A guide to the new home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Investors Group Field
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/134319
GET READY TO PLAY 35 GAME-DAY TEAM A WELL-OILED MACHINE IT ALL SEEMS SO SIMPLE AND SEAMLESS. But those fun contests, games and entertainment you see during every break at Winnipeg Blue Bombers games require a team of people working diligently behind the scenes. The game-day production team, as they are called, has to be a well-oiled machine that can put on a 'THIS IS AN EVENT WE great show without notice. Nothing PREPARE FOR BUT can go wrong because there are DON'T CONTROL.' no second chances. "It takes co-ordination and communication," said Stuart James, production manager for the Winnipeg Football Club. "This is an event we prepare for but don't control as you never know for sure when the breaks are going to happen." Football games include a certain amount of time-out breaks for television which James knows he will have to fill at approximately the 12, nine, six, and three-minute marks in a quarter. There are also breaks for touchdowns, injuries and other events that can't be predicted. "There are a whole lot of events going on in time-outs," he said. "We try our hardest to make the time between plays as entertaining and interesting as possible." James is excited about the potential of working in the new stadium. "Investors Group Field will be such a leap ahead from what we're accustomed to," he said. "We're still exploring the capabilities of the state-of-the-art hardware and software that's been installed in the building," he said. "The biggest challenge in the past was trying to put together an interesting show with cobbled-together equipment. Now that we have such advanced ALL TYPES OF SCAFFOLD • SCAFFOLD CREW RENTAL • HOARDING • CARPENTRY • FORM WORK Jack Santos President Cell: 204 880-2017 Phone: 204 219-5725 Fax: 204 219-5725 7 Powers Street, Winnipeg, MB R2W 2G7 E-mail: hi-risecarpentry@shaw.ca Website: www.hi-risesscaffolding.com equipment capabilities, we'll be able to let our imaginations run free." Almost all events the production team works on are related to sponsorships. An example of this is Subway, who has sponsored a relay race during time-outs. "The goal is to make game day as much fun as possible while still supporting our sponsors," said James. "Sponsors large and small come up with ideas and if we can make them happen, we sure will." Being able to roll with the punches is definitely required. James's team once had to hold a field goal contest with an injured player in the way. Unable to change the schedule, they improvised – and had mascots Buzz and Boomer protect the injured Bomber from the kick.