Muddy pit becoming money pit

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/10/2010 (5789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The latest gossip concerning our muddy little pit at the University of Manitoba has the price tag of a new football stadium coming in around the $160-million mark.

That’s about $45-million over the number originally floated by stakeholders in this project and, if correct, is likely cause for major stress.

The rubber is about to hit the road as developer Creswin Properties wraps up the tendering stage and comes out with a final price projection. After months of promises and second guessing, we’re about to find out what our stadium will cost and what it will look like or if it will move forward at all.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers chair Bill Watchorn told the Free Press an official cost structure should be released any day now.

“I can’t tell you what the number is because it’s not final. It’s coming down as we eliminate duplication,” said Watchorn. “I would expect we’ll have a number as soon as the end of this week or the beginning of next.”

The issue, should the project cost anything more than the $115-million Creswin agreed to in a memo of understanding between the five partners — the city, the province, the U of M, the Blue Bombers and Creswin — is what happens next.

Will extra cash be raised to deliver the stadium specifics originally proposed or will the design be downgraded to come in at the original price?

If it’s extra money a whole host of questions needs to be asked, from “Where does it come from?” to “Who should own the Bombers when this deal is complete?”

Funding

If the province and city end up contributing more funding, the question of what role the private sector is actually playing needs to be answered.

Public funds as well as the land provided by the U of M could potentially make up close to half the cost of the project.

If it’s a scaled back design, the biggest question is, ‘Do we want it?’ The answer should be an unequivocal, ‘No.’

This will be our gathering place for football games and major concerts for the next 50 or so years. It needs to live up to the promise of this province. And it has to look, smell and taste first class.

Cutting close to $50-million from the stadium we have come to believe will be ours as represented through drawings, models and detailed specifics should make football fans shudder.

Developer Creswin Properties cried foul when confronted with reports of a major increase in stadium expenses.

“For 10 days now, we have been fighting untrue, inflammatory numbers on stadium costs that are clearly being floated to media outlets in order to make mischief on the project. This conduct and inability to keep confidences while we work through the complex tendering process is both highly unprofessional and disturbing,” wrote Creswin President Dan Edwards in an email to the Free Press.

“As we have repeatedly told other journalists who were pitched this same false story, we are currently working through the more than 100 tender packages to evaluate the bids as to their precision and to determine whether there is any overlap. We are being thorough and taking as much time as necessary in order to bring the overall number in as low as possible while still maintaining our commitment to construct a first-class stadium, as originally proposed.”

Mayor Sam Katz says as soon he gets the numbers, so will you.

“I’m waiting for a final number to come in. My understanding is Creswin is completing its due diligence and expect to have a number in the near future,” said Katz. “At that time, myself and (Premier Greg Selinger) will go through the numbers. And as I’ve said before, I’m fully prepared to make the numbers public…”

Premier Greg Selinger said Tuesday his office has not been informed of the stadium’s new price tag.

“As I understand it, the Bombers and Creswin are sitting down together and looking at what options they can provide to move the project forward,” he said. “We’re waiting for their proposals to come back to us on what the number is, and how they think it can be addressed.”

St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel said if the costs have risen, the city, province and Creswin will have to sit down and determine who will pay for the stadium — and even whether the project will go ahead.

“Those are the questions that have to be answered,” said Swandel, who has repeatedly vowed to vote against a stadium with fewer amenities.

The end is near, folks. One way or another.

— with files from Bartley Kives and Bruce Owen

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca