Changes/improvements at Lions games?

[Dan_Payne_fan!!]

less N-O-I-S-E on offence and no wave on offence,

the announcer to have the ablility to tell the fans to shuddup (cause he riles up the crowd too, its logical that he should be able to hush the crowd too)

[Spud387]

less N-O-I-S-E on offence and no wave on offence,

the announcer to have the ablility to tell the fans to shuddup (cause he riles up the crowd too, its logical that he should be able to hush the crowd too)

2nd

[Coast Mountain Lion]

The Hummer derby needs to be changed. Rather than having kids watch some animation on the big screen and then randomly choosing one of them as a winner, why not bring in a few large size remote controlled hummers, or other vehicle, and have the kids actually race them. Instead of having the kids just standing there looking confused. It would be more interresting for the fans too. Same with that subway sandwhich helmet thing in which it is just randomly selected.

Well it could be worse. Do they still do the horse race at Canadians games?
Come to think of it, didn't they used to (still do?) have kids do a race around the bases with radio cars?

I'd be happy with better food and beer that you don't have to take out a second mortgage to buy. And lose that annoying dj pep talker.

[David]

The Hummer derby needs to be changed. Rather than having kids watch some animation on the big screen and then randomly choosing one of them as a winner, why not bring in a few large size remote controlled hummers, or other vehicle, and have the kids actually race them. Instead of having the kids just standing there looking confused. It would be more interresting for the fans too. Same with that subway sandwhich helmet thing in which it is just randomly selected.

Well it could be worse. Do they still do the horse race at Canadians games?
Come to think of it, didn't they used to (still do?) have kids do a race around the bases with radio cars?

I'm torn on this one. The football purist in me believes the field is sacred. No one should be allowed on the field of play except players, officials, and dance teams (we'd probably have fewer idiots jumping onto the field if this were so, but I digress....). I also realize though that a lot of people are just there to be entertained, whether it be the actual football game or the silly stuff during TV timeouts. Further, this league doesn't have the lucrative TV deal of the other pro leagues and relies on sponsor revenue, and they want to get maximum exposure for their brand.

I guess what I am saying is if it's not tacky and actually entertaining (the Sport Action 'catch' for $5,000 from the Jugs machine), I am okay with it. However, I draw the line at the Subway sandwich building contest. Nothing cries 'minor league baseball' quite like that one.

DH

[nelson95]

shoot Crazy P

[Soundy]

I loooooooooooooooove hearing "Roar You Lions Roar" after every touchdown and third quarter stretch. It's a great tune steeped in tradition and reminds me of some of the great U.S. college fight songs (i.e. USC, Notre Dame, and Michigan). But maybe it's time to retire the 1960's vocal version as it's just seems a trifle out of date for the mass audience. What about hiring a 40 piece pep band to play at games? You could seat them in the 7-11 endzone, dress them in orange and black, and they could play the instrumental version the way Dal Richards and the Beefeaters used to years ago, and occasionally play other fun tunes during a break in the play.

There's just something about football and bands that really goes well together and distinguishes it from just about any other sport.

DH

That is an AWESOME idea.

The football purist in me believes the field is sacred. No one should be allowed on the field of play except players, officials, and dance teams (we'd probably have fewer idiots jumping onto the field if this were so, but I digress....). I also realize though that a lot of people are just there to be entertained, whether it be the actual football game or the silly stuff during TV timeouts. Further, this league doesn't have the lucrative TV deal of the other pro leagues and relies on sponsor revenue, and they want to get maximum exposure for their brand.

I guess what I am saying is if it's not tacky and actually entertaining (the Sport Action 'catch' for $5,000 from the Jugs machine), I am okay with it. However, I draw the line at the Subway sandwich building contest. Nothing cries 'minor league baseball' quite like that one.

DH

It's a sticky wicket, to be sure - it's great to consider the field as sacred ground (Bobby sure did), but at the same time the CFL prides itself in being really open and accessible to the fans, and for a lot of them, being invited onto the field is something special in itself, even if it is for some sort of cheesy promotional thing with lame prizes. Sure most of these things may be dumb to watch, but how many fans here wouldn't jump at ANY chance to share the field with the players (and cheerleaders, natch) and to be "a part of it all", even just for a few minutes?

[QB Club 63]

<Goes and gets curmudgeon hat out> Why back in the day at old Empire Stadium they used to have demolition derbies (on the track) and fireworks at halftime. We need to dig up Gordie Olson and round up what's left of the Beefeater Band so they can do yet another rendition of "Hi, Neighbor (note the spelling!)" for all our American friends who are visiting and confused why we always punt on third down. And let's bring back that lumberjack climbing the pole after every touchdown.

OK, I took the hat off. That feels much better.

As far as Roar, You Lions, Roar goes, I agree we should keep it but I find it painful listening to those 1960's production values. By all means let's update it (and I do not much care for the erstwhile remake "Roar, You Lions" that came out about, what, 8 years ago? If you're not familiar with it follow the link http://www.bclions.com/page/fanzone_fightsong , scroll down , and click on REMAKE)

Crazy P has outlived his usefulness. Oh, wait a minute - he never had any! I wouldn't miss him. Ditto Tim Donovan. On second thought, I'd let him continue to do the pre-game intros then he can exercise his unamplified voice in a seat he has purchased like the rest of us.

