Status
The stadium was approved on April 2, 2009. On March 31, 2010 it was announced by the three levels of government that the stadium will begin construction in May 2010 and should be completed in time for the 2013 CFL and CIS seasons. Site excavation began in September 2010 and construction on the lower bowl began in December of that year. The project has been dubbed "Project 85" by the development team in honour of retired Blue Bomber receiver Milt Stegall. Local firm Raymond S.C. Wan Architect has taken on the project.
Winnipeg's new stadium incorporates a bowl layout with seats on all sides surrounding a playing surface located eight meters below ground. This arrangement will create the experience of entering the stadium at the concourse level with the seats cascading below. Of the 33,422 seats, 22,000 will be located below ground, with an open concourse encircling the stadium that will provide a view to the field from every part of the stadium. The design will accommodate temporary seating over this concourse at each end zone to increase capacity to more than 40,000 for larger events such as the Grey Cup. The CFL has also stated that, with the new stadium, Winnipeg will be guaranteed to host a Grey Cup.
According to Winnipeg Free Press columnist Brent Bellamy, in an article entitled "The Jets and a big-league stadium, too", "the bowl configuration creates an atmosphere of intimacy with more seats being located closer to the field. With only 52 rows, the new stadium will have nearly 25 fewer than Canad Inns Stadium, as seating will be spread more evenly around the entire field instead of in grandstands that rise up along each side. The trade-off for this proximity will be fewer seats between the goal-lines and more seats in end-zone locations."
The stadium will have a large opaque metal roof, cantilevered over the seating areas, that will provide weather protection for up to 80 per cent of the seating and it will also enclose the spectator's field of vision to create an enhanced sense of intimacy. Canad Inns Stadium was known as one of the loudest stadiums in Canada, the new stadium's roof is designed to have an undulating profile that will act as a baffle, capturing and redirecting sound throughout the stadium, bringing the noise to another level.
Providing structural support for the cantilevered roofs are two arched bow trusses that rise 57 meters over the site and span the length of the building. These steel-tube trusses connect to a system of tension cables that support the roof from above, suspending it over the seating without any columns to obstruct views. Similar to Wembley Stadium in London, England. The arches form a unique silhouette on the skyline and create an iconic architectural image that is instantly recognizable. They will also serve as a platform for dramatic lighting or fireworks displays.
The new stadium will be a major-league facility and will provide all the amenities found in modern stadiums. One of the most interesting features will be the large HDTV video screens that will be mounted above each end zone, which if lined up together, will stretch 75 yards from midfield to the back of the end zone and be almost as high as the goalposts. Each screen will compare in size to the famous Jumbotron in Toronto's Rogers Centre, once the largest in the world.
According to project manager Mike Clynes of Stuart Olson Dominion Construction in an August 26, 2011 interview with the Winnipeg Sun, “You’re going to get an over-designed capacity of concessions. You’re going to get 22-inch-wide seats, very wide seats and extra leg room in front of you. You’re going to have a cup-holder in the seat in front of you."
The west entry service road off of Chancellor Matheson Road next to the Investors Group Field will be named Ken Ploen Way, in honour of former Blue Bomber quarterback and CFL Hall of Famer.
On December 14, 2011 a 12-year agreement was made with Winnipeg-based Investors Group to name the stadium, Investors Group Field. Interim CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Ossama AbouZeid said, “Today’s great announcement is another chapter in what will be a spectacular facility and one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in North America.”
Read more about this topic: Investors Group Field
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