Canad Inns Stadium: The Old Barn on Maroons Road
Every football club has a cathedral, and for six decades the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had theirs on the west side of the city. Known for most of its life as Winnipeg Stadium and later, through naming rights, as Canad Inns Stadium, the old ground was where generations of fans learned to love the game. This page is a fan's fond farewell to a place that no longer stands but has never really left.
A Home from 1953 to 2012
The stadium opened in the early 1950s and served as the Bombers' home until 2012, when the club moved to a new build on the University of Manitoba campus. For nearly sixty years it hosted championship glory, bitter defeats, frozen November playoff games, and countless ordinary summer evenings that fans would give anything to relive. It was famously exposed to the prairie elements — and that was part of its charm. Opponents dreaded a late-season trip to Winnipeg for a reason.
Atmosphere Over Amenities
Nobody ever called it luxurious. The seats were aluminium, the wind came straight off the prairie, and the concourses were tight. But on a big night the noise had nowhere to go but down onto the field, and the place could feel genuinely intimidating. Fans remember the walk in from the parking lots, the smell of the concession stands, and the roar that greeted a Milt Stegall touchdown. You can revisit those stars on our legends page.
Getting to the Game
In its day, the stadium sat in the heart of the city's west side, and getting there on game day was its own ritual — a slow, happy crawl of blue-and-gold traffic. The old OurBombers.com even ran a handy directions tool for out-of-towners heading in for a game. Those visitors have long since moved on to the club's modern home; for current directions and parking, fans should consult the official Blue Bombers website.
The End, and the Legacy
The stadium was demolished after the team's move, its footprint redeveloped as the city grew. But its legacy is secure. It was the stage for the Bud Grant dynasty, the 1980s revival, and decades of the ordinary magic that binds a city to its team. You can read about the championships won in its shadow on our Grey Cup page. For the historical record of the venue, see its independent encyclopedia entry.
Gone but Not Forgotten
Ask a longtime supporter about the old stadium and watch their eyes change. That is the mark of a real home ground. Canad Inns Stadium is gone, but in the memory of Bomber fans it is always a Sunday in September, always warm, and always loud.