Riders in Edmonton this weekend

There is a good story about Rocky Butler on CFL.ca today. It looks like he will get the mop up duties after Joseph , who will play for most of the game. It also looks like Darien Durant won't get to play which most likely means unless he is signed to the practice roster he won't be with the Riders. Well there goes that prediction.

Riders win sleeper

Well the Riders played over the weekend (Saturday) and won 14-8. Really that is about all there is to say. The 1st pre-season game is usally a little vanilla but this game was boring. But don't worry I still have a few words to say:

1) big hit on Jason Tucker, knocked his helmet off, good to see that from the defence
2) the defence was solid, stiffling the Esks every which way
3) sepcial teams needs some work, like last year there was too many big returns
4) Sherry trapp is crap, purely a professional comment she is probably a nice woman
5) There was some mix ups with sound, is it really that hard to have a decent sound system? I'm not talking about a new one I just mean one that works or somebody who knows how to work it
6) video replay was used, which is cool, they even had a CFL branded video booth, which is good to see it executed properly
7) Last but not least SHABAZZ

Over 100 million have access to CFL games

Really?? Yes Really!! In this article from cfl.ca the details are outlined of all the regional sports networks that are carrying the games. In fact It wouldn't surprise me if the CFL had more coverage than the NHL. Yes, yes it is all regional coverage but exposure is good, and apparently some of the American athletes here are recording audio promos to be played in their old college stomping grounds. This is great!! get in at the grass roots make the CFL a viable option for the athletes and it will grow the game.

Take one a day and call me in the morning

The Riders are down to one a day practices (unless they canceled the second practice yesterday) as they tune-up for Saturday's pre-season game against Edmonton.

I just checked the Esks site to see what was going on and found this

Fan Day - Nearly 2,000 fans enjoyed Eskimo Fan Day presented by Alberta Pork. Included in the festivities were complimentary sausages from Alberta Pork, Coca-Cola soft drinks and Old Dutch chips, as well as an opportunity to see the Eskimos practice. Following the two hour session, the fans got a chance to get autographs from the entire team

This drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Riders should be all over this type of thing. This is how you treat your fans, this is why they can get 50,000 to a game. Yeah yeah Edmonton is so much bigger, bullshit we are supposedly the greatest fans in the league and yet we only sell-out 1-2 games a year and there is no competition for the entertainment dollar in this town. I went to get tickets for the game and they had a ratty old trailer set-up for season ticket holders. Just a few ideas for the customers you should be ecstatic to see.

1) A tent so the season ticket holders aren't standing in the blazing sun / or the rain
2) a water cooler maybe ...gasp... get it sponsored
3) Staff training, I did not see one smile from the ticket staff unless it was someone they knew. Whether they like it or not this is retail, treat the customer right and they'll be back. I saw one woman that left without buying tickets after some debate about the teen tickets, here's a tip sell the tickets!!! tell them only teens can use them, it then becomes their decision, because they were obviously interested in the tickets. Don't let them leave without buying and don't let them leave with a frown on their face.
4) If there are going to be lots of people picking up tickets have players there for autographs, look you need to treat your customers right. This organization thinks that because they are the only game in town that they don't have to try hard. It's an arrogant attitude and leads to handouts from the provincial government when the government should be asking what they did to improve the customer experience, and why your marketing was only able to attract enough people for one sell-out

Anyway I'll see you at the game on Saturday!!