8°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Water coolers make Canad Inns stadium debut
Fans fill up water bottles at Canad Inns Stadium Friday night. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Security lines were long and Blue Bomber hospitality staff were out in numbers at last night’s home game, as stadium security rooted through patrons’ bags in search of food, alcohol and the dreaded bottled water.
Winnipeg Football Club CEO Garth Buchko was also out among the masses in an effort, he said, to make entry procedures run smoothly and to speak with fans who may be irked about the stadium’s new food and beverage policy.
"I’ve talked to over 40 fans, including people carrying baby bags -- 100 per cent satisfaction. There are going to be people that are not happy. I talked to one person who said ‘we’re not the NFL. Quit comparing us to the NFL.’ I gave him my business card and we’ll have coffee next week. That’s what we’re here for, to speak to the fans," Buchko said.
Season-ticket holders Connie Graham and Gerry Desmarais are among the many critics of the new policy, which bans fans from taking outside food and drink inside the stadium.
They said they are skeptical about the 10 new purified-water coolers that have been installed following the public outcry.
"We’ll see how convenient they are and how soon they run out of water," Desmarais said.
"And paying $3 for a 10 cent bottle of water is just wrong. We go through three or four a game. That’s too expensive," Graham added.
Loyal Bombers fan Dan Cassils said he wants Winnipeggers to quit picking on the organization and start cheering on the boys in blue and gold.
"I don’t like the negativity around the football club. We live in this day and age where we have to check. Security is security. People know the regulations, so why are they getting upset when they bring these things and get turned away?" Cassils said.
"Let’s focus on the Bombers and get them back in the race here. If they were 5 and 2, we wouldn’t be splitting hair about some water."
Lance Laufer, a season-ticket holder for 15 years, said he doesn’t blame the organization for implementing strict rules, but instead blames the loyal fans for following them.
"If they said we had to wear pink shorts to come and watch football, there would be 23,000 fans who would probably wear pink shorts. They know they have people who enjoy the game. As long as they have people who will cheer, they can make these rules."
Still, Laufner had practical concerns regarding the new food and beverage policy.
"What’s going to happen at Banjo Bowl when Roughriders fans come wearing the hollowed out watermelons on their heads? Does that count?"
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 27 articles for today)
Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
9:07 AM 0RCMP said today that the two people who died in a collision near Portage la Prairie Wednesday were a 21-year-old ...
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- New downtown tower could be 42 storeys tall: developers
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Vendor fired at Houston's Minute Maid Park after taking tray of snow cones into bathroom
- Richie Sambora furious with Jon Bon Jovi
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Youths in Stockholm burn down restaurant, torch more than 30 cars in 4th night of rioting
- Heritage Winnipeg hosting 10th annual Doors Open Winnipeg this weekend
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Vendor fired at Houston's Minute Maid Park after taking tray of snow cones into bathroom
- Underwood leaves fans blown away
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Creative industries can fuel a city's economic engine
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.