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An Important Message for Tailgaters

July 2, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

On Saturday June 28th, BC Lions fans enjoyed another great Tailgate party in Tailgate Empire, otherwise known as Easy Park Lot 16 at Quebec and Terminal. Rain didn’t dampen our spirit and a great time was had by all.

Following last weekend’s game, I was contacted by Easy Park who has asked me to relay a reminder to all tailgaters that each stall you use must be paid for. On Saturday because of the weather, several tailgaters brought pop up canopies and set them up in the stall next to their vehicle, but only paid for the spot their vehicle was in.

Easy Park recently changed the metering system in our lot to a license plate registration system. Only one license plate can be registered for a given time period. I have been asked to tell tailgaters that if you need a second stall, you must purchase a second ticket using the number that is painted in the stall, and you must be prepared to show the attendant your ticket for that second stall if requested. You must purchase a ticket for the amount of time you wish to use the second stall.

Easy Park has been incredibly cooperative with us, allowing us to do what we love before BC Lions games, and to ensure we are allowed to continue to do so in the future, I ask that all tailgaters follow this rule, without exception. They will be speaking with their enforcement officers to let them know this will be the case.

I want to thank all of you who have joined us and continue to join us each game for following our few simple rules. The lot continues to be spotless after the game, and that is a testament to you the fans who value what we have built here.

I want to send thanks to Easy Park for working with us and for their patience with this matter. Let’s not let them down. I would also ask that if you’re parking downtown, please try to give this company your business, it’s the least we could do after all they have done and what they continue to do for us.

To refresh yourself on the other rules we follow, please visit our Tailgating Page.

Thank you,

Brian Wawryshyn

BCLionsDen.ca

Nuggets From the BC Lions Season Kick-off Event

May 25, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

For a few hours the BC Lions and their fans got to forget about the labour negotiations that could be delaying the start of the game both sides love, and it felt like football season was about to begin. Club management, players and fans came to mingle, see the Grey Cup and get decked out in the latest BC Lions merchandise in preparation for the start of the Lions sixty-first season in the Canadian Football League.

The event was well attended and fans heard from the likes of Dennis Skulsky, Wally Buono and Mike Benevides, who introduced his new coaching staff.

Jamie Taras then hosted the annual fashion show of new Lions gear using the Felions and current Lions players. The players were asked to emulate famous female fashion models and the results were quite comical. Marco Iannuzzi could definitely have a career on the fashion runway when his football days are done.

After a rendition of ‘Roar You Lions Roar’ fans were invited down to the field for autographs and photos with the players in attendance as well as alumni Al Wilson, Brent Johnson, Nick Hebeler and Jim Young. There was also an opportunity to chat with the coaches and have your picture taken with the Grey Cup.

Here are a couple of nuggets from today’s event.

Impressive Tickets

Once again the Lions thought out of the box with their season ticket packages this year, which come a nice cylinder container. The tickets themselves are very well done and are based off of some of the dark grey, highlighted orange posters you’ve seen around the city. The tickets feature star players in front of various Vancouver landmarks.

Also included in this year’s package, two 2 for 1 ticket vouchers, two stickers, two pocket schedules and a nice frame worthy poster of this years ticket designs.

An Apolgogy

Clearly the Lions were caught somewhat off-guard by the amount of fans that showed up today. As a result it took a long time to get everyone into the stadium, have them pick up their tickets and then line up for complimentary concessions items.

To the Lions credit, Dennis Skulksy apologized to the crowd and told the fans that it was the club’s job to deliver to their fans and that they could have done a better job of that on the day.

Credibility starts at the top and it was a classy gesture on the part of Skulsky and the Lions to acknowledge the complications. Part of the slow down was the fact that Skulsky and owner David Braley met and shook the hand of every season ticket holder coming into the building, so indeed their intentions were good.

Can’t Keep Them All Happy

While Paul McCallum was being asked if he prepares any difficulty for training camp today than he did for his first one, he appeared to be heckled from one fan in the crowd. I wasn’t sure what exactly was said, but McCallum replied “Not yet”, with a wry smirk on his face.

Khalif is Back

Khalif Mitchell received one of the loudest ovations of the day and it’s clear that those in attendance were happy he’s back in orange and black. The feeling was definitely mutual as Mitchell spoke about being back in Vancouver with his “friends, team mates and family”.

Survey Coming

The Lions are toying with the idea of using the inner draping system and asked those in attendance by a show of hands if they would approve of such a move. There seemed to more than few who thought it was a good idea. If you’re unfamiliar with the configuration, here it is in place at a Vancouver Whitecaps game:

The Lions would leave one side of the upper bowl open and free of the drapes to accommodate those with tickets in the upper bowl and their family and Gemstone Grill sections. The thought is it would create a more intimate setting in the lower bowl. The club will be sending out a survey to fans and may experiment with the configuration in the pre-season.

