Stadium huddle still going on

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The new Bombers and Bisons football stadium on the U of M's Fort Garry campus is expected to have major cost overruns even before construction starts.

It was a day of high-stakes talks that at one point had the new football stadium's roof in danger of being shelved in order to cut costs.

But after the back and forth and political wrangling, there was agreement to move forward with the new home for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as proposed and deal with cost overruns as they arise.

Still, no earth has been moved at the construction site more than two months after a ceremonial groundbreaking and with a completion deadline of spring 2012 creeping closer.

Premier Greg Selinger said cost over-runs on the still-pending project are a reality and the partners are looking at ways to manage those expenses.

"I think what the debate is right now is everyone wants to see what the final numbers are and to ensure as the project moves forward that it still meets all the aspirations to have a first-class facility," Selinger said. "I haven't had a number given to me. I've just been informed that there are pressures there.

"That would be the discussion with the partners on what the final elements of the design would be. But everybody wants it to be a first-class facility."

Negotiations on an agreement between the various project partners that would finally allow construction on the original design to begin are expected to conclude sometime next week.

However, at different points Thursday, the much-anticipated stadium project faced major delays and substantial design changes.

The proposed $115-million stadium, to be built on the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus, is expected to have major cost overruns before digging has even begun and the project partners have been looking for a way to manage the design and bottom line.

Developer Creswin Properties is responsible for any cost overruns on the project. However, with cost estimates now in the neighbourhood of $139 million for the original design, there was talk of altering the stadium concept.

The project is a partnership between the U of M, the Blue Bombers, the City of Winnipeg, the provincial government and the Asper family real estate firm, Creswin Properties.

Creswin has been poised to start work on the stadium for weeks but has yet to begin digging.

Selinger says there's no confusion about who is responsible for any cost overruns.

"There's no question the commitment was made by the private partner, Creswin, to cover the cost overruns, and that's a commitment we fully support and I understand Mr. (David) Asper fully supports that," the premier said. "I think what they want to do now is bring all the numbers to the table and get a final sense of what the numbers are and see if there are cost pressures and how they might be managed. But the ultimate responsibility for any cost over-runs is with the private partner."

Blue Bombers chairman Bill Watchorn says design changes are part of a project this size, but he would demand the football club have a say in any substantive changes, such as altering roof coverage.

"Any major changes, that's something we'd have to resolve," Watchorn said. "We won't really know the cost of the project until late August or early September and we'll deal with cost increases or design changes as they occur."

Selinger said the project partners will need to look at cost projections before they can agree on what the stadium will actually look like and contain.

"My understanding is tenders are being finalized and numbers are being looked at, and as you know, the private partner, Mr. Asper, has made the commitment to handle any cost overruns," Selinger said. "So once all the numbers are lined up, people will sit down and see what's there and what the final design will be."

The premier said there is wiggle room on stadium specifics.

"We want a stadium that meets the needs for a long time of Manitobans that want to be football fans and support the Bombers. When we first started this off, there was an interest in what quality of facility we would provide. We want it to be a high-quality facility that provides a first-class fan experience for people that want to go to Bombers games," Selinger said. "We think the bowl design, with it being sunk in the ground and being able to walk in the front entrance and have a look at the playing field and to be able to go to the concessions and move around and always have a good visual of the playing field, is going to dramatically improve the fan experience."

Creswin chairman Asper had no comment Thursday.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz was also unavailable.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

The original plan

Here are the original stadium specifics from Creswin's www.blueandgold.ca stadium website:

PREMIUM YEAR-ROUND, MULTI-USE STADIUM:

33,000 spacious seats with cup holders (expandable to 40,000-plus seats for Grey Cups)

Approximately 25-foot-deep, in-ground bowl with 20,000 seats in the lower-bowl area, plus overhead weather protection for 80 per cent of fans

Covered, grade-level concourse with sweeping 360-degree views of the field from concession areas

Enclosed perimeter for complete wind protection

Top-quality food concessions featuring traditional and healthy-living choices

Significantly enhanced and conveniently located washroom facilities

Elevators and escalators, and accessibility based on national disability standards

40 private suites and four large group-event facilities

5,000-square-foot club lounges located on both sides of the field in the lower bowl

State-of-the-art private media facilities

Modern team offices, locker-rooms, coaching facilities; dedicated individual training facilities for exclusive use of each the Bombers and U of M Bisons

Bombers/Bisons 3,500-square-foot retail operation

Inflatable "bubble" for use during winter months by amateur sports and community

PLENTIFUL PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS:

7,000 existing on-campus parking spaces

'Fan-Tram' service to transport fans between parking lots

Fully served by Winnipeg Transit

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT AND FAN SERVICES:

Integrated football theme across stadium site

On-site food-service kiosks

Year-round restaurant and sports lounge with at-the-door valet drop-off

WORLD-CLASS FITNESS CENTRE:

New facility for U of M and community use

Features top-line equipment

Built on Fort Garry campus and operated by U of M

Replaces existing facilities at Frank Kennedy Centre (known as the Gritty Grotto)

BOMBERS/BISONS PRIDE EXPERIENCE:

Walk of Fame

Interactive fan and player art installations

Exterior commemorative displays of Bombers/Bisons championships

SALUTING BOMBERS - PAST AND PRESENT

Permanent Blue Bombers Hall of Fame & Exhibition

Alumni-supported heritage retail store

Permanent "be a player" interactive exhibition for fans

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY:

Co-operate with Sport Manitoba to promote amateur sport at all levels

Create student internships and employment opportunities

Promote volunteerism with enhanced Winnipeg Football Club training programs

Establish permanent, standing Grey Cup host committee

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 30, 2010 A3