Blue Bombers continue to be proud supporter of Manitoba Fearless
In the football mad region of Prairie Canada, a tremendous sign of encouragement is the show of support from various Canadian Football League franchises. It signifies that women’s football is not only here to stay but the path towards sporting equality is one that shall be built on mutual respect.
Various examples include Calgary Rage serving as ushers at Stampeders contests. Saskatchewan Roughriders employee Olivier Eddie donates his time as a coach for the Regina Rage. As a side note, he was also a coach on Canada’s entry at the 2013 IFAF Women’s Worlds. The Roughriders home stadium served as the venue for the 2013 Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship game.
For the Manitoba Fearless, they have also had the opportunity to develop a positive relationship with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As the Bombers have held a women’s football clinic for the past seven years, the Fearless players have been proudly involved.
This year, the relationship between the two franchises has only strengthened. For the Fearless home games in 2014, they had the opportunity to compete at Investors Group Field. Opened in 2013, IGF is a modern sports facility with a capacity of over 30,000 seats, also home to the Blue Bombers. Heading into the 2014 CFL regular season, Fearless players shall be present at Blue Bombers home games handling concessions and parking, providing a new meaning to the essence of teamwork.
“Well, we did such a good job last year that they offered us our own concession stand this year. The girls are very well organized and work well as a team. It has been a smooth transition from the field to the concession. We had nothing but kudos from the Bombers about how well we did last year,” stated Fearless general manager Tannis Wilson.
Taking into account how the people of Winnipeg are hardcore sports fans, devoted to their teams, such as the Blue Bombers and the Jets hockey franchise, the Fearless are working tirelessly to contribute to that sense of civic pride with elite-level female football. Knowing that the Bombers are helping to contribute towards the growth of the female game, it is a great sense of pride for Wilson, a modern day sporting pioneer in the River City.
“The Bombers are very supportive of amateur football in Manitoba. They have asked us to be part of their women’s clinic for the past seven years. I think that more and more people involved with football recognize that women’s is the future of football growth. It is really an untapped market and the growth exponential is amazing. The Bombers want more women in their stands and we want more women on the field is a great cross marketing potential.”
As the future continues to hold great potential for the Fearless, 2014 is certainly a turning point in its history. The opportunity to compete at IGF and get involved at Bombers home games signifies that the Fearless are on the path towards being part of the Winnipeg sporting conversation. For Wilson, she expresses her gratitude towards two particular members of the Bombers organization that have helped champion the cause of women’s football,
“Wade Miller, who is the new CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Jeffrey Bannon, who is the director community relations for the Bombers for amateur football. They both have been great really understanding and caring partners for women’s football. We are happy as an organization to call them friends. We hope to have a long and happy relationship with them.”
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
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