blueandgoldguy

You guys are dreaming if you think this game will draw lots of people from the northern states who are packer fans. Check out Stub Hub for one of green bays pre-season games - lots of $6 - $10 tickets. But sure, they will come here (assuming they have a passport which many don't) and spend $300 per ticket plus gas and hotel no problem right. Same thing, with Saskatchewan and northern Ontario - don't have to deal with the border, but they prices will turn off most NFL fans. It's an exhibition game too in which the starters will play for a half if your lucky...all for more then $300. The burden of the purchase will fall almost exclusively on Winnipeggers...probably over 90%. I can go to Minny and back with a friend by car: split gas - $50 split 3 nights at 3* hotel - $180 Vikings regular season ticket - $60 - $120 Twins Baseball game - $25 and pick one of the following options: Zoo with parking - $20 Museum/Art Gallery - many are free Valley Fair - $35 And the price will be slightly higher then the $330 I pay for a meaningless exhibition game at home. The trip offers not only far greater quantity but far greater quality of entertainment (regular season vs. exhibition game).

Ticket prices were decreased last year and this year. Given the limited revenue sources in such an antiquated stadium (even with the improvements and expansion in 2010) it isn't surprising they have been losing so much money the past 3 years...although a not insignificant amount of those losses was Wettenhall having family members on the payroll doing nothing. Still, even without that, the losses have to be huge. Last year's average crowds was 17,000 but in reality were probably around 13,000. This year the announced average is likely to be around that number with actual butts in the seats at less then 10,000. Combined with dropping sponsorship revenue, and the losses will probably be similar this year. The Wettenhalls are owners in name only. The league has basically taken over which means the other 8 markets will pick up the losses...at least one million per team and probably closer to $1.5 million each. I wouldn't be surprised if any deal with a prospective new owner will be contingent on the CFL picking up a portion of the losses for at least one additional year and maybe more until they can right the ship financially. Tough times ahead for the league...

When you have the best kicker/punter in the league And he is as "quirky" as they come You don't mess with the tools he needs To get the job done. His snapper being priority #1 Your comments are like lyrics from a song.

I heard Ashley Massaro died last week. Only 39 years old. Apparently it was a suicide. Where is the Unknown Poster? He usually provides all the updates here.

I thought I heard season tickets were only 19,000 or so last year. Even still if it is between 17 - 18k, that probably has to be our lowest season ticket count in some time...maybe the lowest since the late 90s. For it to fall off at all with our first playoff win in 8 years last season is a bit of a concern.

No that is not intellectual. That is aardvarking...at least if you were on the other site.

Valour FC will likely need all those revenues attributed to them to break even and even though they are owned by the Bombers they are their own entity and have to account for their own expenses and revenues. Perhaps the only additional revenue the Bombers will receive from the Valour will be rental fees for use of the stadium. This will be fairly minimal given the team will likely average 5,000 per game (hopefully more). And that would be a little strange considering they are the owners of the team...shifting around money.

I thought annual payments towards the stadium debt were $4.5 million, not the $2.7 million quoted in the article. Anyone know if that is for this year only and the debt payment will revert back $4.5 million next year? As a reminder, the province wrote off the debt, but they did not forgive the debt. It's great to see the revenues rise despite no events at the stadium last year - no GNR concert, no Nitro Circus, no women's soccer. Looks like there will be no concerts or events at the stadium this summer either other then the soccer team which will not provide the Bombers with any additional revenue. Expenses increasing by $3.2 million is pretty substantial. The additional two away trips certainly would not account for such a huge increase...especially since the home team in those games has to give a substantial part of their gate revenue to the visiting team/league. I'm sure it can't be more then high five figures/low six figures for those away games anyways so why the huge increase?

I agree, less time modding and more time pursuing other interests.

Many people here are not making an honest effort in doing any actual research into the Bomber players pre-1980. It shouldn't be that hard considering the research consists of looking at one CFL team, not the other 8. If you are saying it will be a hard to pick between Reaves, Roberts and Harris for the top two running backs in Bomber history, it shows a great deal laziness in researching players with respect to their peers throughout history. The correct answer is Leo Lewis is an automatic first choice with the second choice being one of Roberts, Hansen (depending on your definition of running back) and Reaves. Harris has not been here long enough to warrant discussion. Lewis is objectively viewed as the best Bomber running back in history and probably a top 5 - 8 running back in CFL history. He had a combination of longevity and elite seasons. For lessons on how to compare the greatness of pro athletes across different decades/eras, I would suggest a trip to the History of Hockey board on the Hfboards and the current top - 100 hockey players of all-time project that is nearing its conclusion - a much more difficult project considering it covers a much longer period of time, far more teams and leagues other then the NHL.

