Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman has given his city a new nickname — ‘Winnerpeg’ — based on the Blue Bombers 2019 Grey Cup championship.
The 48-year-old Bowman dropped the familiar phrase when his office was asked if the city of Winnipeg has had any talks with CFL representatives regarding the Manitoba capital potentially being a hub for league play in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While Mayor Brian Bowman has not been involved in any discussions of this kind, he would welcome the opportunity for our 2019 Grey Cup champions, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, to defend their title in Winnerpeg,” Bowman’s office said in a statement to 3DownNation.
Bowman is boastful after hometown hero Andrew Harris was named the Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Canadian — it was the first time in CFL title game history the same player won both awards — leading the Bombers to their first Grey Cup in 29 years, beating Hamilton 33-12 last November.
More importantly for the present, Bowman is open to the city hosting the CFL if games can be played this year. As of June 30, Manitoba had 325 total coronavirus cases, by far the least of any province which has a CFL team inside its borders. It would be the safest place for the three-down league to take the field inside a bubble concept.
Manitoba citizens, Premier Brian Pallister and Bowman have done well to keep the virus contained to small numbers and nearly non-existent in the province, which might lead to the Bombers defending their title on home turf.
