at the university site

[CoryB]

1. The proposal CanadInns submitted was actually for the former Canada Packers site, including a fully covered stadium which would have caused funding issues and was a plan that even to outsiders seemed to not be well developed (ie cost similar to IGF but with a full roof).

2. I still maintain the Downs/Red River Ex site would have been ideal. The site has minimal traffic issues with the Ex already. With the Headingly by-pass being built just north of the site they could have built an interchange and helped traffic move even more efficiently.

3. In terms of the federally money, saying it could only happen at U of M is false. U of M could have declared whatever site they wanted as a "new sports focused campus location". Maybe I missed something there...

[esquire]

U of M was fine, they just had to make sure the road and transit transportation infrastructure was there before the stadium opened. In classic Winnipeg style, neither got done.

On the road front, the City caved to the NIMBYs south of the U of M and effectively blocked off an area where people could have parked and then dispersed through after games. No new road infrastructure at all that I can think of either apart from, IIRC, expanding the turn lanes from Pembina to Chancellor Matheson. Things that probably should have been done include turning University Cr. and Chancellor Matheson to 6 lane roads with proper AT paths so that peds/cyclists don't block traffic.

On the transit front, the SW transitway will be built a full 7 years after the stadium, although the actual IGF BRT station will open for 2017.

The stadium site is manageable and not really any less convenient than Polo Park in terms of where it's situated in the city, but when you do next to zero infrastructure upgrades to handle the influx of game traffic, it's not surprising that it will cause a few bumps. But for what it's worth, the process has become much smoother since the first few games at IGF in 2013... remember, even the old Winnipeg Stadium caused monster traffic jams when it first opened in 1953, and there were only around 12,000 seats back then.

[CoryB]

U of M was less than an ideal site for the stadium. In order to access the site all traffic needs to funnel through Pembina HWY at some point. Even without the extra stadium traffic that route already had capacity issues.

In terms of infrastructure, you really did not need more lanes, you just need to convert the existing two-ways roads into event time one-way streets.

In terms of active transportation, that is where the plan was truly short changed. After the missing transit station the biggest missing piece is the pedestrian and active transportation bridge from the east side of campus to south St Vital. For Pembina access, instead of adding it along the existing roads put it next to the transit access they are adding.

Any sense on the interim plan for transit once the IGF station is built? I would guess that inbound will use University Crescent and take a small "temporary" spur on the north side of the statidum to arrive at the station. The outbound buses would then continue on the temporary spur back to Markham Rd and out to Pembina.

In terms of the station itself, I would imagine it will be one that allows buses to load and unload but depart individually. For example bus 1 arrives and starts unloading, then bus 2 pulls up, however bus 2 is unloaded first so it is free to pull out and leave while 1 continues to unload. This will matter more for departures than arrivals where some routes might fill up quicker than others. The other question is if the IGF station will become the primary transit site on the Fort Garry campus instead of the current loop used for non-event traffic.

In terms of traffic jams, I am sure MTS Centre would have been worse if people didn't have a few years to figure it out before the Jets came back.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by CoryB

U of M was less than an ideal site for the stadium. In order to access the site all traffic needs to funnel through Pembina HWY at some point. Even without the extra stadium traffic that route already had capacity issues.

In terms of infrastructure, you really did not need more lanes, you just need to convert the existing two-ways roads into event time one-way streets.

In terms of active transportation, that is where the plan was truly short changed. After the missing transit station the biggest missing piece is the pedestrian and active transportation bridge from the east side of campus to south St Vital. For Pembina access, instead of adding it along the existing roads put it next to the transit access they are adding.

Any sense on the interim plan for transit once the IGF station is built? I would guess that inbound will use University Crescent and take a small "temporary" spur on the north side of the statidum to arrive at the station. The outbound buses would then continue on the temporary spur back to Markham Rd and out to Pembina.

In terms of the station itself, I would imagine it will be one that allows buses to load and unload but depart individually. For example bus 1 arrives and starts unloading, then bus 2 pulls up, however bus 2 is unloaded first so it is free to pull out and leave while 1 continues to unload. This will matter more for departures than arrivals where some routes might fill up quicker than others. The other question is if the IGF station will become the primary transit site on the Fort Garry campus instead of the current loop used for non-event traffic.

In terms of traffic jams, I am sure MTS Centre would have been worse if people didn't have a few years to figure it out before the Jets came back.

