First-ever CFL Week begins to take shape

The event has been in the making for more than a year and now CFL Week is mere weeks away.

The CFL was in Regina on Monday afternoon to announce their CFL Week sponsor – Mark’s – and to talk about more of the details for the event, which will be hosted in the Queen City March 21-26.

Fifty of the CFL’s top players will be in town for various events during the week including photo and video shoots for the new season, as well as fan interaction and autograph sessions.

Roughrider receiver Rob Bagg said the event was not a hard sell for the players.

“The fans really do enjoy everything that compasses the entire league, and to try and feel closer to the players is a great opportunities for both parties to continue to connect,” he said.

Plus, according to the CFL’s Vice President of Marketing Christina Litz, the players get to see how the league is investing in them “to make sure they’re becoming the superstars that we all know they are.”

It’s also an opportunity to show what makes the CFL so unique – and that’s the relationship the fans can have with their favourite players. It’s somethings that the NFL can’t provide.

“That’s part of the reason we’re doing this,” she said. “We’ve heard from our fans that they want to interact with the CFL and their teams 12 months a year so we think (this) kind of event is the perfect kind of response to that.”

“It’s core to what the CFL is, we wouldn’t be anywhere without our fans so we are constantly asking ourselves what (more) can we do.”

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• The 2017 class of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame will be unveiled to fans at a VIP reception on March 22 at the new Mosaic Stadium. Those in attendance will be able to mingle with Don Narcisse, George Reed, Gene Makowsky and Damon Allen. It will include a look at the Roughriders new home as well. Tickets go on sale March 1.
• The CFL National combine will see the top 60 prospects from Canadian University football and NCAA descend on Regina. The western regional combine will take place on March 23 and the national combine will happen on the 24th and the 25th with coaches, scouts and general managers in attendance.
• The rules committee will also meet during CFL Week March 21-22. The competition committee will also meet on the March 22.
• CFL Coaches will hold a panel on the upcoming season and their places with special media conferences on March 23.
• The CFL Fanfest at Evraz Place from March 21-25 will have autograph sessions, photos with the Grey Cup, the opportunity for fans to participate in their own combine or even try out the CFL command centre. Of course there will also be the “Fan Cave” beer garden.