The Grey Cup received an injection of Atlantic Canadian flavour.
For the 10th straight year, a group called the ‘Atlantic Schooners’ traveled to the CFL Championship to host a kitchen party.
They are named after a CFL franchise that was awarded to Halifax in the 80s, but never ended up taking the field.
The group of 24 are mostly from Southwestern Nova Scotia, many from Wedgeport.
This year’s version in Ottawa ran for two days in the ballroom of the city centre hotel, and tickets were sold out.
The main course? You guessed it. Lobster. Over 900 pounds worth from Barrington.
John Ryerson with the group says they started attending the game each year because Atlantic Canada needed to be showcased.
“Atlantic Canada had never been involved in the Grey Cup until we came along, and we just more or less pushed our way in, and we’ve been here ever since.”
Now with rumours of an expansion franchise for Halifax in 2020, Ryerson says Atlantic Canada could finally have a franchise to call their own.
He believes an Atlantic team would be well supported.
Ryerson says CFL preseason games were successful in Halifax and Moncton, but he expects an Atlantic based team would do well.
“The whole thing is different when it’s your team, your colours, your region on the football field. I truly believe that there will be more support for a CFL team in Atlantic Canada than people really understand.”
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, along with the group trying to get the Halifax franchise attended the kitchen party.
What an incredible feat by the @TorontoArgos. The only thing more surprising is if WE won the #GreyCup this year.
— Atlantic Schooners (@MaritimeCFL) November 27, 2017
Yeah Shania Twain coming out by a dogsled is cool and all,
But in Halifax we would have @MattMays come out on a sailboat. Just sayin.#CFL #greycup
— Atlantic Schooners (@MaritimeCFL) November 27, 2017
