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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to get their new stadium. Better late than never.
More than three years after David Asper presented a plan to the Bombers to build a new stadium at the current Polo Park sight — then changed the deal to have it built at the University of Manitoba — Premier Greg Selinger said yesterday that the government of Manitoba would provide Asper with a $90 million loan to get construction going as early as next month.
The province will provide the bridge financing while Asper will get his 33,000-seat stadium built. However, if Asper can’t complete his planned commercial project at Polo Park, the project that is expected to pay the bills, the city will take all the tax money it earns from both the sale of the land where the current stadium is located and the property taxes it garners from that site in future and use it to pay the province until Asper’s $90 million debt is paid off.
It’s a risky deal and there is a real chance taxpayers’ money will be used to foot the entire bill, but it’s great news for the football club and for Asper.
