2023-2024 off-season

[Sectionq]

not making excuses for the team at all, they've been terrible and the first step to getting anyone in the door is some W's, which you've said yourself. I'm saying to compare the CFL to the NHL is not fair and it exactly based on the comments you made plus the ones I made. I've coached hockey for coming on 30 years and I can tell you that there are A LOT of delusional parents that think their kid is their meal ticket. They ruin the sporting experience for so many as they are always "experts" but not willing to step up and help out.

My comparison between the CFL and the NHL had nothing to do with the product budget wise. It had everything to do with making that game an event. For the hardcore hockey fan who only go to the games to watch the sport and they don't care about anything else but the hockey, then that game wasn't great for watching because the sight lines weren't that great even the size of the rink vs the massive commonwealth stadium but there was lots of other things going on that created a great atmosphere that my kids enjoyed.

When we were driving back, I asked my 2 boys, what was your fav part. So each listed off several things that was cool that made it fun. The actual hockey game was down on the list. I am sure there are lots of things the Elks could do that don't cost as much as Nickelback would have been to play 3 songs to enhance the atmosphere to make people want to come.

[Sectionq]

Just my opinion, but I can see a scenario happening over the next few years where there could potentially be a divide between the hardcore football fans and the casual ones the team desperately needs to attracted and is making moves to get them to come.

For the hardcore football fan, closing the upper deck is a kick in the nuts. I have no doubt in my mind that if you are mid field in the first few 10 rows in the upper deck, the view would be great to watch the game. You see the whole field and everything that is happen. So to go from being way up there to even the in the upper rows of the lower bowl, it won't be near as good of a view so they won't be happy. But if you look at the attendance over the last multiple years, I would say the bulk of the people that still went to games are the hardcores and unfortunately those hardcores are getting less and less. So they need to do things to try to attract the more casual fans and those people won't come if it's all about football. There needs to be more things that entertain them to make them want to be there other than football, even if they start winning. Winning will help but I will use my wife as an example. When the Esks were good, even in the last cup year, she went to a few games but she didn't care if they won. Sure everyone likes to cheer for a winner but it was more about what else was going on during the game. Once all the other things to entertain her was done, she got bored because she wasn't a hardcore fan.

So IMO, wining games will help but a bit but they are going to have to do more things to keep people's attention and make them want to come to the event that that is an Elks game vs a football game. I think moving people down is the right and long overdue first step but hopefully more is to come.

[Looner]

My comparison between the CFL and the NHL had nothing to do with the product budget wise. It had everything to do with making that game an event. For the hardcore hockey fan who only go to the games to watch the sport and they don't care about anything else but the hockey, then that game wasn't great for watching because the sight lines weren't that great even the size of the rink vs the massive commonwealth stadium but there was lots of other things going on that created a great atmosphere that my kids enjoyed.

When we were driving back, I asked my 2 boys, what was your fav part. So each listed off several things that was cool that made it fun. The actual hockey game was down on the list. I am sure there are lots of things the Elks could do that don't cost as much as Nickelback would have been to play 3 songs to enhance the atmosphere to make people want to come.

Just curious as I wasn't there so I can't comment with any sort of basis behind it as you can't with whats happening at the football games the last few years but what made the atmosphere so good? What was going on around there that made it an event? I'm not being snarky I actually haven't heard anything about it other then the long lines and them running out of things.

[Looner]

Just my opinion, but I can see a scenario happening over the next few years where there could potentially be a divide between the hardcore football fans and the casual ones the team desperately needs to attracted and is making moves to get them to come.

For the hardcore football fan, closing the upper deck is a kick in the nuts. I have no doubt in my mind that if you are mid field in the first few 10 rows in the upper deck, the view would be great to watch the game. You see the whole field and everything that is happen. So to go from being way up there to even the in the upper rows of the lower bowl, it won't be near as good of a view so they won't be happy. But if you look at the attendance over the last multiple years, I would say the bulk of the people that still went to games are the hardcores and unfortunately those hardcores are getting less and less. So they need to do things to try to attract the more casual fans and those people won't come if it's all about football. There needs to be more things that entertain them to make them want to be there other than football, even if they start winning. Winning will help but I will use my wife as an example. When the Esks were good, even in the last cup year, she went to a few games but she didn't care if they won. Sure everyone likes to cheer for a winner but it was more about what else was going on during the game. Once all the other things to entertain her was done, she got bored because she wasn't a hardcore fan.

