Some came to listen to Stamps personnel discuss the 2011 season. Some came to make a comment, express a complaint, pass along a compliment or ask a question. Some came to pose for a photo with Ralph the Dog and get an autograph from a current Stamps player or a distinguished alumnus of the Red and White. Some came to do all of the above.
Most importantly, they came. Some 200 strong, Stampeders fans came to McMahon Stadium’s Red and White Club on Monday evening to take part in the event that featured presentations by vice-president of business development Lee Genier, director of game day operations and events Jamie Seguin, president/COO Lyle Bauer and head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.
“We thank all our loyal and enthusiastic fans for making the inaugural Stamps Fan Forum such a success,” said Bauer. “We hope they found the evening as enjoyable and informative as we did. We appreciated the fans’ interest and input and we look forward to making this Fan Forum a Stampeders tradition.”
The speeches by Stamps brass were followed by questions from the audience — and there were some tough ones, such as one fan wanting to know how the Stampeders were going to solve the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the playoffs.
Coach Huff’s three-point answer? One, make sure the game is in Calgary and that everyone in the stands is wearing red. Two, score at least one point than the Roughriders. And three, when five red-clad Stamps and one lone Rider have a chance to fall on a loose ball in the end-zone, make sure one of the guys in red gets it, a reference to a bad bounce in last year’s West final.
Fans heard about the team’s plans to try and repeat a first-place finish in the West while taking that additional step or two in the playoffs, but also about short-term improvements for McMahon Stadium as well as longer-range aspirations for the home of the Red and White.
The football club would like to thank all the fans for taking part in this year’s event and we look forward to making this an annual tradition.
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