By Erin Sue
Hamilton Tiger-Cat players, coaches, alumni, cheerleaders, staff and Stripes hit up local Boston Pizzas during the last half of May. Boston Pizzas in the surrounding TigerTown area, Brantford, St. Catharine’s, Burlington and Cambridge were taken over for marketing events by the Ticats organization to show the team’s dedication to the community.
These events were to get the community excited about the upcoming season and gave fans the opportunity to win prizes including four trips to Montreal to travel by VIA Rail with the team for their July 23rd game against the Alouettes. Fans were encouraged to learn more about the products that the Ticats offer, such as season tickets and flex packs as well as team merchandise. The most popular aspect of these events however was the meet and greet with coaches, players and alumni. Fans came out for autographs, pictures and simply to talk to the guys.
Head Coach Marcel Bellefeuille commented that, “This is a great event for the community as we get an opportunity to visit our fans. They always come to the games to see us and it’s nice to be in their backyard and visit with them.” Continuing, Bellefeuille added that, “The CFL is different from the NFL where you get the chance to interact with the coaches and players in your local restaurants.”
The CFL, and more importantly, the Ticats are a unique team when it comes to their fans. Sandra Amaral a long time Ticat fan gave her story…
“Last year I wasn’t planning on buying season tickets, but I came here [Boston Pizza Event 2008] and Marwan [Hage] came over. He wanted to talk me into buying more tickets and he’s very persuasive – not only big, but that smile draws you right in. He wanted to do something to convince me to buy tickets, so he say’s what do you do? I told him I did skydiving last year, and asked if he wanted to try that? We thought about it for a minute but he’s a little over the weight limit, by like 85 pounds. He asked me what else I did, so I told him I like to ballroom dance. He said let’s go dance then. He said if you buy season tickets, I’ll come dance with you.”
Amaral and Hage took a private salsa dance lesson together, dips included.
Linebacker Ray Mariuz talked to Amaral as well and commented that, “We had a ten minute conversation on dancing, because I guess she got Marwan dancing doing the salsa last year. I was telling her, my fiancé and I do dance lessons, so she was giving me all these tips.”
This year the Ticat players did not fail to go above and beyond for their fans. Joshua Bonfield, a sworn Ray Mariuz fan, was unable to come out to the Boston Pizza, however his father and brother were there and went to talk to Mariuz about the situation. Within a minute, Mariuz was on the phone leaving a message for Bonfield. In response, Bonfield’s father commented that this community-oriented team really gives back, “Hamilton loves their team!”
Also in attendence at the Boston Pizza event were linebacker Matt Robichaud, Defensive back Sean Manning, Offensive lineman Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, Linebacker Agustin Barrenechea, Offensive Coordinator Mike Gibson, Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Greg Marshall, President Scott Mitchell, Quarterbacks Coach Khari Jones, Danny McManus and Angelo Mosca.
The winners of the Trips to Montreal with the team are as follows: Wayne Fletcher, Mary Brown, Tim Wyatt and Steve Ready.