Operation Orange

The Lions will continue with their popular Operation Orange fan trips this season with three dates in 2014.:

Saturday July 12th: BC at Saskatchewan – $1,099.00
Friday, September 5th: BC at Ottawa – $1599.00
Saturday, September 27th: BC at Calgary – $1099.00

Packages include:

Travel with the Lions on their team charter.
Stay in the team hotel.
Dinner with the team
Your own operation orange BC Lions jersey
Tickets to the game

All prices are plus GST and based on double occupancy. Call the Lions at 604-589-ROAR (7627).

Meet Me In The Middle: A few thoughts on the CFL CBA talks.

May 17, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

The current stalemate between the CFL Players Association and the Canadian Football League has resulted in strike ballots being sent to CFLPA members. After the latest round of meetings it’s been reported through “sources close to the negotiations” that no progress was made with the clock ticking towards the expiry of the current deal.

In any contract negotiations the best offers usually don’t come until the eleventh hour. And a strike vote is a tool that the CFLPA has at its disposal to show the league how serious they are about what they are fighting for.

The new TV deal with TSN is what is making this negotiation a tough one. With so much more money available, the players want to be rewarded for years of taking less for the good of the league. The owners want to keep costs under control and make up for years of losses some have incurred on the way to the stable league we see today.

The two main issues seem to be the return of revenue sharing for the players, as well as the proposed increases to the league’s Salary Management System. It has also been reported that the league wants an 8 –year deal, a number the players association isn’t fond of.

There are of course a plethora of other issues, including roster sizes, player safety, practice roster salaries etc. which may prove to be easier to resolve once the bigger issues are agreed to.

The big question is, how do they do that? Clearly there has to be compromise on both sides.

To start, the league needs to make a meaningful offer to the players judging by this tweet from former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Doug Brown:

CFL labor dispute in a nutshell: Each club gets $2.7 mil in additional TV revenue in 2014, yet CFL proposes only $100k cap increase. Fair?

— Doug Brown (@DougBrown97) May 16, 2014

Hardly, and if that number is correct it’s no wonder why the players are talking strike. Give the players a real increase and share the wealth, because in the end without them, there is no show.

In return, the players may have to give up their demand for revenue sharing, at least this time around. The league is asking for an 8-year agreement. Cut that in half with an agreement that revenue sharing will be on the table for the next agreement, if the league is still on solid ground.

Players should share in revenue, especially when their names are used to sell the jerseys and other merchandise and for the work they do off the field in their communities to promote their teams and the CFL. The league wants to take baby steps here, so give up the revenue sharing in return for a solid increase to salaries…for now.

The players have issues with player safety, and those should be taken seriously. One only has to look south of the border to see the litigation going on for former players who suffered head injuries. This should be a fairly easy issue to resolve.

Of course I am no lawyer. I’ve never been in a union, or negotiated a labour deal. What I’ve proposed are just my thoughts on what may get a deal done. I know that there are complications to these issues that go beyond my knowledge, but it does seem like a bit of common sense to me. I can’t even take sides in this negotiation because I feel the players need to be rewarded and at the same time, I’ve watched as owners like David Braley and Bob Young have lost millions keeping teams and this league alive.

Like any negotiation, both sides want and need a deal that is the best they can get. To get there, they’ll have to meet in the middle.

The sooner, the better.

2014 BC Lions CFL Draft Selection Recap

May 13, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

It was a crazy afternoon with several trades coming down and the Lions were front and centre, trading their 5th overall pick for QB Kevin Glenn. And while the first round was on TSN, the later rounds were carried on TSN.ca and TSN GO. If you were a Bell or Rogers subscriber that is. The league and their “National” broadcast partner need to realize there are football fans outside of eastern Canada.

But enough whining by me, here is a round-up of the BC Lions eight selections in today’s CFL Draft.

Round 1: 5th Overall: BC trades the 5th overall pick to Ottawa for QB Kevin Glenn

Glenn is coming to a team that should contend for a Grey Cup and he’s likely to play a role in that effort in a Western division he is very familiar with. The Lions have questions with Travis Lulay and until he resumes full training and shows the shoulder is no longer an issue, they needed some experienced insurance. Even if Lulay returns without problems Glenn will be needed and the team can’t afford a slow start in a tough division, so this addition was a no brainer. The Lions also had to pick in their back pocket for the 2nd round.With two picks in the 2nd round waiting for them.

Earlier in the day it was rumoured that the Lions were trying to move up to the top two picks. After Calgary managed to secure the number one pick from Ottawa and Winnipeg kept their pick the Lions decided to use their 5th overall choice to address their depth at quarterback. In acquiring Kevin Glenn the Lions now have a solid one two punch at the pivot spot.

“We tried to make some trades to try to move up in the draft that didn’t occur,” said GM Wally Buono. “And then we made an evaluation of the fifth pick in comparison to a veteran quarterback who could help us win. When it was all said and done, we decided the best for this football club at this time is to get Kevin Glenn.”