So IMO, wining games will help but a bit but they are going to have to do more things to keep people's attention and make them want to come to the event that that is an Elks game vs a football game. I think moving people down is the right and long overdue first step but hopefully more is to come.

As much as I hated them closing the upper deck, I agree that it was needed in order to make for a better atmosphere. My only concern with the move is the ticket prices, with as many seats as they had, it was easy to offer low price tickets but when you cut the supply in half, inevitably the average ticket price will go up. I know they are finding areas for current season seat holders in the lower bowl, at the same ticket price but they've also said that they can only guarantee that price for 1 year, so I expect a ticket increase after next year.

[widowmaker]

Remember it very well. 38-0 over the Calgary Stampeders in the labor day rematch with the stadium packed with 62K fans. My favorite moment in Commonwealth as an Edmonton football fan and it's not even close.

One of my favourite Esks games too. I was in university in Edmonton that year and had to watch it at the BP's lounge because of the local blackout.

If I recall correctly we the Esks were favoured to win the LDC that years and the Stamps pulled off an upset. The next week it was like the Esks held a grudge because they came out and pounded the Stamps. Ah, the memories.

[Hugoagogo]

630CHED
@630CHED
·
4m
The Canadian Press reports, according to two sources, that Neil Lumsden, who won three Grey Cups as a fullback with Edmonton, has emerged as a candidate for the Elks’ full-time president position

[Sectionq]

Just curious as I wasn't there so I can't comment with any sort of basis behind it as you can't with whats happening at the football games the last few years but what made the atmosphere so good? What was going on around there that made it an event? I'm not being snarky I actually haven't heard anything about it other then the long lines and them running out of things.

Unfortunately for myself, my wife and my youngest son, my son played hockey in Okotoks that morning so we arrived a little late to the game. There was a very long line to get in to the stadium so by the time we got to our seats, we had missed the first 4 mins of the game. So we didn't get a chance to see the opening part, the anthem or the players coming in that from everything I read about saw pictures was very cool.

But once we got there, there was a buzz in the stadium. Part of it was probably due to the special game. But I liked the production stuff they showed on the screen. The announcer was really good, very high energy and would do things to make fun of himself that were funny. One thing I liked that didn't happen but I can't speak too if it's still the case because I haven't been to an Elks game in a long time was the last time I was at an Elks game, any break was one giant commercial. Every Esks game I went too, they bombarded the people with commercials. That didn't happen at the game. There was things on the screen to see. You could use your phone to scan a QR code and make things happen. We got on the screen because we used a QR code.

I mentioned they had the Oilers pep band on the field. I think those guys bring energy at Oilers games and they had a stage for them in center field right behind the rink and set up so you could hear them. So they were doing their thing and they do a good job. The last Esks game I was at, I think they had either some kids marching band or some drumline jammed in some section in a corner. They weren't very good and you could hardly hear them.

They of course had nickelback for the second intermission. But on the other side of the rink they had a stage where there was a house band who would play. The DJ played good music to keep the energy up.

I haven't been to a football game in awhile. So maybe it's changed but the last game I went too, there just wasn't a lot going on. I mentioned the constant commercials on the big screen. They would play their token match game then a bunch of commercials. So there wasn't anything going on screen wise. The DJ never seemed to play songs that fit what was going on. They'd score a TD, everyone is jacked up and he'd throw on some slow R n B song as they get ready to kick off. The defense is coming on the field, you want people fired up but he plays a Taylor Swift song. Stuff like that. There was nothing going on along the sidelines. You'd have the cheer team doing their 1/4 per corner thing but nothing else anywhere else. The last time I was at a football game, there just seemed to be a ton of dead time. It just felt like "we are here to watch football so sit there and watch football." So if you aren't a hardcore football junky, it was boring.

[Hugoagogo]

One of my favourite Esks games too. I was in university in Edmonton that year and had to watch it at the BP's lounge because of the local blackout.

If I recall correctly we the Esks were favoured to win the LDC that years and the Stamps pulled off an upset. The next week it was like the Esks held a grudge because they came out and pounded the Stamps. Ah, the memories.

