Buildings

Photo of Investor's Group Field at 315 Chancellor Matheson Road
Photo of Investor's Group Field located at 315 Chancellor Matheson Road
Side view photo of Investor's Group Field exterior at 315 Chancellor Matheson Road

IG Field

Formerly:Investor's Group Field
Address:315 Chancellor Matheson Road
Constructed:2013
Architects:Raymond SC Wan
Firms:Raymond SC Wan Architects
Engineers:Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd.
Contractors:Stuart Olson, Dominion Construction Ltd.

More Information

IG Field, formerly Investor's Group Field, is an outdoor stadium located on the University of Manitoba campus. IG Field is home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL), Valour FC (CPL), University of Manitoba Bisons, and the Winnipeg Rifles (CJFL). The stadium was also host to the FIFA Womens' World Cup in 2015.

Initial plans for a new stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers began in 2007 when CanadInns, owners of the former Blue Bombers stadium, sought to redevelop the site of the former stadium at Maroons Road as a commerical space and build a new stadium on new grounds. After many proposals and deliberation, a letter of intent was signed between David Asper's Creswin Properties and the University of Manitoba in 2009 to allow for the new stadium to be built at the intersection of Chancellor Matheson Road and University Crescent on the University campus. Conveniently, the site is adjacent to the University Stadium, which was originally constructed for the 1967 Pan-American Games.

In an effort to reduce costs of the structural steelwork, the architect opted for an optimized version of the original sunken bowl design for stadiums with various value-engineering concepts implemented by Canam-Structures. The playing field dips 25 feet into the ground below the concourse. Over the stadium is a canopy roof solution spanning almost 620 feet, which has the feature of bouncing '13th player' noise back onto the field keeping sound contained. This makes the IG Field the largest canopied area in Canada, spanning 8 acres of roof standing 200 feet in the air. The canopy is designed to accommodate the unpredictable and opposing weather conditions in Winnipeg. Borrowing from the two-arc model of the former stadiums' canopy, Ray Wan developed a "bow concept." Seating areas in the upper and lower decks of the stadium are curved to optimize all spectators' sight-lines. Other spectator amenities include about a dozen food vendors, four bars, the Family Zone which features a non-alcoholic area, and the Bombers Store. A basement spans half the area of IG Field where there are locker rooms, state-of-the-art treatment facilities and a fitness facility for the stadium's football operations.

IG Field is owned by Triple B. Stadium Inc., made up of a consortium of the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Football Club, and the University of Manitoba

Recognition and Awards

  • Manitoba Masonry Design Award 2014 - "Judges' Choice"
  • Association of Consulting Engineers 2014 - "Award of Excellence"

Design Characteristics

  • Spectator seating capacity of just over 33,000
  • Largest canopy and arch trusses in Canada, spanning 190 meters
  • Corrugated metal roof
  • Steel structure
  • Curved seating decks
  • State-of-the-art in-house treatment facilities, fitness facility, and locker rooms

Sources

  • Wazny, Adam. "In Conversation with Ray Wan." Winnipeg Free Press, June 8, 2013.