The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, province and city have formed a collective bid to host the CFL Grey Cup in either 2015 or 2016.
Investors Group Field — less than six-months-old — would be able to offer seating for over 41,000 Grey Cup fans. The economic spinoff from hosting the championship is said to be $100 million in local spending leading up to the November game, including several days of cultural events within the Grey Cup Festival.
“Since Investors Group Field opened its doors in June, nearly a quarter million visitors have streamed in and stood in awe of the first new CFL stadium built in Canada in over three decades,” said Wade Miller, Blue Bombers’ acting CEO. “Being able to host the Grey Cup in the new home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would be an especially proud moment for football fans and our entire community.”
CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon also welcomed the bid, saying bringing the Grey Cup to Winnipeg would be great for the province.
“Staging this first class event in a city and a stadium that are truly second to none is a very exciting prospect,” Cohon said.
Winnipeg hosted Grey Cups in 1991, 1998 and 2006. This year’s Grey Cup game will take place in Regina in November, with the 2014 game having been awarded to Vancouver.
