Saskatchewan Roughrider Attendance Correction

My apologies for the figures in the last post. The Saskatchewan Roughrider totals were not correct as I forgot the capacity got boosted for the August 31 game against Winnipeg from 28,800. Strangely, for the Winnipeg game the attendance is listed as 30,985, whereas for the last three games it is 30,945. Here's the amended list:

Edmonton 37383
BC 34083
Calgary 32617
Saskatchewan 29758
Toronto 29189
Winnipeg 27151
Hamilton 20784
Montreal 20202

This you will note, boost Saskatchewan over Toronto. I'm still working on the best road draw calculations, but I should be able to post them for Friday.

Best Road Draw, Part 1

Remembering the Ticat game at home against Saskatchewan and all the Riders fans there, I got to wondering which CFL is the best road draw. I also thought about how the Jesse Lumsden fumble before halftime probably cost us the game, but then I should probably just let that go. Damn he had the first down yardage too.

Anyways, calculating who is the best road draw is a bit tedious, but I have calculated the average attendances for each team last year which is the first step:

Edmonton 37383
BC 34083
Calgary 32617
Toronto 29189
Saskatchewan 28800
Winnipeg 27151
Hamilton 20784
Montreal 20202

All right Hamilton, not last in something! Actually with the feeble record and
feeble attendance the Ticats had last year, the Cats may be able to improve on both this year.

Anyways, from what I've seen so far, the Riders look like they will end up being the best road draw. Hopefully I can have part two posted by the weekend. Somehow I don't think Hamilton will end up doing that great and the Argos might surprise.

Richie Williams, A Ticat No More

The Spec is reporting that the club has released quarterback Richie Williams. This isn't a big surprise considering the signing of Kevin Glenn. I suppose the timing is related to the draft and the need to be at the right number of players signed going into camp. I liked Richie, but with the relative success of Quinton Porter, Williams became an afterthought. Richie seemed to have more success than Printers when he was in, but that's not saying much, is it?

Whether Williams will resign with another club is a question. After all, if you get released by the last placed club, that's not saying much. The Argos seemed to have respect for Richie, so maybe he will end up there. Hopefully that won't come back to bite us.

Season Ticket Missive

So I received the season ticket holder email today, as a proud holder of two tickets in section 5 (section 5 motto: we're cheap and we can probably move over towards the centre right after kickoff). Two points were worth noting. The first was regards to purchasing parking to go along with your season tickets. Lot J near Scott Park is $135, whereas A, D and K are $175. There's a lot B shown on the map right behind the stadium, but I guess that's for VIPs or something. Getting parking in J for $135 isn't so bad, as then you wouldn't have to creep around Ivor Wynne in your car like a pedophile looking for elusive street parking (and enraging locals at the same time) although it is over $10 per game. I wonder if a home playoff game is included in the price. I still believe there has to be a magical area near Ivor Wynne, where you're relatively close, and can easily find a spot near game time. Haven't found it yet.

The other point is that as a season ticket holder you can get Grey Cup tickets before the general public. The game is in Calgary this year and endzone tickets were available for $195, with bronzes for $225. The higher price tickets are apparently all sold out, which I take as a good sign considering that the draft hasn't even happened yet.

Ticats Probably Won't Draft Jamall Lee

TSN reports that Jamall Lee has signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers. The Bishop's player was probably going to go high in the draft (and possibly the Cats could have picked him with their third pick), but now since he wouldn't be available at the earliest until after the CFL season has started, he will probably drop down into the later rounds, although probably not any later than the third. Too bad for the CFL, as he would have been interesting to follow this year.

CFL Draft, Live on TSN

Yes you, like Homer Simpson in the episode "When Flanders Failed", can watch the CFL 2009 draft in the comfort of your own home on TSN. The draft takes place on May 2nd, at 11 am, with the first two rounds broadcast live. Apparently it will also be broadcast on TSN HD, which seems like a bit of overkill. I'm still waiting for TSN to start broadcasting non Touchdown Atlantic preseason games.

Of course the Cats have the first and third picks this year so it is well worth watching.

Grey Cup Droughts

Thinking about how long it has been since the Cats last won the Grey Cup in 1999, I decided to make a list of when the various teams last won the Cup. Out of the current teams in the league, only Winnipeg has had a longer drought than the Hammer and I'm guessing they're not ending it this season. I suppose since Ottawa has a conditional franchise, they are in a sense the team with the longest drought of over thirty years. Sarnia's also had a long, long drought, but I never hear any Sarnia Imperials expansion talk. Sarnia also won in 1934, so they were no one hit wonder.

2008 Calgary
2007 Saskatchewan
2006 BC
2005 Edmonton
2004 Toronto
2002 Montreal
1999 Hamilton
1995 Baltimore
1990 Winnipeg
1976 Ottawa
1936 Sarnia

Weird Grey Cup Fact: Luba was the half time entertainment for the 79th in 1991.