A sea of blue-clad hometown fans booed each point scored by both the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Montreal Alouettes during the CFL’s championship game at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium.
It was unclear which competitor the Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans hated more.
Historically, the Blue Bombers and Roughriders have had a fiery rivalry, but the Alouettes beating Winnipeg in the Eastern Semi-Finals added fuel to another fire. As each team entered the field on Nov. 16 for the 112th Grey Cup, the cheers mixed with overwhelming boos by Bombers fans.
Catie St. Germaine, a Métis, Manitoba-born country singer performed O Canada, but some Bombers fans had their own version of the anthem.
Instead of singing the traditional “true north strong and free” lyrics, many Bombers fans changed it to “strong and blue.” The change echoed across the stadium, drowning out the original lyrics and startling some attendees.
Many Bombers fans disliked the Riders and the Alouettes equally, but some fans had their preferences, and even joined in the celebration of those teams.
One Bombers fan hugged and high-fived a Manitoban Riders fan after every point, and later admitted that he was wearing a Riders jersey under his blue garb.
Prime Minister Mark Carney spent the majority of the game in a white tent, surrounded by sharply-dressed bodyguards with earpieces. When he appeared on field to toss the coin, Carney faced mixed reactions from attendees.
Western Canada is known for its disapproval of liberal leaders, and Carney was no exception. A mix of boos and cheers filled the stadium, but Carney wasn’t the only one who faced disapproval.
Stewart Johnston, the CFL’s commissioner, was recently under fire for upcoming changes made to field dimensions and point-scoring, with some saying that it’s an “Americanization” of Canadian football.
Despite differences in team affiliation, attendees united in their disapproval of the commissioner. Johnston’s appearance elicited the strongest synonymous booing heard throughout the game.
The reaction to Johnston contrasted with the overwhelming silence during the half-time show when American rapper Machine Gun Kelly climbed onto the stage.
Some cheered, some booed, but most were silent. MGK’s attempts to rile up the crowd were somewhat unsuccessful, with many attendees opting for the bathroom or half-time snacks instead.
Fans were asked to join a light show by turning on their flashlights, but only a few hundred people joined in despite the stadium having a capacity of over 30,000.
Throughout a nail-biting second half, many Bombers fans picked a team to root for. Some sided with the Riders while others rang their cowbells for each yard gained by the Alouettes. As the end quickly approached, cheers became louder with the addition of some Bombers fans.
The stadium erupted in celebration with the added support of Bombers fans after the Riders’ triumph, and despite Winnipeg’s rivalry with Saskatchewan, many Bombers fans were quick to offer their congratulations to Riders fans.
