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Construction continues at Investors Group Field. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Trevor Hagan (CP)

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   • Drama finally over -- thanks

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Bombers president and CEO Garth Buchko says the uncertainty about the opening date of Investors Group Field wasn't fair to the organization or fans, so he decided to postpone it to next year. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Facing another hazy construction deadline and a fast-approaching CFL season, Garth Buchko finally pulled the plug on any hope of playing football at Investors Group Field this year.

The Blue Bombers president and CEO ended months of speculation and debate with the announcement that the new $190-million facility would not be ready for the 2012 season.

The Bombers will remain at Canad Inns Stadium for the duration of this year before moving into the 33,500-seat facility at the University of Manitoba in 2013.

"(The uncertainty) is not fair to our organization and certainly not fair to our fans," Buchko told reporters Friday afternoon.

"Therefore, I have recommended to the Winnipeg Football Club board of directors that we play our first game at Investors Group Field in 2013."

Originally, the Bombers were hoping to get into the new stadium for the July 26 home game.

In May, facing noticeable delays and relaying information provided from Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd., the company handling the build, Buchko altered that projection to a September opening. The aim was to get into the facility for the Banjo Bowl, or shortly thereafter, and the handful of remaining home dates.

Friday's announcement comes as the new stadium's steel canopy construction is at least a month behind schedule. Until the cranes are out of the bowl, Stuart Olson cannot address the field, creating further delays.

Recent rainfall has added to the holdup, as crews needed five days to pump the pooling water out of the bowl before they could continue work.

Earlier this week, Stuart Olson, which is on the hook for cost overruns, approached the club looking for a new target completion date. That's when the decision was made to scrap plans for football in the new facility this season.

"They came back to me with an unpredictable timeline, which again left us in a position to not have certainty," Buchko said. "At this point, I am not comfortable with anything but a certain date."

He was asked if everyone involved was too ambitious about the construction schedule.

"I didn't create the timeline," he said. "I'm accountable to the timeline, so yes, it's unfortunate, but for those who created the timeline, they must have had their reasons, and I support what those reasons are."

One reason, maybe the most important one, is money. Because of the increased revenue streams it stood to reap by moving into the new facility, the club was reluctant to close the book on playing the 2012 football season at Investors Group Field. Yet Stuart Olson officials spoke earlier this month of the dim prospect of reaching the September goal.

Although the Bombers have put some finality on when the move to the new stadium will occur, one thing that remains grey is the revenue from season tickets and corporate sponsorships the club stands to lose by not getting into the new facility.

Selling the fans and partners on the lavish upgrades and comforts of Investors Group Field, the Bombers raised season-ticket prices 10 per cent and corporate sponsorships rates also increased this off-season. But with things remaining status quo, the team has rolled back ticket prices to 2011 levels.

That means the club will have to readjust its financials, knowing they have to credit a portion of sponsor dollars and season-ticket revenue back, or in some cases, provide refunds to those completely jaded with the stadium drama.

Buchko wouldn't disclose how much revenue the club will lose by staying at Canad Inns Stadium.

The other football team caught in the stadium uncertainty, the Manitoba Bisons, was still exploring their options Friday on where to play.

The Bombers have offered a rent-free Canad Inns Stadium, but a spokesman for the Herd said the program is leaning towards playing its 2012 home schedule at University Stadium.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

training camp report C3

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 16, 2012 C1