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Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bombers announce Grey Cup Week headquarters
The 2025 Grey Cup Festival is rapidly taking shape with the announcement of several new events set to take place at the newly named PlayNow Grey Cup HQ at the RBC Convention Centre. Jennifer Thompson, executive director of the Grey Cup Festival, highlighted the importance of having a centralized approach to the festival. 'PlayNow Grey Cup HQ will be the beating heart of Festival Week — a one-stop destination for fans looking to experience the best of what the Grey Cup has to offer,' Thompson said. 'From coast-to-coast culinary creations and iconic Canadian music, to unforgettable team parties and a gala celebration like no other, we're proud to create a space that reflects the spirit, diversity and energy of the CFL and its fans.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Football Club president and CEO Wade Miller said Thursday that the club has already seen strong interest in recent weeks, confirming that 50 per cent of festival tickets for many of the events have already been sold. From Thursday, Nov. 13, to Saturday, Nov. 15, the downtown venue will host a series of adult-only events, including a new culinary experience, a gala, and an expanded concert series. Rheanne Marcoux, VP of marketing and communications for the Grey Cup Festival, emphasized the unique vision for Winnipeg's hosting duties, noting unlike previous years, the festival is being organized and executed internally. The organizing committee has taken notes from the last few Grey Cups in an attempt to identify best practices, prioritizing accessibility and visibility. 'We didn't want people to feel like they had to travel around the whole city to go from event to event,' Marcoux said. 'Once you're there, you're in the thick of it. But we also don't want anybody to be able to go anywhere in the city during Grey Cup week and not know that the Grey Cup is happening.' A significant addition to the festival lineup is the CIBC Taste of the CFL, scheduled for Nov. 14. This inaugural culinary event, inspired by Winnipeg's 'Taste of the Blue Bombers,' will feature top chefs from each CFL city. These chefs will compete by creating their interpretations of game-day cuisine, which fans can then sample and vote on. The Coors Light Concert Series and team party rooms will also be a central feature, offering three nights of entertainment, all of which are accessible with a single three-day social pass. Passes are available for purchase starting on Friday at 10 a.m. for $99, plus taxes and fees. Each evening will have a distinct theme and headline act: Thursday, Nov. 13 — Manitoba Night will feature The Watchmen. Friday, Nov. 14 — Kitchen Party Night will showcase Alan Doyle. Saturday, Nov. 15 — Country Night will be headlined by The Reklaws. (Note: these passes do not include access to the Brad Paisley concert, with those details to be released separately.) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The festival will also host the Grey Cup Gala on Nov. 15. Organizers described it as a departure from a traditional formal dinner, promising lively entertainment and an engaging atmosphere. Tickets for the gala can be purchased individually or for tables of 10. Winnipeg Football Club president & CEO Wade Miller said they've already seen a strong interest in recent weeks, confirming that 50 per cent of tickets for many of the new events have already been sold through early access given to corporate partners and season ticket members. As for the Grey Cup game, 90 per cent of tickets have already been purchased. Further details regarding additional events, artist announcements and ticket sales information are expected to be released in the coming weeks. For ongoing updates and to purchase tickets, visit the official website Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Gallery: Hot start for first night of Winnipeg's new concert series on big stage
Winnipeg's first stadium shows in nearly a decade started off hot and heavy. The inaugural Thunder Concert series kicked off Wednesday with a sweltering evening of rock 'n' roll. The two-night outdoor music festival at Princess Auto Stadium is a joint venture between the Winnipeg Football Club and True North Sports + Entertainment. Opening night, dubbed Rockin' Thunder, featured a lineup of Toque, Foreigner, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Def Leppard. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Def Leppard performs at the inaugural Thunder Concert series Wednesday at Princess Auto Stadium. The sun was blazing and the temperature was hovering around 29 C when Canadian band Toque took the stage. The first act, which includes Winnipeg-born bassist Brent Fitz , performed to a sparse crowd as fans trickled into the venue. Fair warning: Navigating rush hour traffic through Pembina Highway construction to get to the south Winnipeg stadium for 5 p.m. is a bit of a bear. Attendees for Thursday's Country Thunder show (with Riley Green, Tyler Hubbard, Nate Smith and Madeline Merlo) would do well to arrive early, pick an alternate route, carpool or take advantage of the park and ride service. On-campus lot parking is $25. Passes can be purchased on site or in advance. Wednesday's concert brought out 22,500 people, with 20,000 more expected Thursday. Pretty good for a new event taking place mid-week at the busy beginning of summer festival season. Still, the 30,000-seat stadium — which hosted its last major music act, Guns N' Roses, in 2017 — wasn't exactly full. The stands were more populated by the time Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hanson bounded on stage in tight, canary yellow pants. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Def Leppard put on a fun, glittery performance worthy of a big stadium show. Fresh off an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the long-running English-American band raised the temperature with Cold as Ice and an encore of I Want to Know What Love Is, featuring local choristers from Daniel McIntyre and Gordon Bell high schools. The bands played from a large enclosed stage at the northern end of the stadium. The music was loud, but sound quality and sightlines varied throughout the space — the latter could've been improved with more live video screens beyond the two flanking the stage. It's unclear why the massive in-house displays weren't utilized during performances. Those seated in the eastern 200-level bore the brunt of the setting sun, while the assigned seating and standing sections of the turf-level floor remained hot but shaded. Between sets, the concourse was packed with an eclectic group of fans wearing concert tees from every imaginable rock band and at least a few blonde, hair metal-inspired wigs. Joan Jett walked onstage at 8 p.m. wearing tinted glasses, leather and her signature choker, but without her guitar. The error was quickly righted and a punchy set filled with iconic hits ensued, from Cherry Bomb to I Love Rock 'n' Roll to Bad Reputation. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Def Leppard bassist Rick Savage performs. The American frontwoman also took a moment to speak disapprovingly of the political climate in her home country, which garnered a big cheer. Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. British rockers Def Leppard had the most elaborate set, touching down on a tiered stage surrounded by spacey visuals and flashing lights. The intergalactic motif continued with songs Armageddon It and Rocket, followed by other career-spanning touchstones, including Let's Get Rocked and Love Bites. At press time, the headlining act — made up of lead vocalist Joe Elliott, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, bassist Rick Savage and drummer Rick Allen — was in the midst of a fun, glittery performance worthy of a big stadium show. The wind picked up and clouds started rolling in part-way through the set, creating a fitting backdrop for the wailing guitar solos and thundering drum beats coming from the stage. Tickets for Country Thunder are still available via Ticketmaster. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Wednesday's concert brought out 22,500 people to Princess Auto Stadium. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Rock fans enjoy the sights and sounds as Def Leppard performs at the inaugural Thunder Concert series Wednesday at Princess Auto Stadium. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell performs. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Rock fans enjoy the sights and sounds as Def Leppard performs at the inaugural Thunder Concert series Wednesday at Princess Auto Stadium. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Rock fans enjoy the sights and sounds as Def Leppard performs at the inaugural Thunder Concert series Wednesday at Princess Auto Stadium. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliot performs at the inaugural Thunder Concert series Wednesday at Princess Auto Stadium. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS Rock fans enjoy the sights and sounds as Def Leppard performs at the inaugural Thunder Concert series Wednesday at Princess Auto Stadium. DWAYNE LARSEN / FREE PRESS The two-night outdoor music festival at Princess Auto Stadium is a joint venture between the Winnipeg Football Club and True North Sports + Entertainment. Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