Round 2: 12th Overall (Via Edmonton): Tchissakid Player (Offensive Guard, Northwestern State)

At 6’6, 300 lbs, Player has the size and was the only NCAA Division 1 player in the entire draft class. Born in Winnipeg but raised in Texas, Player was a three-year starter at Northwestern State. His ranking might have been higher if not for a hamstring injury that kept him from auditioning at the CFL Combine.

As Lowell Ullrich pointed out, Lions play by play man Rick Ball has got some practicing to do with the name:

Pray for Rick Ball: #BCLions take Tchissakid Player, OL, Northwestern State

— Lowell Ullrich (@FifthQtr) May 14, 2014

Round 2: 14th Overall: Pascal Lochard (Running Back, Laval)

Lochard comes to the Lions after an RSEQ All-conference selection in 2013. In 33 college games he posted 301 carries for 1749yds and 17 touchdowns. He also chipped in 24 receptions for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns. He stands 6’0, 215 pounds and is described as a shift back who makes people miss. He has strong special teams skills as well.

Round 3: 27th Overall (Via Saskatchewan): Casey Chin (Linebacker, SFU)

Casey Chin is a local product who played his high school football with the New Westminster Hyacks before completing a college career at SFU. Chin was ranked 12th in the final Central Scouting Bureau rankings so getting the talented local player was a bonus for the Lions with the 27th pick.

A linebacker in college, Chin may originally find himself on the Lions roster as a special teams contributor and a possible long snapper. A valuable position for a non-import on any CFL roster.

BC Lions!!! Dream come true… Now time to get to work http://t.co/fAQVhjVERQ

— Casey Chin (@Chincy_5) May 14, 2014

Chin had a stong showing at the CFL Combine, Chin had 25 bench press reps, putting him in a tie for ninth overall and second among linebackers. He posted a 35.5″ vertical jump, placing him second among linebackers and sixth overall. On day two, Chin finished the 40-yard dash in 4.716 seconds which placed him third among linebackers. He finished first among his group in the shuttle and 3-cone segments of the combine.

In nine games with SFU last season, chin posted 119 tackles (which led the GNAC for the third straight year), with 68 solo efforts. He added three sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery as well.

Round 4: 32nd Overall: David Menard (Defensive Line, Montreal)

David Menard adds some Canadian depth to the defensive line. He was ranked 13th in the final Scouting Bureau rankings. He posted a Combine best 33 reps on the bench press.

Ridley Scouting says:

A stout, gap plugging strongman clad in the Carabins uniform. David had 33 reps on the bench at the Combine. He was the RSEQ Rookie of the Year in 2010, All-RSEQ honers along with being named All-Canadian. Since then he has been All-RSEQ 2 more times & in his SR season averaged a QB sack a game. Recovered 5 career fumbles.

Round 5: 41st Overall: Alexander Fox (Receiver, Bishops)

The 5’8 180 pound fox comes to the Lions as the leading receiver in the CIS in both yards and receiving touchdowns in 2013, including 5 games over 100 yards and a 256 yard game against McGill.

Ridley Scouting says:

He is the most productive receiver in the draft class with over 2500 yards. Also returned punts, except his SR year when he was a force on offense.

Round 6: 50th Overall: Dylan Roper (Defensive Line, SFU)

When you saw this name you might have had a light go on in your head if you’re a long time Lions fan. Dylan Roper is the nephew of former Leos offensive lineman Gerald Roper.

Roper measures up at 6’2″ and 222 pounds and is another local kid from North Vancouver who went to high school at the football factory of Carson Graham where he was a two-time North Shore all-star, two-time BCHSFA Western Conference all-star, BCHSFA Provincial all-star, and the 2010 Senior Bowl Defensive MVP.

In 2013 for SFU he posted 37 tackles, 6 sacks and forced a fumble, while adding a fumble recovery. Ridley Scouting describes him as an undersized but tough defensive end. He earned an invite to the CFL Combine after a strong showing at the Edmonton Regional.

Round 7: 59th Overall: Guillaume Bourassa (Running Back, Laval)

The Lions added a second running back from Laval with the pick of 5’11, 200 pound Guillaume Bourassa. Bourassa also returned kicks for Laval and capped his four-year career with his third Vanier Cup ring in four years. As shown on his YouTube recruiting video, he can also contribute as a receiver out of the back field and on special teams.

The BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast – Episode 26

May 4, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

In Episode 26 Brian and Mojo recap the latest news from the Lions Den. They talk with Kent Ridley of Ridley scouting about the upcoming draft and his draft guide and check in with Derek Meyers of Global TV in Regina for an update on the Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.
***Show Note*** We had some technical difficulties with the Ridley Scouting interview and didn’t get as much time as we wanted with Kent. We hope to have him back after the draft to give us his take on how teams did.

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