I was there for that one. I had moved my season tix that year, and had great seats on the lower west side of CW. It was a crazier crowd than the 2002 Grey Cup the year before.

[Esks4ever]

630CHED
@630CHED
·
4m
The Canadian Press reports, according to two sources, that Neil Lumsden, who won three Grey Cups as a fullback with Edmonton, has emerged as a candidate for the Elks’ full-time president position

interesting....qualification though ? First order is..... ESKIMOS

[Looner]

Unfortunately for myself, my wife and my youngest son, my son played hockey in Okotoks that morning so we arrived a little late to the game. There was a very long line to get in to the stadium so by the time we got to our seats, we had missed the first 4 mins of the game. So we didn't get a chance to see the opening part, the anthem or the players coming in that from everything I read about saw pictures was very cool.

But once we got there, there was a buzz in the stadium. Part of it was probably due to the special game. But I liked the production stuff they showed on the screen. The announcer was really good, very high energy and would do things to make fun of himself that were funny. One thing I liked that didn't happen but I can't speak too if it's still the case because I haven't been to an Elks game in a long time was the last time I was at an Elks game, any break was one giant commercial. Every Esks game I went too, they bombarded the people with commercials. That didn't happen at the game. There was things on the screen to see. You could use your phone to scan a QR code and make things happen. We got on the screen because we used a QR code.

I mentioned they had the Oilers pep band on the field. I think those guys bring energy at Oilers games and they had a stage for them in center field right behind the rink and set up so you could hear them. So they were doing their thing and they do a good job. The last Esks game I was at, I think they had either some kids marching band or some drumline jammed in some section in a corner. They weren't very good and you could hardly hear them.

They of course had nickelback for the second intermission. But on the other side of the rink they had a stage where there was a house band who would play. The DJ played good music to keep the energy up.

I haven't been to a football game in awhile. So maybe it's changed but the last game I went too, there just wasn't a lot going on. I mentioned the constant commercials on the big screen. They would play their token match game then a bunch of commercials. So there wasn't anything going on screen wise. The DJ never seemed to play songs that fit what was going on. They'd score a TD, everyone is jacked up and he'd throw on some slow R n B song as they get ready to kick off. The defense is coming on the field, you want people fired up but he plays a Taylor Swift song. Stuff like that. There was nothing going on along the sidelines. You'd have the cheer team doing their 1/4 per corner thing but nothing else anywhere else. The last time I was at a football game, there just seemed to be a ton of dead time. It just felt like "we are here to watch football so sit there and watch football." So if you aren't a hardcore football junky, it was boring.

I agree about the commercials, they drive me crazy but in a league that needs any revenue it can get, I understand why they do it.... still sucks. As far as the game day experience, I think they've done a decent job of turning that around as they expanded the tailgating (its actually a lot of fun) and they have the beer gardens and a band on the east side of the stadium. One area that I feel is extremely lacking is the in game announcing as I'm not a huge fan of the guy they hired and the lack or replays. The replays are one of the reasons that I considered not buying tickets this year

[Looner]

interesting....qualification though ? First order is..... ESKIMOS

wouldn't hold my breathe on that one

[Hugoagogo]

Lumsden is 70 years old. There has to be better long term candidates out there.

[Sectionq]

I agree about the commercials, they drive me crazy but in a league that needs any revenue it can get, I understand why they do it.... still sucks. As far as the game day experience, I think they've done a decent job of turning that around as they expanded the tailgating (its actually a lot of fun) and they have the beer gardens and a band on the east side of the stadium. One area that I feel is extremely lacking is the in game announcing as I'm not a huge fan of the guy they hired and the lack or replays. The replays are one of the reasons that I considered not buying tickets this year

One question I have for you and anyone else that goes to games is what does the tailgating do to enhance the atmosphere during the game? You guys have talked a ton about the tailgating and how great it is but correct me if I am wrong, the tailgating happens before the game right as in what they do for the tailgating part doesn't spill into the game and continue during the game right?

