Cost jump could change stadium design

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This article was published 29/07/2010 (5541 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cost over-runs at the proposed new football stadium are threatening to force changes in the project design.

Premier Greg Selinger told the Free Press on Thursday morning that cost over-runs at the yet-to-be-started 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," said Selinger. "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."

Construction of the stadium has yet to begin while financial responsibilities and the effect of real costs on the design are debated. One estimate has the cost of the stadium running in the neighbourhood of $139 million, $24 million above the original price tag.

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 project for weeks but has yet to begin digging.
Selinger says there’s so confusion about who is responsible for any cost over-runs.

"There’s no question the committment was made by the private partner, Creswin Realty, to cover the cost over-runs and that’s a commitment we fully support and I understand Mr. Asper fully supports that," said Selinger.

"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."

Selinger says 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 over-runs," said Selinger. "So once all the numbers are lined up people will sit down and see what’s there and what the final design will be."

Selinger 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," said Selinger. "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."

Selinger said cost and design must mesh.

"I understand the basic design is being tendered so there is enough design and detail to tender it to cost and the issue is can they make the cost work and move the project forward," said Selinger. "My understanding is they haven’t finalized all those numbers yet and they are in the process of doing that and getting all the information back from the bidders.

"Once all the final numbers are in and everybody sits down, we’ll take a look at what the best design for the facility is to provide that first class experience for fans."