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Former names | Winnipeg Stadium (1953–2000) |
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Location | 1465 Maroons Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3G 0L6 |
Coordinates | 49°53′22″N 97°11′54″W / 49.889570°N 97.198320°WCoordinates: 49°53′22″N 97°11′54″W / 49.889570°N 97.198320°W |
Owner | City of Winnipeg |
Operator |
Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation Winnipeg Football Club |
Capacity | Canadian football: 15,700 (1953) 17,995 (1954) 32,946 (1978) 33,675 (1987) 29,533 (1999) |
Record attendance | 51,985 (1991 Grey Cup) |
Surface | Grass (1953–1987) AstroTurf (1988–2002) AstroPlay (2003–2012) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | November 1952 |
Opened | August 14, 1953 |
Closed | January 3, 2013 |
Demolished | April–August 2013 |
Construction cost | $483,000 CAD ($4.37 million in 2017 dollars) |
Architect | Moody and Moore |
Tenants | |
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) (1953–2012) Winnipeg Goldeyes (NL) (1953–1964, 1969) Winnipeg Whips (IL) (1970–1971) Winnipeg Fury (CSL) (1987–1992) Winnipeg Goldeyes (NL) (1994–1998) Winnipeg Rifles (CJFL) (2002–2012) |
Canad Inns Stadium (also known as Winnipeg Stadium) was a multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street and Maroons Road, immediately north of Polo Park Shopping Centre and the now-defunct Winnipeg Arena. Although built for the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the stadium also accommodated baseball and soccer, and was used by various iterations of the Winnipeg Goldeyes and Winnipeg Whips. The stadium was demolished after the Blue Bombers moved to Investors Group Field in 2013.
During the Blue Bombers' early years, the team played at Osborne Stadium, a much smaller venue located near the Manitoba Legislative Buildings. The fast passing-dominated play of Bombers quarterback Jack Jacobs dramatically increased attendance at Blue Bombers games and precipitated the need for a new, larger stadium.
In the wake of several unsuccessful proposals for a new stadium, Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation, a newly created non-profit organization led by Winnipeg Football Club president Culver Riley, presented a plan for the construction of a new 15,700 seat stadium in the Polo Park district. The plan was approved by the City of Winnipeg in August 1952. Winnipeg Stadium was officially opened on August 14, 1953, with a fundraising gala to benefit the Winnipeg Unit of the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Foster Hewitt served as the master of ceremonies as 12,000 spectators watched an array of Shriners, athletes, politicians, and Hollywood actress Corinne Calvet inaugurate the stadium. The following night, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers played the first football game at the new facility against the Ottawa Rough Riders. The stadium became known as "the house that Jack built" in recognition of the contributions of Jack Jacobs.