Grey Cup Team Practices

So, I woke up bright and early this morning so I could head out to BC Place to take part in Escorting the Sponsors for the team practices today.  I met up with my crew at 8:30am and headed into the Stadium with our first group of Sponsors from Canadian Western Direct.  We entered thru the East Airlock right onto the field.  Our job was to "escort" the sponsors and keep and eye on them if need be so they don't wander or do things they were not supposed to do.  The first thing we were told by the Manager there was to advise our group not to walk on the freshly painted white sidelines and logos.  So we informed them and kept an eye on them as they trampled all over the field to get the experience of a lifetime.  They passed around footballs and people took pics of the newly created Grey Cup Vancouver 2011 Logo in the centre and had some fun.

Here are some pics of that experience.

First thing I saw when I walked thru the Airlock.  Dancers/Cheerleaders rehearsing.

The Grey Cup Logo just painted and drying.

Using the drill to take out screws in the ground holding the cardboard in place to reveal the new logo.

Buck Pierce waiting to catch a throw from a playmate

 As the Winnipeg Blue Bombers started to head onto the field, we were instructed to get the sponsors off to the sidelines or endzones.  Buck and another playmate here were on the field and interacting with us and the sponsors.  They were great.

As more team members started coming on, we hearded our group thru the West Airlock, down the hall, up the elevator to the lower bowl level where they were able to sit and watch some of the practices.  It was quiet at first while they were doing their stretches but then they started making some noise.  Then all of the sudden they all ran onto the freshly painted and dried Grey Cup logo and did a team cheer.  Here's a pic.

Sorry its kinda blurry but you get the idea.

Then all of the sudden music started blaring thru the speakers with Flo'Rider and Eminem and they did some practices in between some dance moves.  It was quite entertaining to watch. Not long after we had to escort our sponsors out to the Terry Fox Plaza as it was time for them to leave.

 We breaked for lunch and came back to the East Airlock to receive our next group around 11:45am.  This group consisted mainly of kids.  The Blake's After Party were the sponsors.  We did the exact same thing with them only this time, it was the BC Lions turn for their practice.  As the kids were playing football on one side of the field by the endzone, players were starting to come out and get warmed up.  Wally Buono also came out and met the kids and all of us.  He's all class.

We then hearded the group up to the lower bowl as the group before and watched them practice.  I was silently waiting for the music to turn so I could find out what they liked to listen to.  It wasn't as hardcore as Winnipeg.  It was still Rap though.  Here are some pics from that.

Team Stretch

Before we escorted this group out of the building, all the kids got together in their seats and started chanting for the BC Lions. "2, 4, 6, 8, Who do we appreciate? Your the Best from all the Rest! Your the Best from all the Rest! Go Lions!" x 6 times.  This got the Lions players attention...they were very appreciative.

I was supposed to head on over to the Vanier Cup game tonight as well, as was my intention but I didn't feel very well a couple hrs before start time so headed on home after killing a couple hrs at the Fan Festival at the Jack Poole Plaza.  I have another jam packed day tomorrow also starting bright and early at the Parade.  I will be hosting a private viewing area of the parade for the VIP's at the corner of W.Georgia and Burrard while my Manager, Stephanie, will be doing the same at the Cactus Club location also on Burrard.  Another early rise for me...then once that is done, I'm heading over to the VCC to Team Lead the Coat Check team again for the "Show Your Colors Dinner" Gala.  Should be another night of great entertainment.  I'll post again tomorrow night. :)

BC Lions Western Final Halftime Show

This was the scene before 45,000 people came in to cheer on their BC Lions.  It was the Western Divisional Final and it was a calm scene before the game was to start.  This was taken 10 mins before the doors were about to open to the public.

Here is a pic of the Edmonton Eskimos making their way onto the field for warm-up.

TSN was also getting ready for their broadcast from above the West Entrance of BC Place inside the stadium.

This was the scene outside as fans started to gather at Gate G.  They came in all shapes, sizes and colors.  This one particular group of 4 caught my eye.  They kept "moo-ing" in line.

Once everyone was inside, Mark Donnely sang the national anthem the only way he can.  It was amazing...just like at Canuck games with the fans singing loud and proud.  Halfway thru the 1st quarter I went to check on the game and this is what I saw.  Lion domination.

