WINNIPEG - Call it "Home Improvement, the CFL Edition." CFL stadiums are being replaced or refurbished at a pace probably unmatched in league history, starting this season with the opening of a new home for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 2014, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will move into a new facility while the expansion Ottawa Redblacks are projected to call a revamped Frank Clair Stadium home. And in 2017, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are scheduled to move into a new open-air venue to replace Mosaic Stadium. Existing facilities in Calgary and Edmonton get upgrades this season to make the game-day experience nicer for their fans. The big story this year is Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. A year behind schedule, a lot about the new facility drew rave reviews: the player areas, sightlines, comfortable seats and fancy suites and concessions. But there are kinks to be worked out. Cracks in the concrete are being repaired and then theres the small matter of getting 33,400 people on and off the campus of the University of Manitoba in time to actually watch ftball games. "I think it was great (but) I have a feeling people will have to figure out the traffic patterns," Bombers coach Tim Burke after the seasons first exhibition game at the stadium. That was a bit of an understatement. The pre-season game against the Toronto Argonauts had almost 5,000 empty seats by the time the official count was taken despite most having been sold. Bomber president Garth Buchko apologized the next day for the massive traffic congestion that stranded so many and promised better for the first regular-season game Thursday against Montreal. More buses and bus-only lanes, plus earlier access to parking spots, are among the cures the team is hoping will ease the pain. "Weve got a lot of work to do," said Buchko. "We have to get better and we will get better." Parking is scarce but, after two years of planning, they also werent prepared for the 60 per cent larger crowd than estimated who opted for public transit to reach the $200-million stadium. Even staff who man concessions were caught in the snarl, leaving fans who could get inside standing in long lines at those fd and beverage outlets which were able to open. And, in a city often referred to as "Winterpeg," the open-air pressbox has already received a thumbs down from the CFL if the Bombers want to host a Grey Cup. They do and renovations are planned. This season, the Ticats will play their home games at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, Ont., as a new $145.7-million facility is built where venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium used to stand. The Ticats are scheduled to move into the venue in 2014 with the facility slated to hold the 2015 Pan American Games soccer competition as well. Until then, the CFL team will spend a cosy year at Alumni, which even after expansion will seat about 13,000. The Ticats will practise at McMaster in Hamilton and also play a home game in Moncton, N.B. When the new stadium is complete, it will initially seat 22,500 with standing rm for another 1,500. But it will also have 700 club seats and 30 VIP suites and the potential expanded capacity of 40,000 for special events like the Grey Cup. Ticats owner Bob Young says the new facility will generate more revenue that could go back into stadium improvements. "With more revenue you can do more things," he said. "With the money we can make in the new stadium its going to be interesting to see where, between ourselves and the city, we eventually take this stadium. "Were thrilled and very grateful at the way it has turned out." Hamilton quarterback Henry Burris said the players have quickly adopted Alumni Stadium as their home. "This is already home," he said. "Honestly, with this team that we have we really dont care where were playing but were so happy to be here at Guelph. "To be able to play in this atmosphere, were excited about it. Guys have come and made this home. Roughriders officials, meanwhile, have visited the new Winnipeg stadium and taken notes with their $278-million project in Regina following a similar pattern of covered seating over an open field. Riders president Jim Hopson has said he likes what he sees but suggests they will also learn from Winnipegs mistakes. The province, city and team are fting the bill in Regina, after a much more ambitious plan for a domed stadium failed to get federal money needed to proceed. In Ottawa, a $450-million, public-private redevelopment of Lansdowne Park is finally underway, including a 24,000-seat stadium set to open in 2014 when Redblacks are projected to join the CFL. The project had to clear legal and political hurdles for the CFL to return to the Canadian capital since indefinitely suspending the Ottawa Renegades franchise in 2006. "The facility is going to be second to none, thats not to say other cities dont have that, but its very important, said Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins. Calgarys