Latest news with #RoughridersMailbag
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roughriders Mailbag: Attendance issues? Passing yards problem?
Welcome to another edition of the Roughriders Mailbag where we answer questions readers have about the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After last week's season-opening win against the Ottawa Redblacks, the Roughriders are now set for two straight road games as they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday before visiting the Toronto Argonauts on June 20. Before then, let's dive in on some issues sent in by readers as Week 2 of the CFL season approaches. If you'd like to submit a question for the next Roughriders Mailbag, email your inquiry to: SaskatchewanRoughriders@ What's with the low attendance numbers? From Dale While injuries were a major concern of fans after Thursday's season opener, attendance was another issue brought up several times. The Roughriders announced 25,973 tickets were distributed for the club's CFL season opener, but obviously there were fewer inside Mosaic Stadium. Now if only the team would provide us with actual scanned attendance… It's no secret that fewer fans are attending games in person. Roughriders president Craig Reynolds told the Leader-Post this off-season that increasing season ticket sales was the club's primary focus. The team has developed some new perks for season ticket holders this year. But is that enough? We haven't got an update on season tickets sales this year after three straight years of decline. Last year, there were 15,500 season tickets sold. While playing on a Thursday obviously isn't great for the out-of-town fans, there's a larger issue at hand when it comes to increasing attendance. Last year, Reynolds said the team sold the most single-game tickets they've ever sold. That's obviously a new trend where fans are choosing individual games to attend and not committing to season tickets. This year, the two hottest games — the season opener and the Labour Day Classic — were offered as a package deal. Usually package deals aren't used on your hot-ticket items. Fans still support this team, but they aren't showing up like they used to. This is not the 'good ol' days' anymore. Does that have to do with affordability? Comfort of watching from home? Tickets, food and drinks aren't necessarily cheap. Winning helps, but it isn't everything anymore. Every single non-ticket buyer has their reason(s) for not going. Regional TV blackouts would help sell more tickets. But that would hurt the overall brand. It won't happen. How about what the B.C. Lions are doing? Bringing in Snoop Dogg to perform prior to the game helped the Lions sell 52,837 tickets in Week 1. Obviously Vancouver is a bigger market with a bigger venue, but owner Amar Doman is basically saying you have to spend money to make money. Should the Roughriders follow suit? Despite being in a smaller market, the Roughriders were ahead of the Montreal Alouettes (21,480) and Calgary Stampeders (18,682) when it came to ticket sales for their season openers. Attendance will go up during the summer as the season goes along, especially if they keep winning. And at the end of the day, the team will still likely make a profit from gate sales this year. However, it's not like it used to be. Are the Roughriders going to give up 400 yards to every quarterback they face this season? From Evan Head coach Corey Mace, who also serves as Saskatchewan's defensive coordinator, doesn't have a big issue in giving up passing yards. What he wants to see is timely stops and forced turnovers. Despite Dru Brown passing for 413 yards, the Redblacks forcing three turnovers and Saskatchewan generating no first downs in the fourth quarter, the Roughriders defence made the plays when it mattered. While Saskatchewan secured a late turnover on downs, they didn't force another turnover in the game. However, the team got two timely fourth-quarter sacks from linebacker Jameer Thurman and defensive end Malik Carney. So while there weren't any interceptions or forced fumbles, Saskatchewan still made the plays when it mattered. 'This defence gives up a lot of yards passing but it allows us to be opportunistic to go get the ball,' Mace said after the game. At the end of the day, Mace isn't tracking passing yards but instead wins and losses. And yes, maybe the turnover battle too. Here's a suggestion to improve TSN's broadcasts of CFL games. When the announcer introduces the defensive and offensive players, why not add a red maple leaf to the pictures of the Canadian starters? From Fred This is a good idea and I'm sure it would be simple enough to add to the broadcast even though some of the 'Canadian' starters are in fact Americans who are considered Nationals. That's a different debate in itself. It would be cool to see each player introduce themself and say where they're from, much like the NFL does during it's prime-time broadcasts. And instead of saying what university of junior club you played for, how about name and hometown. It will allow players to show a bit of their personal side. tshire@ 10 Thoughts: Roughriders find a way to beat Redblacks in season opener Roughriders overcome injuries in 31-26 win over Redblacks The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roughriders Mailbag: Alarming attendance? Draft Rourke? Bane update?
