Winnipeg to host Grey Cup, or not

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This article was published 05/02/2011 (5357 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz says the Grey Cup will return to Winnipeg in 2014 — but the Canadian Football League has tossed a red flag at the claim.

On Friday, Katz suggested the CFL championship will be held at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ new home at the University of Manitoba as part of the Winnipeg Football Club’s plan to repay its portion of the 33,000-seat stadium’s $190-million price tag.

“Won’t it be great when Canada gathers together in Winnipeg for the 2014 Grey Cup in our new state-of-the-art stadium?” Katz mused during his annual state of the city speech at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Following the address to about 1,100 people at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce event, Katz said he believes the date is firm.

“I thought everybody knew that,” he told reporters. “From my point of view, that’s exactly what the deal was always supposed to be a part of — 2014, a Grey Cup in our new, state-of-the-art stadium.”

The Canadian Football League, however, is not on side with the mayor about what would be the 102nd Grey Cup.

“Grey Cups are officially awarded once the commissioner makes the announcement,” CFL spokesman Jamie Dykstra said in a statement. “At this time, we are not prepared to make any announcements regarding Grey Cup host cities beyond the 100th Grey Cup.”

The Winnipeg Football Club issued a similar statement. To make matters more confusing, the owners of a new franchise proposed for Ottawa announced — three years ago — the nation’s capital would host the Cup in 2014.

Hamilton and Regina have also been bandied about as possible 2014 host cities, as both the CFL Tiger-Cats and Roughriders hope to build new stadiums.

Katz’s claim, however, livened up a stay-the-course address that was bereft of major policy announcements. Unlike in 2010, when an emotional mayor vowed to wage election-year war against Manitoba’s NDP, Katz spent most of his 40 minutes this year listing off previous accomplishments, such as the procurement of a police helicopter.

Winnipeg police Chief Keith McCaskill said the helicopter began assisting police officers on the ground earlier this week. The chief could not say how many times it has been used and won’t disclose what time of day the helicopter flies.

“We schedule it during times we’re going to get the best bang for our buck,” McCaskill said. “We’re not commenting when it’s up, or when it’s not up, because people who are committing criminal offences, we don’t want them to know that.”

McCaskill said the helicopter will be another tool to help the city fight the spring flood, if necessary. Katz also used the speech to reaffirm the city’s support for the $200-million expansion of the Winnipeg Convention Centre, hint at a resolution of the city’s CentrePort land-servicing squabble with the Rural Municipality of Rosser and lambaste the Manitoba government for continuing to demand the city include nitrogen removal in its waste-water treatment upgrade.

Absent from the speech was any mention of rapid transit or a pledge to freeze property taxes this year. Since Katz made tax-freeze pledges during his 2009 and 2010 speeches, this sets the stage for a possible hike when the 2011 operating budget is announced later this month.

 

— With files from Jen Skerritt and Ed Tait

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

THE FINAL WORD

 

‘In closing, to quote that modern-day philosopher Bob the Builder, “Can we build it? Yes we can.” ‘

 

— Mayor Katz on city’s

challenges