No repeat, no epic Grey Cup party for the city. Today's game went off with problems from the get go. First TSN dropped the feed screwing up again and suggesting maybe the CRTC wants to rethink broadcasting Canada's game (Grey Cup is only on cable now) to the entire country rather......Nonetheless, Calgary came out and stunk out the joint, folding under the loud noises of drunken hicks.
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A short post because the Flames game is starting. But tonight, first place in the West division and a a bye to the West final was on the line. The Calgary Stampeders have only themselves to blame for what can be called a monster debacle. The team, once again, other than Joffrey Reynolds, didn't show up for the entire first half. In the second half they found their game (until late in the 4th) and Saskatchewan had no answer. Now the Stamps need to play Edmonton and go back to Saskatchewan for the final (assuming they win).
Here's the good news, it wasn't anything the Riders did, it was everything the Stamps didn't do. Defence was shotty at the start, offence didn't start at the start..... Burris with two interceptions and the defence with no turnovers. Can they get any worse? Unlikely, so expect a destructive West final, however, again, the Stamps cant look that far ahead with Edmonton waiting.
The good news, Roughriders acted like they've never been to the finals throwing water on the coach and acting like the drunken hicks that sit in their stands. That will add fuel to a hungry Stampeders team. In the meantime the Stamps can come home and think about how they've blown another chance to take matters into their own hands. Frankly they don't deserve to win if they can't figure out how to string together a 60 minute game.
Crucial End of Season Run Unseen by tens of thousands
**Edit: To the credit of the organization, they did lift the blackout LATE last week, although some people said they watched it fine. This week TELUS TV did not have the game until the second quarter, late, and Starchoice customers did..... All in all this is a matter of someone in management not getting the right information out in time---not a good excuse, especially two weeks in a row.***
There are few explanations for what's transpiring in the city that will host the 2009 Grey Cup which incidentally lines the pockets of owners with an extra game of 200 dollar tickets X 45,000 = over 1 million dollars extra.
For the second week in a row the Stampeders have blacked out the home game on national coverage, the first time they've blacked out in over a year, and the second time in as many weeks. Last week the team issued an explanation, not an apology, on why the game was blacked out which you can read here.
The reason? They didn't sell 90% of the seats. Why didn't they sell? Because the organization has ADDED Over 5000 seats. That means, last week the home game was the third highest attended home game of the season yet the game was blacked out because not enough seats for the NEW number were sold.
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The Stampeders are partnering with the Salvation army for this year's annual coat-drive. Bring a new or slightly used coat to the game and help someone stay warm this winter.
You'll probably have to go to the game since it's going to be blacked out as per the new seats at the Stadium and last week's debacle......
October 17, 2009 Categories: CFL · 2 Comments
Stamps Ownership Add Seats Counting them For Blackout
Verdict? Unprofessional. This is a type of summer intern gaff that we expect under the Feterik regime, not today.
In a previous post game post you can read my thoughts on why the Stampeders may have made the call. Here were my options:
Turns out the answer to WHY is number four.
1) Sell outs aren't required to lift the black out, and I recall this year a low turnout for a frigid home game, maybe 25 000, that was still on TV? Reported attendance was 38, 600, the THIRD highest attended game of the season BUT the blackout wasn't immediately lifted.
2) Today the game was against the Roughriders, always a sell out. Albeit it was a 130 start, the fact it wasn't sold out suggests in the least it was close.
3) The Stampeders brass have ADDED 5000 seats. Are they now calculating black out figures based on an additional 5000 worth of seats they've put up for the Grey Cup? Without those seats the game is a SELL OUT. A monumental bad decision by ownership and Stamps fans can expect never to see another game on TV with the new seats.
The official statement by the Stamps: Keep reading →
Referees Try Their Best to Screw Great Game: Stampeders 44 - Roughriders 44
For the first time in a year, in a time when blackouts have been a rarity, the Calgary Stampeders organization blacked out a crucial game with playoff implications. The reason? Games are blacked out if the organization doesn't hit a certain level of ticket sales (doesn't have to be sold out), so apparently that 'level' wasn't met. Too bad, it was an awesome game that nobody saw.
****Apparently the game did come on but who sits around waiting for a football game to show up on TV hours later? Most people just forgot about the game and went and did something else. A professional organization doesn't make lame mistakes like forgetting to call TSN to life a blackout. Stupid.****
What's worse, is if you were at the game, it looked sold out except for the NEW seats that were added for the Grey Cup.
Those down for an early afternoon game in the house with the buddies should have gone instead of watching at home. The controversial decision raises a few questions considering some estimates were 40 000 tickets sold....
1) Sell outs aren't required to lift the black out, and I recall this year a low turnout for a frigid home game, maybe 25 000, that was still on TV? Reported attendance was 38, 600, the THIRD highest attended game of the season BUT the blackout wasn't immediately lifted.
2) Today the game was against the Roughriders, always a sell out. Albeit it was a 130 start, the fact it wasn't sold out suggests in the least it was close.
4) The Stampeders brass have ADDED 5000 seats. Are they now calculating black out figures based on an additional 5000 worth of seats they've put up for the Grey Cup? Without those seats the game is a SELL OUT. A monumental bad decision by ownership and Stamps fans can expect never to see another game on TV with the new seats.
5) Someone from the game tell me if it was really empty or if this was a dumb decision.....
Back to the game that nobody saw but was awesome in its own right.
Back and Forth Battle Setting up For Great Playoff Clash
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Jamal Richardson this Years Clabourne
Montreal lost in the Grey Cup last year and part of the fire that burned for Calgary was started by trash talk from Avon Coburne. If the Stamps will repeat this year they'll use Jamal Richardson and his loud mouth as fodder for the dressing room billboard. The dude caught three touchdowns in the first half alone and made a point tell the TV screen what he thought of Calgary and the West......
The potential Grey Cup match-up for two years in a row had its second regular season installment. In the first clash Montreal stomped the Stamps in the season opener. Calgary sought to redeem themselves in Montreal but got off to a similar start as they did in Game 1.
First possession for Montreal. Long pass, complete. First possession for Calgary, Henry Burris tried long pass, goes short, interception. Great start < -- sarcasm.
Montreal Head Referee Gives Gift after Gift
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The re-match between the Calgary Stampeders and Tiger-Cats had the home-team seeking revenge after their poorest showing two weeks ago in Hamilton. Calgary sought to improve their record and grasp first place alone in the West division with a win. It wasn't going to be easy in the cold weather but Calgary had something to prove.
The first half went much like the first half two weeks ago for the offence. Total offence was less than 100 yards as receivers and QB couldn't find any consistent click.
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