Will the Record Crowd Boost or Hinder the B.C. Lions Against the Stampeders?
With a record-breaking crowd expected, the B.C. Lions face significant expectations. The winless Winnipeg Blue Bombers have shown that in the CFL, no team is a pushover.
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Author of the article: J.J. Adams
Published Jun 15, 2024 • Last updated 21 hours ago • 6 minute read
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Sean Whyte recalls sitting in the stands at B.C. Place for the 2004 West Final, a game that saw the B.C. Lions triumph over the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-25 in overtime. That crowd of 55,527 passionate Lions fans left a lasting impression on Whyte, who would later become a professional football player.
In 2004, Duncan O’Mahony’s game-tying 47-yard field goal and subsequent overtime winner were punctuated by the crowd's roaring support. The infamous missed 18-yard field goal by Roughriders kicker Paul McCallum, under intense crowd pressure, led to extreme backlash in Regina, eventually resulting in McCallum joining the Lions and mentoring Whyte.
The excitement of those packed houses at B.C. Place has not been matched for over a decade, but the expected 53,000-plus for Saturday’s home opener against the Calgary Stampeders aims to change that. The last time the Lions drew over 50,000 was in 2011 against Edmonton, marking the first game in a refurbished B.C. Place.
It was just a packed house. You couldn’t hear a thing; it was shaking,” Whyte said. To be part of this team and play in front of my home province is pretty friggin’ cool. It’s like a dream come true.
None of the current Lions players have experienced such a large crowd at B.C. Place as active players. Defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips and offensive line coach Kelly Bates were last part of a 50,213-strong crowd in 2011. Bo Lokombo has played before 102,035 fans at Neyland Stadium during his college days with the Oregon Ducks.
Lions head coach Rick Campbell recalls the electric atmosphere from the opposing team’s perspective. “That crowd gets going, and we’re hoping it’s a pain in the butt for Calgary’s offence and that we can feed off the crowd’s energy.”
After losing their season opener 35-27 in Toronto, the Lions are eager to secure a win at home. However, the excitement over the crowd and a pre-game concert by 50 Cent raises the question: could the hoopla distract or raise expectations too high?
Whyte believes the large crowd will be an advantage. “The noise is going to be awesome. It’s going to be just so wild in here. I just can’t wait.”
Lokombo, with 10 family tickets in hand, is equally enthusiastic. “It’s gonna be incredible. It’s a really good thing for B.C., Vancouver, and the B.C. Lions, continuing to bring the culture back.”
Whyte’s family and friends will also be in attendance, though he didn’t personally handle the ticketing. I gave everyone an email address to the ticket guys and told them to do it on their own,he said, smiling.
The West standings are tight, with the Lions at 0-1 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 0-2. Campbell is not surprised by the early-season parity. “Anybody can beat anybody. You’ve got to play really well for 60 minutes to beat anyone.
Lokombo emphasized the urgency. “You gotta bring your ‘A’ game every week. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing a team that’s 0-15. That’s the beautiful thing about this game.”
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