The CFL has told the Blue Bombers that they "cannot host a Grey Cup until they enclose" the press box at the recently opened Investors Group Field, according to Gary Lawless of the WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. The CFL is "working with the club to have that done sooner rather than later," and is "sending a delegation to Winnipeg to have a closer look at the press box and to try and come up with solutions." The league "won’t prevent the Bombers from hosting a playoff game this season," but will be "pressuring the club to come to a quick fix." Meanwhile, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that the league would "simply absorb the cost of creating its own indoor press box if Winnipeg was granted an outdoor game and the situation had not been rectified" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 6/14). In Winnipeg, David Larkins notes Blue Bombers execs on Thursday "vowed to make immediate improvements to the game-day operations around Investors Group Field." Team President & CEO Garth Buchko "thanked fans for their patience and acknowledged Winnipeggers did everything that was asked of them in the lead-up to the new stadium’s pre-season football debut on Wednesday." But his efforts were "in vain for many who got stuck in traffic or found Winnipeg Transit buses full and unable to accommodate them." Buchko said, "I wouldn’t say it was a disaster but it was certainly disappointing. When we don’t satisfy our customers, it’s disappointing." Buchko added that "one option would be to open parking lots on campus earlier than 90 minutes before kickoff" (WINNIPEG SUN, 6/14).
