Bombers stadium a 'problem project,' says contractor

The company building the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' new stadium is calling it a "problem project," plagued by construction delays.

Stuart Olson Dominion, the contractor for Investors Group Field, had hoped to finish the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' new stadium in time for this year's CFL season to start.

But construction delays forced the team to move back to Canad Inns Stadium, the team's old facility, for the entire season.

Churchill Corp., which owns Stuart Olson Dominion, is expecting to lose $3.5 million on the project, in addition to money it has already lost, says Doug Haughey, the company's chief executive officer.

"Anytime we don't bring a project in on time for a customer, we're all disappointed," Haughey told CBC News on Wednesday.

"I think it's fair to say that, you know, we would've liked to be able to deliver this several months earlier, for sure."

Haughey blamed the stadium delays and cost overruns on problems with the structural steel of the roof.

The company now hopes to hand over Investors Group Field to the Bombers by the end of November, he said.

"We regret it for sure. We know that it had an impact on folks in Winnipeg," he said.

"One of the things we're doing now is looking at the project and saying, 'What can we learn from this so we can avoid these kinds of challenges in the future?'"

The delay in opening isn't the only thing about the new stadium that has been bugging fans: this week, the Bombers told some season-ticket holders that the seats they had purchased in Investors Group Fieldwill come with obstructed views.