Bombers admit a lot of work to do

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This article was published 13/06/2013 (4478 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Football Club has apologized to fans for the first Game Day experience at Investors Group Field, the $200-million new stadium at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus.

Football club president and CEO Garth Buchko said Bomber fans expect more than what they received at Wednesday night’s pre-season tilt against the Toronto Argonauts, which was marred by traffic congestion, transit delays, unopen concessions and construction materials and equipment scattered about the stadium site.

The club expected 5,200 fans to go to the game by bus, but Winnipeg Transit estimated 8,500 actually did so, transit director Dave Wardrop said.

This led transit to boost its charter numbers following the game.

Transit will consider temporary diamond lanes for buses in the future, while the football club is considering hiring Winnipeg police officers to help direct traffic.

The club, transit, police and the University of Manitoba are all meeting to find ways to improve traffic, parking and bus service at future games, Bomber chief operations officer Jim Bell said.

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About one quarter of the Investors Group Field concession staff could not make it to the game on time, resulting in only partial concession service, Buchko said.

He also apologized for the presence of construction materials, noting he himself was sweeping dust one hour before the game.