By Amanda Pratt
It was a dismal end to a dismal season for a team that was washed out on the scoreboard all year and literally drowning on the field during their final game.
But sitting through the bitter cold and driving rain, watching the Ottawa Renegades lose 24-19 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of hungry football fans who haven’t seen a Grey Cup game played in Ottawa since 1988.
“We have our tickets. We’re all ready,” says Hans Lyster, who attended the last CFL final held in Ottawa. “I think everybody’s ready for the Grey Cup here. It’s a tradition and it’s good to see it back in Ottawa.”
Lyster says the home team not making it to the Grey Cup – let alone the playoffs – won’t overshadow the excitement building for football fans in the city.
“I was at the ’88 Grey Cup and [the Ottawa Roughriders] didn’t make it then,” he says. “Maybe next year, wherever the Grey Cup is next year, we can make it.”
Kim Hoy, along with her nine-year-old son, Isaac Peltz, braved the rain to sell 50/50 tickets at the Renegades final home game. She’ll be doing the same at the Grey Cup game.
“I’ll be selling 50/50 tickets that afternoon so that we can raise the funds to help football in the city,” says Hoy, who works as a volunteer for the Canterbury Mustangs, an amateur football club and member of the National Capital Amateur Football Association.
She says the Renegades’ poor season won’t affect the celebration and enthusiasm of local football fans.
“I think it might take away from the excitement a little bit, but overall I think our city will rally behind their team and give a good performance in regards to fans, being a fan, and stepping behind whoever ends up getting into the Grey Cup,” she says.
Hoy adds she’s already getting Cup fever.
“It’ll be fun,” she says. “I’ve never done this before so I’m looking forward to being part of the Grey Cup festivities.”
Not all fans of the 5-13 Renegades could hide their disappointment though. Brian Welshman says he is “not really” excited about this year’s Grey Cup.
“Ottawa’s not in it,” he says, adding that it lessens the celebration for the people who live here. “Especially when it’s in Ottawa, [the Renegades] should’ve made it.”
Gary Levere, from Cornwall, says he doesn’t really have a preference for which teams make it to the Grey Cup, although he admits that “some people would rather have the Renegades in the playoffs of course.”
He says he’ll likely go to the game if he can get tickets for it. “I’ll always prefer the Grey Cup to the NFL championship,” he adds.
Lyster, who received his Grey Cup tickets when he purchased a half-season package, says he can’t wait for the events to kick off.
“It’s a great party.”