At the end of the 1st quarter, I headed down to the bowels of BC Place to get ready for my halftime show debut.  All the Grey Cup Managers and Team Leaders were to gather before half and change into our Grey Cup uniforms so we could be thanked on the field by the BC Lions.  There was a huge highschool band with us who came out before we did.  We were to follow them out there at halftime and stand on the sidelines while the band played.  Here are some pics of us lined up under the BC Lions tarp and then on the field.

Once the halftime show was over, we headed back to our lounge area and had our break.  Then headed back up to the concourse to hand out booklets on the upcoming Grey Cup Festival and watched the rest of the game.  Lions ended up totally dominating the Edmonton Eskimos 40-23.  The most impressive play coming from Travis Lulay with a 61 yard run for a touchdown late in the game crushing any momentum the Eskimos were gaining.  The BC Lions turned their dismal start of 0-5 at the beginning of the year to pure dominance of the league after that.  We are now headed to the 99th Grey Cup held in Vancouver with the BC Lions facing off against the Winnipeg Bluebombers. 

The game is sold out and the festival starts on Thursday, Nov 24th for me.  I am a Team Leader for Hospitality and it will begin with at the Awards on Thursday night at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  I can't wait.

Vancouver 2011 Grey Cup Orientation

It is finally NOVEMBER!!!  Time for the Canucks to go on a winning streak and its also time for the volunteers in Vancouver to gear up for the GREY CUP!!!  The orientation was held in a building on the corner of W.Georgia and Thurlow.  It was a two day event with different departments holding their sessions on different days.  My invite was for Sunday morning, the day after the BC Lions big win over the Montreal Allouettes!  Got up early and headed downtown and grabbed a quick breakfast at McDonalds a block away from the venue.  Met up with other volunteers and headed in to check in with my team Manager of Hospitality, Stephanie.  I am a Team Leader for Hospitality.  The first thing we did was get the Team Leads into uniforms.  There were 6 of us, so we all went up a few floors on the elevator, showed our ID's, recieved our uniforms, had a picture taken with the Grey Cup and then got changed into our uniforms to help out the Managers with the rest of the crowd waiting downstairs to get accredited.  My good friend and fellow Team Lead, Rob and I were manning the elevators.  We were letting groups of 10 go up the elevator when they were ready upstairs for them and talking with the crowds to find out more about them.

The Grey Cup was only scheduled to be in the building til 11:15am and people were told to come by 10am.  So we had to get all the people through so they didn't miss out on that opportunity for a picture with the cup!  We encouraged people to go out for something to eat and a coffee if they finished up early picking up their uniforms as they would have had to wait some time before the orientation started.  Once all that was settled, we all gathered in a meeting room sitting in our departments as indicated on the tables set up.  Christine Nicholls, the Volunteer Manager, got up and welcomed everyone to orientation.  She introduced some speakers including Maureen McKinnon, the Volunteer Training Committee Manager, who went over our handbook of all the information we needed to make this a great experience for everyone.  Then Christine introduced Scott Ackles, General Manager of the 2011 Grey Cup Festival.  He went over a few things and let us know that the Olympic Cauldron will also be lit up on the Friday of the Festival. This information hasn't been released yet...so stayed tuned for more details on that soon.

Once our orientation was over, we gave out door prizes and those included anything from Gift Cards for local businesses and restaurants to a collectible hat signed by all five winning BC Lions quarterbacks in our history.  I didn't win anything.  After the fun and games were over, we all got together in our groups in different areas of the building.  The Hospitality group met outside in the hallway and the Managers introduced us Team Leaders to everyone and briefed everyone on what to expect and what our roles will be.  Once everyone left, the Team Leads had our meeting with the Managers.  From what I understand, its gonna be fun.  I'll be at the Galas/dinners/awards on Thursday night at the Vancouver and Convention Centre, Molson Canadian House, hosting the VIP's at the parade on Saturday near the Cactus Club and working the Grey Cup game at BC Place with the CAT team but in a slightly different role. 

Our uniform colors are Orange, White and Black.  We received one fleece pullover in orange and black, one white nylon jacket with orange fleece lining and an orange toque to keep us warm.  Reebok supplied the outfits and made them a little bit bigger than the sizes we ordered so we could layer underneath and stay warm.  So a size small for me fits like a large.  I need to get my uniform exchanged soon so it fits me a bit better.  I'm thinking extra-small.  We also received two tickets to the Vanier Cup on Friday night.  So its a nice package and souvenir from Grey Cup! Thanks!

Vancouver is expecting up to 400,000 people for Grey Cup Festival.  I don't know about you but I'm getting excited....