Murray Taylor, President and CEO of Investors Group and The Winnipeg Blue Bombers speaks during a press conference in Winnipeg Wednesday, December 14, 2011John Woods
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will play their lone exhibition game at Canad Inns Stadium but are still planning to stage their 2012 home opener at the new Investor Group Field.
The CFL club announced Monday that due to construction delays at Investor Group Field, it will play its pre-season opener at Canad Inns Stadium on June 20 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Winnipeg will open the regular season with four straight road games before returning home July 26 to host the Edmonton Eskimos.
Jim Bell, the Bombers vice-president and chief operating officer, says the plan remains for Winnipeg to play its home opener at its new facility. However, he added it's dependent on a milestone being met in early May.
Further details about the milestone weren't divulged.
"We are asking our fans to bear with us as we work through this process," Bell said in a statement. "We are focused thoroughly on giving our fans the best and complete game day atmosphere and experience possible.
"With that in mind, we are hoping that with our pre-season game being held at historic Canad Inns Stadium, and our first four games on the road to the start the regular season, we will be in a position to open Investors Group Field on July 26."
The Bombers will credit its currently season-ticket holders the difference to equal the value of the 2011 exhibition game ticket.