Investors Group Field | Winnipeg

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by esquire

When I was in Saskatoon last month I took a stroll around the new arena and the stadium and I saw that hotel. It's pretty nice, it towers over the football field.

For those who haven't seen it, it's in the upper left corner of this photo:

Something like that would be ideal for the U of M.

Off topic, but if the Saskatoon CPL team will be playing at that stadium next year I think they would have to add some temporary turf over the track as the dimensions of a soccer field are about 30 feet wider than a Canadian football field. It looks like the turf ends just outside the sideline boundaries.

Then again, maybe the CSL will just allow them to use a slightly smaller than regulation field.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by esquire

For what it's worth the southern area of the city seems relatively underserved with respect to hotels. Pretty well all of the hotels in the south end are refreshed early 70s properties... the CanadInns (former Ramada), the Four Points, and then it's downhill from those not so lofty heights to the Econo Lodge and the Queen Bee and the Comfort Inn.

Considering how busy the area is between the university, stadium and SmartPark it seems to me that it could easily handle one new hotel.

I guess there are two new hotels in that general vicinity, but they are more to the southwest in the Seasons of Tuxedo development... a bit of a hike away from the U of M.

The Four Points is nice. Their reno in 2008/2009 more or less gutted the existing building and then expanded. The old Palladium replaced by a great banquet facility lol Some more renos coming soon.

[Winnipeg Grump]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Hotel's on U campuses make a lot of sense. Revenue for the institution from unused land and an amenity for what is really a small city.

U of S has a new hotel next to its football stadium and hockey Arena.

Another major use for the hotel would be to service all of the rural families that come in to the city for events using the fieldhouse and Max Bell (volleyball, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, etc.)

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by Winnipeg Grump

Another major use for the hotel would be to service all of the rural families that come in to the city for events using the fieldhouse and Max Bell (volleyball, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, etc.)

I could imagine a hotel just north of the stadium transit station, with an additional bridge to span over the bus loop. Right on the stadium site, across the street from U of M's athletic facilities and a short walk from the rest of Campus, while walking out to essentially the best transit the city has to offer.

[CoryB]

I would guess another possible hotel location at IG Field would be on the parking lot immediately to the west of the stadium as in more or less an addition to the stadium.

It is interesting to hear U of M put out at RFP for a hotel when David Asper has the rights to develop a hotel there. So wouldn't it be Asper that would be putting out the RFP and not the U of M?

[Biff]

I will try to look it up, it was a couple of years ago. I can’t remember if it went out or was proposed to come out but never did with the onset of the pandemic. It definitely want by David Asper or a private company.

[esquire]

If the plan gets resurrected, I think it would be perfect for the corner of Chancellor Matheson and University. SW side. It would help define the street wall around that intersection. Plus it's a convenient location for people at the stadium or the U of M, and it's close to Pembina as well as the transit corridor.

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by esquire

Interesting, do you know any details?

Sorry for late response but here is a description of the project and it's more of an Airbnb type of service then a traditional hotel with residential units as well.

A very unique development will soon be constructed in Bridgewater Center. A three-story mixed-use, commercial, apartment and hotel complex will be built on the east side of Centre Street, between Jacob’s Creek Road and Park East Drive. The ground floor will host up to six commercial units, the second story will be home to 43 hotel rooms with 49 residential dwelling units on the third story. Roughly 80 to 90 per cent of the apartments and hotel rooms will be 500 sq. ft..

The hotel component differs from a short-term rental model, such as an Airbnb, in that the building will comply with accommodation tax and regulations surrounding parking and traffic. The hotel won’t have its own restaurant and lounge, instead guest will access and support existing local restaurants and shopping locations in the commercial areas of Bridgwater Center. Through a mobile app, guests will be able book their suite online, access the building and access their suite. A total of 151 parking stalls will be constructed, 37 more than the by law requires.

[esquire]

Thank you... that picture jogged my memory, now I remember seeing it here before.

[rkspec]

New turf in the works

[dennis]

I wonder if a renovation of University Stadium would be feasible for the Valour football club. I wonder if it would be better than the cavernous Princess Auto Stadium and attract more customers.

[bomberjet]

They're also redoing the ribbon boards. Hopefully they at least go to the end of the upper concourse.

I think it would be neat to have the ribbon go all the way around like a ring in arenas. A halo. Kind of floating in the air between the re-max sign and rum hut in the image, as an example.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by dennis

I wonder if a renovation of University Stadium would be feasible for the Valour football club. I wonder if it would be better than the cavernous Princess Auto Stadium and attract more customers.

Ownership, rent and facilities such as concessions could all be factors keeping the Valour playing out of Princess Auto. The Bombers and the Valour are the same organization and a lead stakeholder in BBB Inc (stadium owners). Unless the University Stadium was included in BBB Inc it is owned by U of M. Also is the plan for Bison football to move their games back to University Stadium?

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Ownership, rent and facilities such as concessions could all be factors keeping the Valour playing out of Princess Auto. The Bombers and the Valour are the same organization and a lead stakeholder in BBB Inc (stadium owners). Unless the University Stadium was included in BBB Inc it is owned by U of M. Also is the plan for Bison football to move their games back to University Stadium?

Not sure why the Bisons would move their games back to the University stadium. It's quite dated, the field is a goose's paradise and in poor condition, and fan services like concession and washrooms are verging on unacceptable. If the U of M can use PAS, then there's little incentive to modernize.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by WildCake

Not sure why the Bisons would move their games back to the University stadium. It's quite dated, the field is a goose's paradise and in poor condition, and fan services like concession and washrooms are verging on unacceptable. If the U of M can use PAS, then there's little incentive to modernize.

University stadium should honestly be torn down and redeveloped. Could be a good spot for a new residency building.

[Goldie]

IG Field = Biggest waste of taxpayer money in Manitoba history

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by WildCake

Not sure why the Bisons would move their games back to the University stadium. It's quite dated, the field is a goose's paradise and in poor condition, and fan services like concession and washrooms are verging on unacceptable. If the U of M can use PAS, then there's little incentive to modernize.

My response was more directed to the post from dennis suggesting Valour move to University Stadium. I cannot imagine there is a reason for either Bison football or Valour to move to University Stadium. Otherwise of being used as a venue for outdoor track and field it seems to have very limited useful function left.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by Goldie

IG Field = Biggest waste of taxpayer money in Manitoba history

I certainly wouldn't say the biggest waste. It wasn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things and with event sales taxes and sin taxes on the booze at the point of purchase from the supplier for ten years I can guarantee the investments have been paid off in full and then some.

[optimusREIM]

I think that IGF was a bit of a debacle and it wasn't the most transparent public project of all time, but I can certainly think of worse things to spend public dollars on . At least we got an amenity for the city out of it, and a really nice one.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Don't feed the troll! Princess Auto stadium may have had a few hiccups but it's been proven to be one of the best in the league.