CFL.ca
Rod Pedersen
Just like the slogan for the infamous American sporting good store MODELL’S says “You’ve Gotta Go”, I would use the same phrase for Vancouver’s Empire Field.
The Roughriders were there Saturday night for a Week 2 showdown against the B.C. Lions in a battle of 1-0 teams. The Riders won the game 37-18 but the story of the night was the stadium.
The 27,500 seat temporary structure was erected in 111 days this spring at a pricetag of just over $14-million. The Lions are using it for the 2010 season while a retractable roof is built on B.C. Place Stadium.
Here are some observations from the night Empire Struck Back…
– The one thing I noticed once they swung the gates open and the fans came in was that everybody had a smile on their face. It was a novelty for everyone to be there.
– I usually try to avoid the drunken debauchery of the fans but found myself in the middle of it when I went down out of the press box to use the washrooms. “Your team can’t count!” yelled one enebriated young Lions fan, “That’s why you lost the Grey Cup.” The recipient of the insults, a lady in a green Rider jersey screamed back “At least we were IN the Grey Cup!” Yada, yada, yada, and back and forth it went. That’s why I try to avoid it. I did smile about it as I waded through the bodies though.
– You could tell very early on in warmups that Empire Field was going to get LOUD. They cranked up the tunes and once the sound bounced off the aluminum stands, it was deafening. Once the game started and the Lions were on defense, the P.A. announcer enticed the fans to stomp the aluminum bleachers. Not only did it produce a thunderous boom, it made the whole stadium shake. Pretty cool.
– The stadium itself is somewhat unimposing as you walk up to it. The facility is enveloped in a mesh-like white wrap that extends about 10 or 12 feet above the top row. Presumably this is to keep the wind out, but Saturday night the mild breeze would have been welcomed. It was a sweltering 28 degrees Celsius at kickoff and the stadium was like a steam room. Globe and Mail writer Matt Sekeres groaned that the white wrap cut off a beautiful view of Mount Seymour.
– As far as being inside the stucture goes, Empire Field had very much the feel of being at a construction site. I never went into the Rider locker room but the players said it was like four construction site trailers bunched into one. They had no complaints about those facilities though and said there are worse in the CFL.
– On the field the first thing that struck me was that the visitors sideline is in the shade while the Lions’ bench is in the sun. The Riders said it’s because the Lions’ locker room was on that side of the stadium and coach & GM Wally Buono didn’t want to cross the field. I have to think that gave the Riders an advantage and am wondering if the Lions will switch sides for this week’s game when they host Montreal on Friday.
– Speaking of, Lions President Dennis Skulsky said Saturday night’s game likely would not have sold out if the Riders weren’t there. That’s the point of today’s column; YOU’VE GOTTA GO Friday night when the Alouettes are in town.
– If you sit on the sunny side, and I’m not certain geographically what that side is, take plenty of fluids with you if it’s a hot day (if you can). If you’re a beer drinker, be prepared to shell out a lot of cash. “My buddies from the fire department are dying over there, and asked if I could send some beer over to them!” laughed Lions radio colour commentator Guilo Caravatta, a full-time fireman and part-time football type.
– Any or all of these facts I’m presenting may not be entirely correct. These are tidbits I picked up while asking the local fans and security guards what they know about the place. Someone told me the Lions could very well be in Empire Field for half of the 2011 season because B.C. Place might not be finished in time.
– One downside was that parking on the PNE grounds in East Vancouver (where Empire Field is located) can run you between $25-$30. But don’t blame the Lions! The PNE is trying to grab as much cash as they can as long as the stadium is there.
– It was mass confusion trying to get into the place, for everyone, but you would expect that for a facility that’s hosting just its second game in 28 years! “The cab driver had NO idea where to drop me off,” marveled TSN’s Chris Cuthbert who called the game nationally.
– If I could make a suggestion, take public transit to the game. Everyone said getting a cab after the game would be next to impossible and the City of Vancouver has made it relatively easy to get out there without your own car. But I can pretty much guarantee you this; you won’t be disappointed.