Keep the ratio where it is. It dropped from 10 starters to 7 and then down to 6. It should NEVER drop any lower unless the league expanded to 12 or more teams. It is the CANADIAN Football League and it needs to have as many Canadian roster spots as possible. Most domestic leagues around the world have rules for the number of starter spots and roster spots for its players. It help promotes the sport within the country - both from a developmental and commercial perspective. It is short-sighted and lazy to lower the ratio and "let the best men play" as it will discourage participation and development of football players at the lower levels. This will in turn lead to fewer quality players being available to make the jump to the pros...in turn, this leads to demands for a lower ratio and the cycle continues...This doesn't even factor in reduced interest from the Canadian audience with fewer Canadian players in the league. Reduced TV and live attendance are likely to follow.

I wonder how Drew Willy would do in this league?

c- is about right. That's about where I have him right now. Could change slightly given there are a few more free agents out there. Receiver is a glaring concern.

Hey Ripper, weren't the Riders supposed to sign Chungh or Goosen according to you? What happened?

The Cap is over $5 million is it not...something like $5.2 - $5.5 million? Those 5 guys make about $1.5 million. I can see Elimimian shaking loose as a casualty or possibly having his salary renegotiated. Cap has yet to be determined. With the cap on coaching, I wouldn't be surprised if the cap is increased by a few hundred thousand.

Reilly had a garbage gm in Dunderland who failed to provide him with enough talent up front - o-line and the most of the D. With a good GM like Hervey (who he won under in 2015) finding decent talent south of the border he will be surrounded by the talent necessary to be a playoff team year in and year out.

Nichols played awful for at least half the year and the west final. He panics at the slightest sign of pressure despite having the best O-line last year. That's why I am really worried about the loss of Goosen and Chungh and the corresponding loss of national depth. Things are likely to be worse protection-wise this season for Nichols so unless he has improved mentally, we may see a lot more of those 200 yard passing games...unless the Bombers go three imports on the line...that will help. As it stands, a Qb like Harris on the Bombers would be preferable to Nichols.

UGh. Hard to believe but we have actually regressed at the starting QB position relative to other teams in the west Mitchell, Reilly Gap Harris Gap Nichols Gap Whoever the Riders start.

1100 is not THAT impressive. Certainly not for $225,000. His yardage was down over 300 yards from the previous year and his yards per catch dropped nearly 4 yards. Of course, that doesn't matter now, as he signed with another team.

Losing 4 Canadian starters will be devastating. Expecting Gray and Couture to step in and provide a seamless transition to the league's former best O-line is not realistic. We will have lost a significant amount of national depth with the departure of Chungh on top of Loffler, Goosen, Corney and Demski. I will be disappointed if we lose Chungh and Walters is incapable of bringing in any decent national players as starters to compensate. $225 for Ellingson is ridiculous given his season last year. Not sure he is the guy I would want here as a number 1. Walker would be far more attractive. Then again, given our Qb it might not matter.

He did. And Nichols would as well. But not for anywhere close to $450,000 that Nichols reportedly is making. Bombers should renegotiate his contract but I wonder if O'Shea and Walters will have the temperament to make the right call.

After the season he had do you honestly believe a team out there would give him a base salary as big as the Bombers did this year!? He was average to below-average for most games despite having the league's best running back and O-line. He would get offers, sure. But for nowhere near the same base he made in 2018.

No, cut nichols base salary first. He won't have any options to make the same salary elsewhere anyways.

Do some people here actually think Lapo will be let go? Unless some other team signs him to be a head coach, he will be back. He can take some of the blame but he is limited in his options with an immobile QB who is unable to throw the long ball with semi-regular accuracy. O'shea will stay loyal...and is there a better option?

Is Nichols making $400,000 or $450,000. Regardless, His base pay needs to be lower with more emphasis on incentives for games started, passing yardage and TD receptions. Nichols will not be negotiating from a position of strength. No other team will pay him as much and many will stick with the QBs they have...even Montreal would stick with Pipken and Manziel, as they have upside given their age while Nichols has already peaked. Of note, I can't believe Nichols thought be played a good game!