Asper polls fans on Winnipeg stadium project

Winnipeg media mogul David Asper is asking Manitoba football fans to share their views on his proposal for a new stadium.

Asper is holding a "fan forum" Monday, Oct. 22 to give people a chance to find out more about his $120-million proposal and answer a few questions about what they'd like to see in it.

The forum, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the MTS Centre, will offer "an exclusive preview of stadium specifics with a focus on seats, concessions, washrooms, plans for amateur football and youth programs as well as an overview of design, site and construction plans," according to a release.

Asper said he has already received more than 1,000 e-mails from football fans about his stadium proposal, which would see his company contribute $40 million, with provincial and federal governments providing the other $80 million.

"Many of them have been very thoughtful and taken the time to give us suggestions," he said Thursday, adding that his team is paying particular attention to the needs of the elderly and people in wheelchairs.

Asper hopes the forum will also help convince some dubious Winnipeggers of the need for a new stadium.

Fans who aren't able to make it can still have their say on Asper's new website for the stadium project, BlueAndGold.ca.

The online survey asks for input on 10 topics, including the top three improvements users would like to see, and ideas to encourage year-round use of the stadium.

So far, neither municipal, provincial nor federal government officials have made any financial commitments to Asper, whose partially covered, 40,000-seat stadium would replace the 54-year-old Canad Inns Stadium in the Polo Park area of Winnipeg.

While visiting Manitoba last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he would consider contributing funding if the project was considered a priority by federal and provincial officials.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has said the province would help build a new stadium but any call for funds would have to include a guarantee that the Blue Bombers would not leave town.

Under his plan, Asper would take ownership of the Blue Bombers a team that's beencommunity-owned for 80 years and spend $25 million to develop commercial property around the stadium. The stadium itself would remain public property.

The team voted in June to transfer ownership to Asper and his company, Creswin Properties.

Asper hopes to begin construction in March and complete it by 2009.