Football fans from across Canada in Vancouver for Grey Cup celebrate ‘glory and beauty of the CFL’
Winnipeggers Barbara and Sylvia Main have a long history with the Grey Cup, dating back to their first mother-daughter trip to Vancouver in 1990. This weekend, they are back on the West Coast for the Grey Cup match, feeling a sense of nostalgia as they reminisce about their first experience together.
“It is where we first started — first mother-daughter Grey Cup … so it is kind of sentimental for us to be back here again together enjoying the Grey Cup,” Sylvia said. “We’re ready for the Bombers to bring [another] one home.”
The Mains are just a few of the football fans from across the country who have gathered in Vancouver for the 111th Grey Cup. They are eager to build relationships and strengthen their camaraderie with fellow CFL enthusiasts.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts are set to battle it out for the championship title on Sunday. Fans from Winnipeg, Toronto, and the league’s other teams have been participating in the Grey Cup Festival, enjoying concerts, parties, a drone show, and even a zip line that runs down the harbor.
The festivities are expected to bring in 30,000 out-of-province fans and generate an economic boost of $125 million, according to B.C.’s tourism ministry.
Barbara and Sylvia Main have been loyal Bombers season-ticket holders since 1987 and have attended an estimated 20 Grey Cup games over the past 35 years. They have forged many friendships with fans from across the league, making the Grey Cup a special time for them to celebrate the CFL and their friendship.
Hans Stasiuk, a Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan, will be attending his 40th Grey Cup game on Sunday. He expressed his excitement at reaching this milestone and cherishing the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces year after year.
Montreal Alouettes fan Dino Mazzone, who has been to six Grey Cups since the late 1970s, plans to attend the 2025 Grey Cup in Winnipeg. Despite his team not making it to this year’s game, he remains a proud CFL fan and looks forward to the annual celebration of Canadian football.
Toronto fans in Vancouver are confident in their team, even after losing starting quarterback Chad Kelly to injury. They believe backup Nick Arbuckle has what it takes to lead the Argonauts to victory against the favored Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, fans from all teams are relishing the opportunity to come together, celebrate the CFL, and enjoy the camaraderie that the Grey Cup brings. The spirit of sportsmanship and friendship among fans from across the country is what makes the CFL and the Grey Cup truly special.
