Re: 2004 Schedule and 2005 Grey Cup Location?

B.C. in line for 2005 Grey Cup



      Lowell Ullrich
      The Province


Monday, November 24, 2003

How much does it cost to have a good time in Vancouver? It depends whether
your party will be for close to 60,000 guests.

Despite the absence of a formal announcement, the 2005 Grey Cup game will be
staged at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

However, what has been assumed for months is being held up because the CFL
has yet to establish with Lions owner David Braley the cost of staging the
national celebration.

In recent years, the Canadian Football League has sold the game to an
organizing committee for the host city, adjusting the cost based on the size
of the venue. It cost Regina organizers $2 million to 3 million to host this
year's game, which will return a profit of $1.5 million to the Saskatchewan
Roughriders.

Once a fee for the 2004 game, set for Ottawa, is established, the Lions will
be next in line.

The Regina game was a success in every way possible. The challenge for
Ottawa and Vancouver is to prevent the Grey Cup from getting lost in an
urban setting.

However, Lions president Bob Ackles, who said he'll be around for the 2005
game, has no doubt that Vancouver is up for the challenge.

"I'll guarantee in '05 we'll have a sellout of 59,000," Ackles said.

It is expected that Dennis Skulsky, president of Pacific Newspaper Group and
head of a business advisory committee for the Lions, will be asked to serve
as '05 Grey Cup committee chair.

NEW DEAL COMING

Ackles said a new agreement with the NFL, which would include a return to a
Feb. 28 signing deadline for option-year players, could be submitted to the
CFL for approval this week. Currently, CFL players entering their option
year can only sign from Dec. 29 to 31.

Lions slotback Jason Clermont, meantime, already has workouts lined up with
five NFL clubs.

BRIEFLY ...

Practice roster running back Santonio Beard meant little to the Lions this
season, until the NFL's Oakland Raiders decided last week they wanted him.
Beard signed with the Raiders, but when the Lions phoned the CFL office to
point out they still have him under contract, he was cut by Oakland. ...
After four signings last week, the Lions will soon announce new deals for
lineman Ben Fairbrother and defensive back David Byrd. ... Quarterback Dave
Dickenson doesn't have any more pull than the rest of us when it comes to
getting a hospital bed. Dickenson's ACL surgery, scheduled for Friday, was
postponed. ... Also among the offseason projects for Braley and Ackles is to
secure a new radio deal. Corus Entertainment, parent company of CKNW, has
exclusive negotiating rights until Dec. 31.

[EMAIL PROTECTED]

© Copyright 2003 The Province

-- 


"David Kenney" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> When will the 2004 schedule be released?
> What about the location (and date) of the 2005 Grey Cup?
>
> ...just trying to plan ahead.