Weather keeps plaguing Bombers stadium progress

Strong winds continue to hamper efforts to build the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' new stadium, along with heavy rainfall in recent weeks, officials concede.

"We have had some very tough weather conditions [in the] last couple of weeks that have shut us down quite literally," Richard Graumann, the stadium project manager with Stuart Olson Dominion, told reporters Monday.

Investors Group Field, which being built near the University of Manitoba in south Winnipeg, will replace Canad Inns Stadium as the Bombers' home when it is completed.

But windy conditions this past winter and spring have put the project behind schedule.

Team brass had hoped to have the new stadium ready in time for the July 26 home opener, but last month said they plan to open by Sept. 21 at the latest.

Graumann said officials are now re-evaluating the construction schedule as a result of the latest weather challenges.

"I'm still very optimistic that we're going to make our dates," he said.

"We're doing everything we can to accelerate and mitigate some of those issues with weather."

Team officials are still hoping to host the Bombers' Sept. 9 match against the Saskatchewan Roughriders — the so-called Banjo Bowl — at Investors Group Field if it is ready by then.

In the meantime, the Bombers will play their first five home games at Canad Inns Stadium.