Winnipeg Blue Bombers push for new game-day transit deal

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers organization wants a new transit deal worked out with the city.

Last year the Bombers paid $1.1 million to the City of Winnipeg for Park and Ride transit services to Investor's Group Field.

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But Bombers CEO Wade Miller says the club would still be paying almost triple the rate of a regular transit fare.

As a result, the Bombers want the city to cut its charter rate by more than 40 per cent this year and next.

"We've been working with the city since December on this matter. It's May. We have a soccer game in eight days, so we need to figure this out," Miller said Wednesday.

"It's been ongoing and we shouldn't be standing here [on] April 30 having this discussion right now."

Mayor Sam Katz said councillors are concerned because the deal would leave the city with a $750,000 shortfall this year and a $950,000 shortfall next year.

“That 'cost per rider' model then puts us in line with anybody else that may take regular transit to a Jets game, to a Goldeyes game, or just to work every day,” said Katz.

Katz said councillors are also concerned because a new transit deal has not yet been struck, while Bombers representatives were disappointed that stadium transit was not on Wednesday's council agenda.

“If the city and the province don't step up, then there will be an unbelievable mess out there and I guarantee you many of you will be pointing a finger at the city and/or the province, so it is between a rock and a hard place,” said Katz.

Councillors are expected to deal with the issue at their next meeting later in May.

Last year, just over half of Bomber fans used the Park and Ride program.