Bombers' bold bet may lead to some free tickets after unimpressive game-day traffic

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers made a bet and they lost — sort of.

Fans heading to the home-opener game on Friday were promised the traffic flow leaving Investors Group Stadium would be better — and they could claim free tickets to the next game if that wasn't their experience.

"The game-day experience was fine. I think they are doing a lot of great things to try and make the game day exciting and fun for fans," said longtime Bomber fan Gord Fritzsche.

"But I guess the promised easy exit wasn't."

• Stamps shutout Bombers in 2nd to continue dominance
• Bombers make bold offer — free tickets if game day traffic not improved

The Bombers made the promise on Wednesday, saying major improvements to the parking and transportation plan at Investors Group Field would address the traffic nightmares of past seasons.

Winnipeg Transit's new Stadium Station terminal was designed to accommodate the 200-plus buses that previously choked the streets around IGF. On Friday, all transit and park-and-ride users arrived and departed through the dedicated terminal just outside the stadium's gates 3 and 4.

The bus-free streets were supposed to bring a faster exit from the more than 1,000 parking spots available on the University of Manitoba campus, where the stadium is located.

'45 minutes before we got out'

Fritzsche, who has been going to games since he was five years old, usually takes the park-and-ride option, but he had a free parking pass and decided to drive.

Along with his friend and fellow Bomber fan, Fritzsche made his way to the game and parked without problem. But when it was time to go, things weren't so easy.

They decided to take their time getting back to their vehicle, particularly since the Bombers suffered another crushing loss to the Calgary Stampeders — a team they haven't defeated at home since July 2009.

About 20 minutes after the game, they finally got to their vehicle to head home, but traffic wasn't moving.

"We pretty much sat in that parking lot for a good 30 minutes and probably about 45 minutes before we got out, but we weren't even moving for a long time," he said.

He posted some frustration on Twitter.

"Combined with the disappointment of the loss I was blowing off some steam there," Fritzsche said with a laugh.

He wasn't the only one. Many people took to social media asking where their free tickets were.

Team will honour offer: Miller

Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller said the team will keep the promise.

"Of course," he said. "We said we would. If you parked on campus and don't feel your ride was faster than it was before, then give us a call."

Miller said aside from the loss, it was a really good night with attendance of more than 30,000 people, many of whom got home without any issues. He said most of the new bus routes worked well, but Winnipeg Transit struggled a bit with navigating the routes and the new terminal.

"It was a great night," he said.

"Our fan service team is answering some calls and there were some good stories of getting out of the parking lots and other ones that we can improve on."

Miller said he expects a couple hundred calls will lead to free tickets being handed out.

"This is a large-scale event and when you have 30,000 people and you park on campus right across from the stadium, it's going to require us to keep working and it's going in the right direction," he said.

With a night's rest and the disappointing loss behind him, Fritzsche said he doesn't think he will try and get a free ticket.

"I figured old poor Wade would be pretty busy as it was," he said with a laugh.

"I was kind of annoyed but for me the football experience is you are there, there are 30,000 people in one place and it's sometimes going to take some time to get out. I cut him some slack."

However, Fritzsche said he figures his friend will definitely be calling the Bombers on their bet.

"He is more of a typical Winnipegger — when there is something free he's going to go for it. He documented it on video and everything," Fritzsche said.

"He got the evidence."