Boisterous 55,000 fans turn out for semifinal tilt
RAFE ARNOTT/METRO VANCOUVER
From left, Robert Heard, John Vanderveen, Matt Cartwright, Andy Bell and Danny Walton enjoy the sunshine outside B.C. Place yesterday before the Western Championship game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 26 to 17.
A largely disappointed crowd of 55,000 trailed out of B.C. Place during the fourth quarter yesterday as the B.C. Lions dropped the Western Division Final 26-17 to the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“I’m so depressed, I’m going to drink for a week,” said Lions fan Ron Pachkowski, following the loss. “It was a tough game. The defence showed up, but the offence never got going. … It’s just a drag.”
Green-and-white clad Saskatchewan fans, however, relished the win. Their team will take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in next Sunday’s Grey Cup in Toronto.
Earlier in the day a festival atmosphere reigned for the fans of both teams.
“It’s the rivalry,” said Matt Cartwright. “No matter what happens, everybody still has fun.”
Football-hungry fans partied along Beatty Street. Some drank in pubs and restaurants, while others enjoyed the rare mid-November sunshine in parking-lot tailgate parties.
“It just doesn’t get much better than partying in the sun since 9 a.m.,” said Lions fan Andy Bell. “This is the best day of the year.”
“Yeah,” added friend Danny Walton. “And it’s probably snowing in Saskatchewan.”WITH FILES FROM RAFE ARNOTT
