I donned a hard hat, safety goggles and a fluorescent, orange vest on Monday and headed straight for the Rum Hut.

I know, it sounds like a typical half-time at a Blue Bomber game.

But this was actually a tour of the construction site that doubles as the home of the Bombers.

For the last two-plus years the sound of jackhammers and grinders and the sight of work crews often greeted the media as we attended practice during the season.

That work – fixing the myriad of problems that have plagued the stadium since it opened, a year behind schedule, for the 2013 season – kicks into high gear in the winter and spring.

So I figured it was time to provide you, the loyal reader, with a first-hand update.

What I saw, Monday, and what I've seen on an ongoing basis is shocking -- and sad – for a facility so new.

What was supposed to be a crown jewel of our city turned out to be significantly flawed, as you've no doubt heard and read by now.

Imagine moving into a gorgeous, brand new home, only to find serious, underlying problems that forced you to tear the thing apart.

That's what's happening at the stadium.

Both the south-end and north-end concourses on the main level are torn up – similar work to what's previously taken place on the upper-level concourses.

Seats have been removed and stairs have been jackhammered to pieces as they install floor drains and re-slope slabs that somehow weren't built properly to begin with.

The north-end concourse, home to the Rum Hut, has a giant weather-proof tent constructed over it – a cool idea for a mid-winter party, perhaps, but on this day just an example of how major this reconstruction project is.

Soon after the place opened, considering it was dug deep into the ground and named after an investment firm, I joked we should call it the Money Pit.

I was only joking because, at the time, it seemed like we actually got a pretty good deal on it: around $200 million for 33,500 semi-covered seats and those impressive, rolling steal roofs.

Then we heard the Bombers were going to spend another $10 million or so to add a few frills.

Then the province had to spend a few million more to get it ready for the 2015 Grey Cup.

Today, some $21.4 million into a repair bill expected to reach $35 million, with millions more going to lawyers in a legal battle to determine who'll pay for it, the Money Pit is a perfect description.

Or Investors Group Failed, if you prefer a more corporate moniker.

Recapping the problems is a dizzying prospect, but here goes.

It began with the stark realization, before the place even opened, that somebody forgot something: in order to host concerts, there has to be a way for trucks to get to the field.

Out came the jackhammers, and down came a couple of concrete walls.

The planners also forgot that fans on the field at those concerts need several ways to get off the field, aside from trying to scale the walls. So they needed to cut through the rails to build several sets of stairs.

Out came the grinders.

Somewhere along the line, far too late, somebody noticed the facility had an outdoor press box. We know the Bombers never reach the Grey Cup, but really?

Out came the jackhammers, again.

Then came the first spring thaw, in April, 2014, and all hell broke loose.

We got word of flooding in the luxury suites, which turned out to be far more serious than the Bombers first let on.

A year later, the truth came out: the Bombers, the city, the province and the U of M, through Triple B, the shell corporation that manages the building, were suing the builder, Stuart Olsen Construction, and the architect, Raymond Wan, for dozens of “defects.”

Among the issues: the concrete wasn't sloped right, it didn't have proper drainage or waterproofing and key areas of the building weren't insulated properly.

Estimated cost to fix the mess: $35 million.

Triple B borrowed the money, and guess who guaranteed the loan?

The provincial government, which had stepped in to fund the stadium when David Asper's original private/public plan fell apart.

Stuart Olson, in its defence, says it raised concerns about some of the design flaws but the project was rushed for political and financial reasons.

Wan filed his own statement of defence, and the three sides continue to pay lawyers to fight it out.

Fun times, eh?

It's funny, now, to think the stadium's first event back in the spring of 2013 was a massive prayer meeting.

Somebody should have slipped in a prayer for the facility itself.

Because it's been driving us to the Rum Hut, ever since.

pfriesen@postmedia.com

Twitter: @friesensunmedia

THE MONEY PIT

Winnipeg's $tadium $oap Opera

2011: After starting out at $115 million, the cost of a new stadium is pegged at a “guaranteed maximum” $190 million.

2013: Bombers spend an addition $15 million on improvements.

2014: Luxury suites flood, causing $500,000 in damage.

2015-17

- Province contributes another $3 million for upgrades before Grey Cup game.

- Triple B launches lawsuit against builder/architect, claiming millions of dollars in defects.

- Province guarantees $35 million in loans for repairs.

- $21.4 million spent on repairs, so far.

- Repairs scheduled for completion in May, 2019.