The new approved football stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be built on the grounds of the University of Manitoba campus. The stadium, located on an eight-hectare site, is expected to be ready for the 2012 CFL season.
The stadium is designed to have a capacity to seat 33,000 fans and will be able to accommodate 40,000 for major events like the Grey Cup. The new stadium will feature 40 private suites, a Hall of Fame for the club, and overhead weather protection that will cover 80% of the seats. The $115 million scheme will also feature an inflatable dome that will cover the field in winter, allowing year-round recreational use. The amateur athletics on campus will benefit from improvements such as a multiplex, a refurbished university stadium and new fitness center.
The stadium forms a part of the $137.5 million development on the site that will include a multiplex athletic facility for the university and its Bisons sports teams. The project is being promoted by David Asper, a Canadian businessman and lawyer. Asper will also become the new owner of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers upon completion of the stadium and repayment of loans.
