What fans should know before the Blue Bombers’ season opener Thursday
The CFL season is almost here, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be kicking off the 2021 season on Thursday against the Hamilton Ti-Cats.
It has been a long time coming for Bombers' fans, but there are some changes people need to know about.
For those who drive to the games, the team is suggesting people park on the University of Manitoba campus as there will be road work happening around the stadium on Chancellor Matheson and traffic will be reduced to two lanes in either direction.
Bombers' President and CEO, Wade Miller, is encouraging people to arrive early, as it will take some extra time for everyone to get in because fans will have to present their vaccine card, photo I.D. and their ticket.
"It will take a little longer. We encourage everyone to come early. We've opened the gates up earlier, so 6 p.m.," said Miller.
If people are hoping to avoid traffic, they can hop on the bus at one of the city's five Park and Ride locations.
The locations include McPhillips Station at 484 McPhillips St., Club Regent at 1425 Regent Ave. West, St. Vital Centre at 86–1225 St. Mary's Rd., St. Norbert Hotel at 3540 Pembina Highway and Assiniboia Downs at 3975 Portage Ave. Each person riding the bus will be charged $5 and it will cover the ride to and from the game.
The first bus will be leaving two hours before kickoff and people will be required to wear masks.
Winnipeg Transit will also be available for those attending the game, as the new Blue Rapid Transit line will get fans to the stadium.
The two pickup locations will be Seel Station Park and Ride at 1550 Seel Ave. and Clarence Station Park and Ride at 1240 Clarence Ave.
The normal transit fee of $3.05 will apply and people must wear masks while on Winnipeg Transit.
Ride-sharing vehicles and taxis will be available for pickup outside of Gate 1 when the game is over.
If people are wanting to buy season passes for either parking near the stadium or the Park and Ride program, they can do so online through their Winnipeg Blue Bombers Account Manager.
Once people are inside the gate, Miller said everyone will be required to wear masks for any of the indoor venues, and IG Field will be a cashless stadium.
He also noted people should be in their seats before 7:30 p.m.
"Be in your seats for 7:30 p.m. as the championship banner will be unveiled and also prior to the championship banner unveiling, we will be raising the Metis flag and the Treaty One flag for the first time at IG Field."
Miller said they are expecting over 30,000 fans to attend the game, noting that tickets are still available for people to purchase.
"It's going to be great, our players are excited. It's just going to be a great atmosphere to be a part of in the stadium and just so excited for our fans to get back. It's been a long time."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.