Agreed. The U of M campus is effectively an island with only two routes in the way they restrict traffic on gameday, and three ways out. The two main ways out, and the only two ways in, rely on funneling traffic through Pembina. It's really no comparison to Polo Park or even the MTS Centre which could be exited in multiple ways in all directions.

I feel bad for several people I know, including my parents, who have mobility issues and will never again attend a Bomber game because of the dangerous mess that campus is on gameday. I feel fortunate that I am able to park far away from the stadium and walk onto the campus.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Danny D Oh

I feel bad for several people I know, including my parents, who have mobility issues and will never again attend a Bomber game because of the dangerous mess that campus is on gameday. I feel fortunate that I am able to park far away from the stadium and walk onto the campus.

If you are safe to drive of streets every day there is nothing that makes game day any more dangerous. Also if someone such as your parents has a documented medical issue limiting their mobility and has obtained a handicap parking permit the Bombers have access plans in place that include allowing people to be dropped off directly at Gate 1. In terms of accessibility for people with mobility issues IGF is significantly better than the old stadium could have ever dreamed.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by CoryB

If you are safe to drive of streets every day there is nothing that makes game day any more dangerous. Also if someone such as your parents has a documented medical issue limiting their mobility and has obtained a handicap parking permit the Bombers have access plans in place that include allowing people to be dropped off directly at Gate 1. In terms of accessibility for people with mobility issues IGF is significantly better than the old stadium could have ever dreamed.

Well, adults tend to enjoy having some independence. My parents aren't handicapped, they are just old and don't move as well. The one game I took them to we did the drop-off, and it was horrendous on both ends, way worse on the way out. It's not an impossibility for them to attend, it's just such a hassle to get onto campus, into the stadium, back to their vehicle (the extremely dangerous part for everyone, complete chaos) and eventually home that they won't go as much as they love football and the Bombers. They parked right next to the old stadium and were home in Transcona an hour after the game.

I agree that the stadium has more bells and whistles for people with mobility issues, but the ramps into the stadium are horrible for anyone in a wheelchair, great to gain some speed for a post-game drag race though.

[The Unknown Poster]

Dangerous? Not a chance. I live in South Winnipeg, been to the Stadium several times for events and driven the area during events when I wasnt attending. Its not remotely dangerous.

Maybe they should have built 5 stadiums and had one in every part of town, just to satisfy everyone. At the old site, I routinely sat in unmoving traffic for ages on route 90. I grew up on that and it was expected. You knew to leave very early to get to the game on time. You'd sit in traffic trying to leave too. A lot of people would park quite a distance and walk, or end up walking to a restaurant after to avoid the chaos of trying to get out of the area.

Other than the first few games when when they had legitimate issues that they overcame, despite the efforts of Kives to make it seem like the worst thing on planet earth, getting to and from IGF isnt bad at all.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Other than the first few games when when they had legitimate issues that they overcame, despite the efforts of Kives to make it seem like the worst thing on planet earth, getting to and from IGF isnt bad at all.

Yeah, the media really latched onto it with blanket coverage and made it seem much worse than it really was. After the first couple of games things operated much more smoothly. And let's face it, when you have 30,000 people leaving a place all at once, there are bound to be some delays and tie-ups.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Danny D Oh

Well, adults tend to enjoy having some independence. My parents aren't handicapped, they are just old and don't move as well.

If they truly have mobility issues anywhere near as serve as you suggest they would be eligible for a handicap parking pass and just need to fill in the paperwork. That said, if this was truly and issue that limited their ability to attend the odd game here and there I am sure the team would work with you to help facilitate things if given enough advance notice. You don't show up to an event in any city and except to have something like mobility issues addressed.

I know when I injured my foot and was limited in both how far I could travel and had to absolutely avoid stairs the Bombers worked with me to find a way I could attend a game and that was at the old stadium. At IGF I know the options have improved significantly across the board. Even if your parents could not secure the closest parking they could still take a park and ride to Transcona with the bus both dropping them off and picking them up right next to the stadium.

I do know that older parents can be a challenge to get to these events regardless of any issues. My own father turned down a ticket from me to attend a late season Black Hawks (v Jets) games this season and it had absolutely nothing to do with the facility, the seats, the transportation arrangements or anything. He would just much rather be sitting at home and watching on tv. I suspect the same is true for your parents and the Bombers as this is the best facility in the province for people with mobility issue to be able to attend events.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Dangerous? Not a chance. I live in South Winnipeg, been to the Stadium several times for events and driven the area during events when I wasnt attending. Its not remotely dangerous.

