2015 Kickoff to the Farewell Tour

It's been way too long since my last post and its likely because I've been writing my book. The team has been on the road since June 26th and are finally back to play in Hamilton and then home to play the Green Riders. This home opener, my 31st is different than any other because it is the last one at the Rogers Centre. That made me reflect and think about all my years at the big round retractable stadium. I still remember in a 1987 Grey Cup promotional video seeing a special segment at the end that talked about the concept of the first multi-purpose retractable domed stadium where the Argos will play. This was all done in a cartoon sketch. It looked pretty neat and we were all pretty excited for the new stadium we would move into where weather would no longer be a factor. I know that many of the players couldn't wait to play indoors. We would still practice on the CNE grounds and have our locker room still at the Exhibition Stadium until the city determined what would happen to the "mistake by the lake." As the stadium was being built we all had great expectations. It would be ready a little later than first assumed but the wait would be worth it. As it neared completion, people began to anticipate the 1989 opening. As if to foreshadow why this stadium was needed our last game at the EX in 1988 was a rainy East Final where we couldn't hold onto the ball, catch the ball or keep from slipping on the watery field.

I'm not 100 percent sure what was so exciting. I think it was the idea of Big City Football in a Big stadium where we wouldn't be affected by weather. After a decline in attendance in the Skydome now known as The Rogers Centre, I can start to say that the excitement was the idea of going to a new stadium because with us now moving to BMO field in 2016, I'm excited. We are going back to that potential for rainy games but despite that I think the feeling of a new beginning has us all equally excited as we were in 1989. I think my next blog will talk about the various reflections of our days at our home from 1989-2015.