Welcome to another edition of the Roughriders Mailbag where we answer questions readers have about the Saskatchewan Roughriders. With less than two weeks until the CFL Draft on April 29, teams are busy finalizing their prospect rankings. After the draft, those prospects and other first-year players will hit the field for rookie camps, followed by main camps opening on May 11. With anticipation building towards the start of the season, it's time to answer some questions. If you'd like to submit a question for the next Roughriders Mailbag, email your inquiry to: SaskatchewanRoughriders@ I believe the team is looking to be competitive and possibly a contender for the cup. My question is what is the president and board going to do about the lack of season tickets and butts in the seats. The Western semifinal attendance was alarming. And of course, the attendance figures for nearly every home game were very concerning. The pricing for merchandise is ridiculous and the entertainment value for the younger fans isn't as good as it could be. From Steve D. (Question has been condensed) This off-season, Roughriders president Craig Reynolds told the Leader-Post that the number of season tickets fell to 15,500 in 2024, which was the third straight year of a decrease in sales. Selling tickets is the club's primary source of income and Reynolds said it's the club's No. 1 focus this off-season. Reynolds admitted they have some work to do in rebuilding the season ticket base and last week, the team unveiled a few new perks for season ticket holders including a separate entrance at each gate into the stadium, a dedicated account rep, a souvenir I.D. card and lanyard and a 'thank you' gift that season-ticket holder can pick up as an exclusive pre-season event, which includes a tour of the locker room. Whether that will sway fans to buy season tickets is to be determined. I've often heard the phrase that season ticket holders feel 'taken for granted,' so maybe addresses some of those concerns. But is it enough? That's an individual question each person needs to answer when it comes to how they want to spend their entertainment dollars. While winning helps boost ticket sales, it isn't everything. And these new perks are one way of trying to boost sales. I think it's a step in the right direction. Is Kurtis Rourke on the radar for a potential draft pick this year? From Murray Rourke is not only the top quarterback available in this year's CFL Draft, but he's considered the best prospect, as he's been listed No. 1 in the CFL Scouting Bureau's draft rankings. However, the younger brother of CFL quarterback Nathan Rourke is also an NFL prospect and could hear his name called in the later rounds of the draft south of the border from Apr. 24-26. If he doesn't get drafted to the NFL, Rourke could very well sign in the NFL as a free agent which would mean there's a good chance he doesn't come to the CFL any time soon. However, I still think there's a team in the CFL that will be willing to draft Rourke with the chance that he does come play in Canada one day. But how early are teams willing to select a player like that? Roughriders' general manager Jeremy O'Day has selected many 'futures' picks over the years so maybe it will be the Green and White. I would certainly be willing to spend a mid-round pick on him. Is Shawn Bane Jr. on track to start the season healthy? From Steve J. After suffering an ugly knee injury in Week 17 of the 2024 CFL season on Sept. 28, Bane underwent surgery and missed the rest of the season. The receiver posted to social media this off-season of him working out as he recovers from the injury. In February, Bane told Roughriders' senior journalist Rob Vanstone that he was jogging and 'things are pretty much looking on the up-and-up.' When training camps open, it will be just over seven months from his initial injury and typically, recovery timelines after knee surgeries are between six to nine months, meaning Bane will have a good chance to be cleared around the time camp opens although time frames can certainly change player-by-player. And when he returns to the field, Bane will be looking to hit the ground running as he looks to improve on last year's totals (49 catches for 581 yards) after a breakout season in 2023 that saw him nab 93 receptions for 1,104 yards. tshire@ Shire: Predicting how the CFL's West Division will play out Roughriders returning to Saskatoon for training camp The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
