CFL should embrace these events for the sake of everyone tired of Winnipeg at Grey Cups
The 2024 Grey Cup Festival and Game is finally here. A week-long celebration of the CFL to be topped off by a great game.
Well that’s the plan at least.
An appearance by the B.C. Lions in the 111th-edition of the game was to be the culmination of team owner Amar Doman’s vision to put the Lions and the Canadian Football League on the map in the city of Vancouver.
Instead, the Lions limped to a 9-9 record and bowed out of the playoffs in the first round.
The game lost a lot of its luster with the Lions not participating, but to make matters worse, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be making their fifth-straight appearance in the championship game after trouncing the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in the Western Final.
Now if that wasn’t bad enough, the Bombers are almost a lock to win it all in going up against a Toronto Argonauts team that will be without the services of quarterback Chad Kelly, who broke his tibia and fibula in the third quarter of the Argos 30-28 Eastern Final win over the Montreal Alouettes this past weekend.
The Vegas oddsmakers had Winnipeg opening as touchdown favorites. That number has now jumped to the Bombers being favored by 11.
I feel for Grey Cup Festival Executive Director Riley Wiwchar and his staff. They’ve done so much hard work in trying to make this a success but it’s not exactly a dream matchup especially with CFL fans experiencing the Blue Bomber fatigue factor.
Even if Saskatchewan had somehow made it to the game, it would have been a fresh look with an enthusiastic Rider Nation here en masse. Instead, you’re dealing with that loaf of bread that you left in your kitchen prior to departing for your three-week European vacation.
The Grey Cup does have one thing going for it however. It’s a heck of a party.
Starting with the Kickoff Party at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Vancouver Convention Centre and Coal Harbour will be the epicenter for the festival with everything from team-sponsored parties to ziplines to entertain people. For a listing of the events, click here.
The great thing about this week is that it is a celebration of the CFL and Canada with fans from all corners of the country coming for the experience. But with no Lions or Riders and a championship game that will resemble more of a coronation, we think fans might need a little bit more to get engaged.
With that in mind, we have some suggestions for the organizers.
Interactive Player Experience
There will be the obvious tests of your athletic prowess such as passing accuracy, agility drills, and the 40-yard dash but we’ve come up with some more ideas.
One of the highlights will be the Brady Oliveira Challenge. First off, you have to run through a gauntlet of defenders in which you must gain at least six yards. Once you do, you’ll be judged on how many times you can slap your head in a span of three seconds. Winners will receive a Chris Walby-autographed game-worn Bombers jersey.
Be Like Reggie Test
Make a big 30-yard catch? Scamper down the sidelines for a 47-yard run? Just nonchalantly give the ball to an official like Calgary all-star receiver Reggie Begelton. The individual with the best ‘act like you’ve been there before’ reaction will win a Derek Jeter signed baseball.
TSN Media Centre
With budget cuts a way of life, TSN and its parent company Bell Media have been working with a highly-respected but anonymous AI firm in an attempt to consolidate the play-by-play, colour analyst and sideline reporter positions into ONE with one person doing all three.
The dream of TSN’s very own Farhan Lalji, you will be set up in a studio in which you will do the play-by-play, then follow it up with the analysis and then throw it down to the sidelines to yourself for an update! Everyone participating gets a copy of their call.
The Football Spike Challenge
Inspired by Calgary’s designated plunger Tommy Stevens, you will be tested on how hard you can spike a football after scoring a touchdown on a quarterback sneak.The prerequisite is that you do absolutely nothing for 25 minutes. The winners will receive $100 gift certificates to Spolumbo’s Italian Deli in Calgary.
All-Star Voting Seminar
Hosted by Saskatchewan safety Loucheiz Purifoy, this seminar will educate fans and media alike. Voting for all-stars is a privilege, and as such, should be taken seriously. That means doing your due diligence and talking to players, coaches and front office types on who they believe to be the best-of-the-best.
As part of your registration, you will receive two complementary Old-Fashioneds at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina.
All kidding aside, check out the Convention Centre if you have the opportunity.
If you’re a Grey Cup veteran, you’ll know the drill. If you’re not, you can expect to meet people from all over Canada who have made the trip to Vancouver to have a great time and experience a first-class event.
You’ll enjoy it….and you can thank me later.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob “the Moj” Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.