McMahon Stadium escaped major damage sustained in recent flding there. It will boast new seats in corner end zones with plans for new concessions, washrms and VIP areas. "Weve covered up half the aluminum seats with customized inserts, so thats going to lk a lot better and going to feel a lot better for the fans who are sitting there in those sections," said Gord Norrie, the Stampeders new president. Edmonton Eskimos fans are getting more comfortable places to rest their hopes as well in the upper bowl at Commonwealth Stadium, as it enters the final phase of a $12-million plan to replace all seats. Montreal and Vancouver ftball fans havent been left out of the picture as both Molson Stadium and B.C. Place have received recent facelifts. Air Max Free Shipping .875,000, avoiding arbitration. 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That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker rm at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With their minds on two ailing teammates, the Arizona Coyotes pulled out a hard-fought victory Saturday night.Martin Hanzal redirected Alex Goligoskis shot into the net at 1:16 of overtime, giving the Coyotes a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks.Arizona players were aware that minor leaguer Craig Cunningham collapsed on the ice Saturday during pregame warmups with the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL, the organizations top farm club. He was taken to a hospital and the game was postponed.The 26-year-old Cunningham played 10 games for the Coyotes last season.All I can say is as a group in here, were thinking about him and his family, goalie Mike Smith said. Our thoughts and prayers are going out to them.The Coyotes didnt have an update on Cunninghams condition after the game but issued a statement from general manager John Chayka confirming the medical emergency and that Cunningham was receiving treatment at the hospital.Arizona coach Dave Tippett said more would be known on Sunday.The Coyotes also were thinking about injured teammate Brad Richardson, sidelined indefinitely after surgery Friday to repair broken bones in his right leg.Lots of emotion tonight. Its gd to finish with a win, Tippett said.Smith stopped 43 shots for Arizona, 18 in the third period. Tobias Rieder and Max Domi also scored for the Coyotes, who ended a four-game skid and played into overtime for the third straight game.Smitty was outstanding and thats why we won, Hanzal said.Smith, who missed 12 games with a lower-body injury before returning earlier in the week, felt well-rested.Its a game that you have to come in sharp and know youre probably going to get a lot of rubber thrown at you, he said. I was hoping it wasnt going to be in the 40s, but it happens.San Jose lost its third in a row despite finishing with a season-high 45 shots on goal.The Sharks cut the Coyotes lead to 2-1 just 41 seconds into the third period on Joe Pavelskis sixth goal of the season, a long, rising shot that was t fast for Smith to turn aside.Tommy Wingels scored off a deflected shot from teammate Matt Nieto at 10:28.ddddddddddddRieder, who missed Thursdays overtime loss at Vancouver due to injury, opened the scoring. He fired in a centering pass from Jordan Martink at 1:55 of the first period after Martink chased down the puck.It was Rieders fifth goal of the season and third in his last four games.Arizonas Ryan White and San Joses Michael Haley began exchanging punches off the faceoff right after the goal, with Haley getting in the most vicious hk. Haley leads the Sharks in penalty minutes despite having played in only eight games.The Coyotes mustered just four shots against goalie Martin Jones in the opening period and scored on one of them. Jones made 23 saves.Jones denied a pair of breakaways in the second, but couldnt stop Domis shot that found an opening short side between the post and Jones body at 7:53. Domis second goal and team-leading 13th point of the season came 25 seconds after Arizona went on a power play.The Coyotes were whistled twice for t many men on the ice, but they thwarted all three Sharks power plays.Disappointed, but satisfied with the effort, San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. We wanted two points and thought we played hard and maybe deserved them, but we didnt get them.Game notes Sharks C Tomas Hertl has a lower-body injury and is being evaluated away from the team. Hertl and C Melker Karlsson (ankle) were scratched. ... Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse is dealing with an upper-body injury and was scratched. ... The Coyotes recalled C Christian Dvorak from Tucson before the game. ... Referee Francois St. Laurent left the game after the first period due to illness. ... The Coyotes wore light purple warmup jerseys in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer Night.UP NEXTSharks: Host the New Jersey Devils on Monday night to open a five-game homestand.Coyotes: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night, the middle game of a three-game homestand. ' ' '