Princess Auto Stadium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Princess Auto Stadium

Princess Auto Stadium in 2024
Princess Auto Stadium Location in Manitoba Show map of Manitoba Princess Auto Stadium Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Former names	Investors Group Field (2013–19) IG Field (2019–24)
Location	University of Manitoba, 315 Chancellor Matheson Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Coordinates	49°48′28″N 97°8′35″W / 49.80778°N 97.14306°W / 49.80778; -97.14306
Owner	Triple B Stadium Inc. (corporation controlled by the Winnipeg Football Club)
Operator	Winnipeg Football Club
Executive suites	46
Capacity	32,343
Acreage	8 hectares (20 acres)
Surface	FieldTurf Vertex
Construction
Broke ground	May 20, 2010
Opened	May 26, 2013
Construction cost	$210 million
Architect	Raymond S.C. Wan
Builder	Stuart Olson Dominion Construction
Tenants
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) (2013–present) Manitoba Bisons (U Sports) (2013–present) Winnipeg Rifles (CJFL) (2013–2019) Valour FC (CPL) (2019–present) Manitoba Fearless (WWCFL) (2013–2019)

Princess Auto Stadium is a large outdoor stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It used to be called IG Field. The stadium opened in 2013 and is located on the University of Manitoba campus. It sits right next to the old University Stadium.

This stadium is the home field for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a professional Canadian Football League (CFL) team. It also hosts the University of Manitoba Bisons football team and Valour FC, a soccer team from the Canadian Premier League (CPL). Other teams like the Winnipeg Rifles and Manitoba Fearless have also played here. In 2015, it was one of the stadiums for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The stadium can hold 32,343 people, but it can be made bigger for special events. Part of the stadium has a roof, and it includes a restaurant and many special suites.

Who Owns Princess Auto Stadium?

The stadium is owned by a company called Triple B Stadium Inc. This company was created in 2010 to build and run the stadium. Its main goal is to provide a home for the Winnipeg Football Club, the University of Manitoba Bisons, and other sports.

Today, the Winnipeg Football Club is in charge of Triple B Stadium Inc. When it first started, the stadium was owned by a group that included the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Football Club, and the University of Manitoba.

How Princess Auto Stadium Was Built

Planning the Stadium

Back in 2007, there was a plan to build a new football stadium for the Blue Bombers. Different ideas were suggested for where it should be built. One idea was for a $265 million stadium with a hotel and water park.

Later, a new plan came from David Asper. He wanted to build a stadium with help from the government. He also planned for shops and parking around the stadium.

Logo from 2013 to 2019

Logo from 2019 to 2024

The Blue Bombers team also looked into making their old stadium better. But they needed a lot of money to do that. So, they waited to see what would happen with Asper's plan.

Another idea was to build the stadium in south Point Douglas. This area is known for its art. Some people worried that their homes and special buildings would be destroyed.

Inside IG Field in 2018

In 2009, a plan was made to build the stadium at the University of Manitoba. This new stadium would have 33,422 seats. It would also be the home of the University of Manitoba Bisons football team. The plan allowed the stadium to expand to 40,000 seats for big events like the Grey Cup. The cost was expected to be $115 million.

The stadium project was approved in 2009. The province of Manitoba agreed to lend money to make sure construction started in 2010. This would allow the stadium to open in 2012. Many important people, including the CFL Commissioner and the Mayor of Winnipeg, helped start the building work in May 2010.

However, David Asper and his company were later removed from the project. This happened because they changed the stadium design too much. The cost of the stadium then grew to $190 million. The Blue Bombers and the government shared the cost.

The company Investors Group bought the rights to name the stadium. So, it was called Investors Group Field. Later, in 2018, the name was shortened to IG Field. In January 2024, the stadium got a new name, Princess Auto Stadium. This came from a 10-year deal with Princess Auto, a local auto parts company. The stadium also got a $2 million upgrade, including a new playing field, for the 2024 Blue Bombers season and the 112th Grey Cup.

Building Challenges

The new stadium was supposed to be ready for the 2012 football season. But there were delays in building it. In May 2012, the Blue Bombers announced the stadium would not be ready until September. This meant the team had to play some games at their old stadium. By June 2012, it was clear the stadium would not open until the 2013 season.

In 2014, the company that built the stadium said it was owed more money for extra costs. This issue was solved later that year. The province paid an extra $1.5 million, bringing the total cost to $210 million.

In 2015, the stadium owners said there were problems with the building. These included water damage and cracks in the concrete. The government of Manitoba later announced it would pay $35 million to fix the stadium.

Exciting Events at Princess Auto Stadium

Canadian Football Games

An in-game photo of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on offence against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Blue Bombers played their very first game at the stadium on June 27, 2013. They lost to the Montreal Alouettes in a close game.

The stadium hosted the 103rd Grey Cup in 2015. It will also host the 112th Grey Cup in 2025.

Soccer Matches

On May 8, 2014, the Canadian women's national team played against the United States here. It was the first soccer game at the stadium and ended in a 1–1 tie.

In June 2015, Winnipeg was one of the cities to host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Many exciting matches were played at the stadium. During the World Cup, the stadium was called Winnipeg Stadium because of sponsorship rules.

The Canada vs United States women's soccer game exhibition played in May 2014 to a 1–1 draw.

Since 2019, IG Field has been the home of Valour FC, a team in the Canadian Premier League. In 2021, the stadium hosted many early season games for the league. This was done in a special "bubble" to keep players safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. No fans were allowed at these games.

Date	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
June 8, 2015	Sweden	3–3	Nigeria	Group D	31,148
	United States	3–1	Australia		31,148
June 12, 2015	Australia	2–0	Nigeria		32,716
	United States	0–0	Sweden		32,716
June 15, 2015	Germany	4–0	Thailand	Group B	26,191
	China	2–2	New Zealand	Group A	26,191
June 16, 2015	Ecuador	0–1	Japan	Group C	14,522

Ice Hockey Games

The stadium hosted the 2016 Heritage Classic ice hockey game on October 23, 2016. The Winnipeg Jets played against the Edmonton Oilers in front of a huge crowd. The Oilers won the game 3–0.

A day before, former players from both teams played an alumni game. Famous players like Teemu Selänne and Dale Hawerchuk played for the Jets alumni.

American Football Games

IG Field hosted an NFL preseason game on August 22, 2019. The Green Bay Packers played the Oakland Raiders. The field had a unique problem: the goalposts were moved, leaving holes in the end zones. To keep players safe, the field was shortened to 80 yards. Kickoffs were also removed from the game. The Raiders won the game 22–21.

Concerts and Other Fun Events

Princess Auto Stadium has also hosted many big concerts. The first concert was by Taylor Swift on June 22, 2013. Other famous artists like Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Jay Z, One Direction, AC/DC, and Guns N' Roses have performed here.

The stadium also hosted its first event, a church service called One Heart Winnipeg, on May 26, 2013. In 2017, the exciting show Nitro Circus Live also came to the stadium.

See also

In Spanish: IG Field para niños

• List of Canadian Premier League stadiums
• List of Canadian Football League stadiums
• Lists of stadiums