It’s been over three decades since Steeltown hosted the CFL’s opening game, and the Tiger-Cats organization is gearing up to show the country what they’ve been missing.
On Monday, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon joined Ticats President Scott Mitchell in the endzone at Ivor Wynne Stadium, where the festivities will be kicked off later this week. The first game of the 2008 regular season will see the Alouettes travel to TigerTown to take on the Tabbies.
“When we talk about celebrating “This Is Our League,” there’s really no more appropriate place to launch the season than in the rich tradition of the Hamilton Tiger-cats and Ivor Wynne stadium,” said Cohon.
Canadian Football has been a way of life in Southern Ontario for quite some time and having the year get underway with a Ticats home game is a testament to the fans who are as patriotic about their team as they are about their country.
“Having the season opener for the first time in 31 years is a big thrill for us,” said Mitchell. “We feel like this is starting a new era for us in Hamilton. We’re a much better franchise today than we have been in quite sometime. We’ve changed the look of the stadium a little bit, we’ve changed the look of the team, and we’ve changed the look of the front office.”
Thursday will be a new experience for those who take a seat in the stands at Ivor Wynne, which will include the commissioner himself. In additional to a new product on the field, the gameday events plan to raise the bar as well.
Ticats faithful can expect some surprises when they walk through the gates. The Carling and Pepsi have revamped their pre-game party areas, banner flags will be seen throughout the stadium, and you’ll be certain to run into a member of the Ticats promo team, sporting official Black and Gold merchandise.
Fans will have a chance to gear up in the latest 2008 Ticats gear, including the Heritage Line, which will be available at the all-new, state of the art, TigerTown Store kiosks.
When the pre-game parties come to an end, this year’s home games will featured an adrenaline-filled introduction that may have you ready to take the field yourself. During intermissions, some lucky fans will get that chance, when they participate in the on-field promotions. Ticats TV host, Candace Devai, takes the mic alongside Lesley Stewart as your in-game co-hosts for all the fun and potential prizes being given out.
They’ll have to compete with the booming vocals of Pigskin Pete, who will be all around the stadium, making sure Tabbies fans are doing their part to help guide the team towards a big win.
It’s been a busy off-season in TigerTown, and with the CFL choosing Hamilton as the site of its 2008 debut, all eyes are on Hamilton as Thursday night approaches.