The reason I ask is you all know I come from RD. So for us to go to the game, it's a 7-8 hour commitment on our part. Min, 1.5 hours each way to drive so at least 3 hours of driving round trip to park somewhere. Get on a train to the stadium. Best case 15 mins, worse case 30 or mins or more. Then 3.5 hours for the game. So our day is shot if we go to a game. So we aren't going to leave 1 -2 hours extra early to experience the tailgating outside of the stadium. Normally when we get there, we get their right before kick off. So my focus is on what happens inside the stadium. My comment I get is selfish just for me. It's great you guys who live in the City get to be there extra early and do the tailgating thing to help enhance your experience. We won't ever do that.

Even my comparison for the Heritage Classic. My youngest played in Okotokos in the morning so we were coming in hot. I know there was stuff happening outside the stadium but we were outside in line at 4:45 waiting to get in. So we didn't experience any of the extra stuff. So my comments are based on what we experienced sitting in the seats at the game. So what's the in stadium experience like these days? Last time I went, the stadium experience was pretty lacking. I described some of it above. They had set times when they told us to cheer. Hall mumbled out the fight song. The mascots just walked up and down the track doing not much. But for the most part, if you weren't a hardcore football fan totally engrossed in the game or their with your buddies to get drunk, it got pretty boring and the game dragged on for someone like my wife who isn't a diehard football fanatic. By the second half, she'd seen what there was to see and was counting the mins to when we could leave. So has the in game stuff improved at all to provide entertainment for the majority of fans who probably aren't hardcore football fans?

[Hugoagogo]

wouldn't hold my breathe on that one

Yeah, not gonna happen.

[Looner]

One question I have for you and anyone else that goes to games is what does the tailgating do to enhance the atmosphere during the game? You guys have talked a ton about the tailgating and how great it is but correct me if I am wrong, the tailgating happens before the game right as in what they do for the tailgating part doesn't spill into the game and continue during the game right?

The reason I ask is you all know I come from RD. So for us to go to the game, it's a 7-8 hour commitment on our part. Min, 1.5 hours each way to drive so at least 3 hours of driving round trip to park somewhere. Get on a train to the stadium. Best case 15 mins, worse case 30 or mins or more. Then 3.5 hours for the game. So our day is shot if we go to a game. So we aren't going to leave 1 -2 hours extra early to experience the tailgating outside of the stadium. Normally when we get there, we get their right before kick off. So my focus is on what happens inside the stadium. My comment I get is selfish just for me. It's great you guys who live in the City get to be there extra early and do the tailgating thing to help enhance your experience. We won't ever do that.

Even my comparison for the Heritage Classic. My youngest played in Okotokos in the morning so we were coming in hot. I know there was stuff happening outside the stadium but we were outside in line at 4:45 waiting to get in. So we didn't experience any of the extra stuff. So my comments are based on what we experienced sitting in the seats at the game. So what's the in stadium experience like these days? Last time I went, the stadium experience was pretty lacking. I described some of it above. They had set times when they told us to cheer. Hall mumbled out the fight song. The mascots just walked up and down the track doing not much. But for the most part, if you weren't a hardcore football fan totally engrossed in the game or their with your buddies to get drunk, it got pretty boring and the game dragged on for someone like my wife who isn't a diehard football fanatic. By the second half, she'd seen what there was to see and was counting the mins to when we could leave. So has the in game stuff improved at all to provide entertainment for the majority of fans who probably aren't hardcore football fans?

The tailgating does nothing for you but it does for a lot of people as its typically packed there and drawing fans to the field is going to draw them into the game. As you've said there needs to be more then the game to attract people and I feel like they've done a decent job of enhancing that with all that goes on around the game. They are trying to tap into the NFL type of experience not the NHL experience. As far as in game, they have the pep band wandering the corridors before the game and they are actually fairly decent, they have added menu items such as popeyes (I really like this option), they added an attractive female to the in game announcing crew and you can now send in your music requests and they'll play them as long as they are PG.

On that topic, music is a tough one as something I consider a pump up song is different then what my dad likes, which is different then what my 19 year old likes, which is also different then what my 12 year old likes. From the comments I've read, people seemed to be happy with the mix this last year but there is no way to please everyone as some will say its to loud and some will say its not loud enough.... I know my opinion has changed over the years for sure.

I know you are going to say they aren't doing enough but I'm genuinely curious what you think they should do? IMO the biggest ones were the ones I mentioned earlier (replays and announcer)