Katz says announcement on new stadium for CFL's Blue Bombers could come soon. If it doesn't, look out…

Appearing with myself, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun and Jim Toth of Shaw TV on the Goldeyes-Schaumburg Northern League baseball game on Shaw Channel 9 on Sunday afternoon, Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz said he believed an announcement on a new stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is right around the corner.

In fact, David Asper's dream of building a new football stadium in Winnipeg and, ultimately, taking over control of the city's CFL franchise, is very close to coming true. 

"The city is ready to go and I know Creswin Properties (the Asper family's real estate arm) has been working very hard on the project and my belief is we'll make an announcement about a new stadium very soon," Katz said.

"Now, understand, in my world, 'very soon' means 30-60 days. But I'm confident it's going to happen. 

"But I will also say this: If it doesn't happen soon, it probably won't happen at all."

Katz refused to say where the new stadium would be located, but one got the sense it won't be at South Point Douglas, unless Creswin has secretly acquired a great deal of land.

"Here's my argument with people's concern over where the stadium will be located," Katz said. "The Bombers play 10 games a year. Bomber fans will get to those games.

"I agree with you when you say the Bombers are important to our community and after 54 years they need a new stadium. The Goldeyes played in that stadium (Canad Inns Stadium) for five years and I knew back then that we all needed a new place to play. I don't think anyone can say Canwest Park or the MTS Centre were bad for Winnipeg. A new stadium will be good for Winnipeg, too.

"I don't want to say or commit to a site for the new stadium. But I will say this, no matter where it is, 10 times a year, Bomber fans will find it."