WINNIPEG – The countdown is on. Only one year until the 103rd Grey Cup comes to Winnipeg, in November, where the mercury has already dropped to -30 this winter.
“Even the weather can’t dampen the excitement for a game like that,” said football fan James Torrance, who already has tickets for the game. “I think Winnipeg will pull together whether it’s five above or 20 below.”
Businesses near the stadium are already starting to prepare for the game, hoping to bring the tailgating to their parking lots.
“Probably from 9:00 a.m. to 3 a.m. for that whole week we’re going to have events, probably do some live music and just kind of create a whole week of party for it,” said Raj Maniar, manager at Barley Brothers restaurant.
In March, Premier Greg Selinger announced 8.5 million dollars in new funding to winterize and improve energy efficiency at Investors Group Field. The money will also be used to pay for some Grey Cup improvements. But how much has been done and will the stadium be ready for the big day?
“I’ve got full confidence in the organizers and that they’re going to be able to get the stadium ready to go,” said Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman, who is heading to Vancouver to promote next year’s game.
Global News asked the Blue Bombers if the winterizing renovations were done. The football club wouldn’t provide any details.
Fans say they will be at the game no matter what the conditions — even if it’s reminiscent of the 1991 Winnipeg Grey Cup, where the game temperature was -17.
“I think Winnipeg if they endured 1991 with a sellout crowd I’m sure everybody would come,” said Torrance.
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