The 50/50 does very well, so I'd like to suggest a new lottery-type game. Maybe Sports Action would be interested. People will buy tickets based on what time and which quarter they think Ballistic Bob will get tossed out of each home game. Sorry, BB!

I realize it must be hard to come up with halftime shows, but somebody has to pay attention while screening some of these acts. What was up with that golf fiasco a while ago? And the Show Dogs have kind of, if you'll pardon the pun, gone to the dogs. I do enjoy Mascot Soccer, but it would get very old, very quickly if they played too often. Not to mention the increase in Mascot mortality rates.

Kids' football is good as well. How about something where they get some current players and maybe alumni (ex-CFLers) from the SFU Clansmen against the UBC T'Birds in flag football, or a field goal kicking contest, combined with ticket giveaways to CIAU games?

Would it be possible to put on a sort of controlled scrimmage featuring some of the local high school players? Maybe an all-star game type of thing. Show people the kind of quality football we have around here. Give free game tickets to BC Football coaches, managers, or support personnel who have exemplary records, either in terms of success or tenure, and introduce them during breaks in the action so they get a well-deserved round of applause. I think Bobby Ackles would look down and love something like that.

I like it when there's marching bands. The Chilliwack Chargers seem to be the closest thing we have to a local large-scale band, but we used to see bands from schools in Washington and Oregon (and not just at Empire).

Maybe once the roof is opened up we could have a salute to Canadian Forces at halftime. The massed bands will march around playing while soldiers assemble a Sea King at midfield, then fly it out the hole.

[Robbie]

Kids' football is good as well. How about something where they get some current players and maybe alumni (ex-CFLers) from the SFU Clansmen against the UBC T'Birds in flag football, or a field goal kicking contest, combined with ticket giveaways to CIAU games?

Yes, they should promote Canadian college football.

[Lions4ever]

Great topic and discussion - most (not all, mind you) of which I agree with.

I have ranted on this site in the past that a Lions game-day experience lacks what I think of as "football culture". Some of these are, in my mind, virtually non-negotiable items:

1. Player introductions: Scrap the high-school disco. Introduce players by position, former university affiliation, number and name. This is pro football. Some level of gravitas and dignity here.

2. Field markings: End zones are painted in some way with the home team's name painted thereon. Not Dairyland's. Prominent team logo/League logo painted on field of play. Get rid of tacky, crass ads on field. Commissioner Cohon had made a pronouncement about getting rid of the NASCAR look that plagues CFL fields early on in his mandate. I'd like to see more progress here.

3. Fans should be encouraged to wear team gear. Go to a Seahawks game not wearing the colours, (unless you're rooting for the other team of course) you may as well hang a sign on yourself saying that you're an unrepentent life-long kiddie porn addict. Not too well received. Boise State Bronco fans, whose colours are blue and orange, are colour coordinated by section. One section everyone wears orange, in the next, blue and so on. That's community. That's football culture. Too many people who go to Lions games (and a big thumbs up for going at all BTW!) look like they were just going out to a movie. No one who can afford twenny or thirdy bucks for a game ticket can't afford to blow a twenny (or whatever) on a Lions T-shirt. Besides, it's not like you weren't going to wear a shirt or top out in public anyway, so it may as well be some Lions/your favourite CFL team's gear.

[Blue In BC]

Kids' football is good as well. How about something where they get some current players and maybe alumni (ex-CFLers) from the SFU Clansmen against the UBC T'Birds in flag football, or a field goal kicking contest, combined with ticket giveaways to CIAU games?

Yes, they should promote Canadian college football.

Go to their games.

[melo]

1. Player introductions: Scrap the high-school disco. Introduce players by position, former university affiliation, number and name. This is pro football. Some level of gravitas and dignity here.

Thank you for mentioning this. I cannot stand how rushed and unprofessional our intros are. And why not introduce the starting offence or defence for the visiting team to build some animosity and energy in the building? Bringing out the whole team to Darth Vader's theme just doesn't cut it.

[zark]

Buy a program. Let's get the game going.

[ziggy]

I'm sure everyone has had an incident where it has been embarassing to have their kids witness some of the drunks flopping around and seat surfing. I don't know how the staff can find the happy medium between allowing responsible fans to enjoy a few cool ones and not allowing those non fans (for the most part) who come just for the beer, to become beligerent drunks. Have to suspect that given the prices and lineups most of these guys were well on their way when they arrived. I like a few beers as much as the next guy, but I also like to watch the game. Some of the drunks couldn't even tell you who is playing by halftime.

[dpoe]

[quote="

2) Get rid of Crazy Pete or whatever he calls himself

[/quote]

Gotta disagree. I didn't care for him much when he first appeared on the scene, but he is quite good around the stadium prior to the games. We drive in from Kamloops to about 5 games a year and he always stops and says hello to my kids when he sees us and gets them up for the game. I think some of us longtime fans need to let go of our Crazy George pinings and work with the guy. He really doesn't do a bad job.