GREY CUP 2002, EDMONTON ALBERTA

By Thomas Rodgers (BC rep)

The moment you arrived in Edmonton you knew you were in the Grey Cup host city.

From the flight attendant announcing Go Esks Go, the official banners and posters lining every bare wall at the Edmonton International, to the cabbies confession he was really cheering for the Alouettes – there was no mistake. 

The 90^th Grey Cup had come to Edmonton.

For those who have never attended a Grey Cup, it is much more than a 3 hour game on Sunday afternoon.   Being a football fan isn’t even a pre-requisite for a good time.

It is five day celebration of Canadian football, of unmatched fellowship, camaraderie and renewing once a year friendships.  The Grey Cup has evolved into a patriotic festival of all things Canadian.

It didn’t take much effort to realize BC Lions fans had come out to this event in numbers.

Only in Calgary 2000 – when the Lions were in the show – did I see as many Lions fans at a Grey Cup outside of Vancouver.   Many I spoke with had travelled from the Lower Mainland, but others had come from such locales as Prince George, Quesnel and Vancouver Island.  The famous BC Booze Brothers were also out in full force.

While the BC Lions were well represented by their fans, once again they were the only Western Division team to have no official hospitality suite or social event at the Grey Cup.  Add to that the Lions were the only CFL club that did not send cheerleaders to the Grey Cup, it was up the fans to show the rest of the country the BC Lions had come to the show.

The event was officially kicked off Wednesday evening at Edmonton City Hall with a family oriented theme that included mascots, cheerleading demonstrations and fireworks.   In what was a sure sign the citizens of Edmonton were up for a party, three times as many fans showed up as organizers had predicted. 

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame set up a display inside City Hall which included a video history of the CFL, the evolution of football equipment and of course the Grey Cup.

On Thursday morning, the Calgary Grey Cup Committee held it’s annual and always popular pancake breakfast at Winston Churchill Square.  That same night, Vancouver music heroes 54-40 headlined a Grey Cup concert at the Shaw Convention Centre.

A few blocks away at the Winspear Centre the CFL honoured its most outstanding players of the 2002 season with BC Lion Jason Clermont taking the Most Outstanding Rookie honours.

Friday morning saw the first of two Spirit of Edmonton breakfasts.  Always a popular event, this year the Spirit of Edmonton breakfast catered to almost 4,000 football fans over two days.  

Touchdown Manitoba hosted its annual social Friday afternoon at The Westin hotel.   Among those in attendance at this sold out event was Blue Bombers head coach Dave Ritchie, Most Outstanding Player Milt Stegal and Lions owner David Braley.   All were quick with a handshake and cheerfully posed for endless photo requests.

The Lionbackers.com first annual meet and greet took place Friday night at the Holiday Inn.   Over a dozen faithful turned up in Lions jerseys.   Thanks to Derek Dale for organizing this event and here’s hoping we can do it all again next year.

The Grey Cup parade took place at noon Saturday and over 100 entries completed a boisterous, well-attended trek through downtown Edmonton that was broadcasted Sunday on CBC.  (except in BC)  

The Cheerleader extravaganza entertained a full house Saturday evening with 8 of the 9 clubs represented.   This years championship celebrations also marked the unveiling of a new CFL logo and the naming of a new commissioner, Mr Tom Wright.

The Grey Cup experience, if you hadn’t heard, is also about parties.  

Fans from across the country (and literally around the world) and from the age of 18 to 78 filled the various party rooms.   The famous Spirit of Edmonton Hospitality Suite was located at the Crowne Plaza and was always jam packed with CFL fans of all colours.   The Edmonton Eskimos Alumni hosted a party at the old Bay store on Jasper Ave.  Despite a capacity of several thousand, it was not uncommon to find a 20-minute line up outside.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders Hospitality Suite was located at the Sheraton and equally well attended over its three-night stay.   New this year, the Tigers Lair group out of Hamilton hosted a very successful two-night event at the Inn on Seventh. 

The country music themed Calgary Hoe Down held its annual event Saturday night at the Northlands Agricom

The game took place on Sunday afternoon.  Five days prior, the game had officially sold out and 62,531 fans filled the recently renovated Commonwealth Stadium.   This was the fourth largest crowd to watch a Grey Cup game, and the largest outside of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.

Although not a classic game due to icy field conditions, in true CFL form the game went down to the wire.   The result was not what the tens of thousands of Eskimo fans had hoped for but they took the loss in relatively good spirits.   Following the game the chant of ‘we’re number two’ emitted from some circles.

This game set a new TV viewership record as 5.5 million Canadians watched the grey cup game on CBC/RDS.  

Without questions this was a fantastic show by the people of Edmonton and organizers of Grey Cup 2002.   This was my fifth Grey Cup and I have little hesitation in naming it the best I have attended.  Not that the others were bad, the Edmonton event was just that good.    Grey Cup 2003 is in Saskatchewan next year (November 16^th 2003) and as the many fans congregated at the airport departure terminal on Monday, that was what they were talking about; doing it all again.

Next year. 

In Regina.

FANS OF THE MONTH

CELEBRATING A VICTORY

 These guys were on the top row at the 45 yard line. The picture was taken by a  fan from Winnipeg (Pat Van Woensel). These guys were in the middle of the stadium with the 30 foot flag poles with 2 Montreal flags on each and also joined us in  the parade.  Thanks Wayne for sending it in and keep them pics coming.

CHEERING ALL THE WAY TO THE CUP

How many people can say that in their rookie year they were on the team they love and grew up watching, had an outstanding season, performed for over 50 000 people in a division final and was on the team that won the Grey Cup.  You could call it a “dream” season.  That is exactly what Lili, a first year member of the Montreal Alouette Cheerleading squad, accomplished this season while living out her dream.  Fansofcanadianfootball.com caught up with Lili to discuss the ins and outs of being a member of a C.F.L. cheerleading squad and how she feels about living a childhood dream.

1.    Since this is your first year as a member of the Montreal Alouette cheerleading squad it is safe to say this is your first Grey Cup.  How have you enjoyed the Grey Cup weekend, festivities and performing in the big game?

I have enjoyed the weekend.  It was a lot of fun attending the different parties and being in the parade.  It has been busy but really exciting and fun.  The game was hard as it was very stressful watching your team.  It was a hard game but a good game.  We had fun and of course it was good as our team won.

2.    What inspired you to become a cheerleader?

I love to dance and I love football.  Cheerleading was a great opportunity to be able to watch football and dance at the same time.

3.    What is the best thing about being a cheerleader?

It is hard to say because I honestly like everything about it.  I guess for me is the fact that I get to dance and watch football at the same time.

4.    What is the hardest thing about being a cheerleader?

There is a lot of work you have to put into it.  We practice four hours a week plus performing in games so it is somewhat time consuming at times which is difficult to get use to.  There is a definite commitment involved.

5.    My little girl would like to be a cheerleader when she grows up.  Any advice to her to help her accomplish this goal?

I would say practice your dancing.  Take lessons and learn how to dance.  Then you just smile, have fun, dance and enjoy yourself.

6.    I see you guys have been carrying around calendars all weekend.  Where could I purchase one?

You can get them on the Montreal Alouette website, www.alouette.net. 

Thanks Lili for your time and I will be sure to get one of those calendars.  Good luck in the future and keep cheering.

Thank-you.