Most bomber fans would know most of this story.
IG Field was built through Asper and others lobbying the federal government for assistance through the infrastructure program. The infrastructure program was to help public initiatives by Universities. The stadium was only given approval because it was on the free land at the U of M and it’s use was for the school. 50 million dollars were provided by the feds with the free land making it affordable. We know the budget was to be 150 million dollars. No way would that stadium come in at under 150 without the two key components. It’s a bargain.
The newly opened, at that time, MTS Center was a jewel for the citizens. It contributed to reviving a downtown area. Happy populous. With the success of the MTS Center, a lot of peggers wanted to further invigorate the downtown area with a brand spanking new football venue. Locations were discussed. Transportation and parking would not have been a problem as more people work downtown than what a stadium would hold. This pricier option was ideal.
I find people that are dissatisfied with the current location prefer the downtown option. That’s were many people work, and would not be dissimilar to a jet game with the downtown pregame excitement that is generated.
I would suggest the dissatisfaction is as a result of what could have been when the opportunity was there for the whole package. Yet they still understand the economics.
Our stadium, as Bob Irving recently wrote, is the jewel of the CFL. Many cities have stadiums out in hell’s half acre. Peggers just aren’t use to seeing the city grow in this manner.