Better call them and tell them not to bother building the pedestrian infrastructure to address safety issues post-game on Chancellor Matheson since it is so safe.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by CoryB

If they truly have mobility issues anywhere near as serve as you suggest they would be eligible for a handicap parking pass and just need to fill in the paperwork. That said, if this was truly and issue that limited their ability to attend the odd game here and there I am sure the team would work with you to help facilitate things if given enough advance notice. You don't show up to an event in any city and except to have something like mobility issues addressed.

I know when I injured my foot and was limited in both how far I could travel and had to absolutely avoid stairs the Bombers worked with me to find a way I could attend a game and that was at the old stadium. At IGF I know the options have improved significantly across the board. Even if your parents could not secure the closest parking they could still take a park and ride to Transcona with the bus both dropping them off and picking them up right next to the stadium.

I do know that older parents can be a challenge to get to these events regardless of any issues. My own father turned down a ticket from me to attend a late season Black Hawks (v Jets) games this season and it had absolutely nothing to do with the facility, the seats, the transportation arrangements or anything. He would just much rather be sitting at home and watching on tv. I suspect the same is true for your parents and the Bombers as this is the best facility in the province for people with mobility issue to be able to attend events.

That's my point. Something they might want to address as I know they have lost a fair amount of those types of customers in the transition to the new facility, and according to a dubious market research survey the average age of a CFL fan is 58 years old. Gate-driven league. Several barriers to attend events at IGF have been added in comparison to the former facility.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by Danny D Oh

Better call them and tell them not to bother building the pedestrian infrastructure to address safety issues post-game on Chancellor Matheson since it is so safe.

If you are talking about the sidewalk ending on the north side of Chancellor Matheson halfway between the stadium and Pembina I agree. After the game, the lights at that intersection are blinking yellow so it's virtually impossible to cross over to the south side where the sidewalk continues all the way to Pembina. People end up walking on the edge of the street because there is a dropoff into a ditch once the sidewalk ends as you are walking westward on Chancellor. I'm waiting for the day that someone gets smacked by a bus while walking on the side of the road.

They need to fill in that ditch and build the sidewalk on the north side of Chancellor all the way to Pembina. New Ditch will have to be dug beside the sidewalk but I will be surprised if the city will spend the money.

[morty]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

If you are talking about the sidewalk ending on the north side of Chancellor Matheson halfway between the stadium and Pembina I agree. After the game, the lights at that intersection are blinking yellow so it's virtually impossible to cross over to the south side where the sidewalk continues all the way to Pembina. People end up walking on the edge of the street because there is a dropoff into a ditch once the sidewalk ends as you are walking westward on Chancellor. I'm waiting for the day that someone gets smacked by a bus while walking on the side of the road.

They need to fill in that ditch and build the sidewalk on the north side of Chancellor all the way to Pembina. New Ditch will have to be dug beside the sidewalk but I will be surprised if the city will spend the money.

They are actually doing that this year. The tender has already gone out. It includes a bit of roadwork, an active transportation path on the north side, and redoing the bus area along Chancellor Matheson.

They funded it by postponing the pathway along Waverley north of Bishop that was supposed to be built this year, though... An even more dangerous area.

[Biff]

The thread title really needs to be changed to "Investors Group Field"

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Biff

The thread title really needs to be changed to "Investors Group Field"

Yeah, wow, this thread is over 8 years old already... time flies.

On a related note, it was interesting to look back at the first few pages of the thread. While he wasn't right on the money with respect to David Asper finding a way to finagle ownership of the Bombers, tv definitely gets the Kreskin award for figuring out how the process would play out, more or less:

Originally Posted by trueviking

does anyone really think the aspers are going to drop a nickel to build a football stadium?....they had to cancel their 40 million dollar head office for their billion dollar company....now they are going to invest 200 million in what is basically charity?

my prediction is DA will buy, or simply take over the bombers for a song and then complain to the government for the next 15 years to build him a stadium...he might pay for another feasibility study and ask ray wan to get his offshore rent-a-rendering service to ship over a few glossy images from india.

the aspers are a lot of talk, but not much action.

Originally Posted by trueviking

aspers plan is not 120 million...that drawing he showed was easily 200+