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Vancouver most likely to host 2014 Grey Cup
The Grey Cup Trophy (HANDOUT / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)
The CFL is expected to announce Friday afternoon in Vancouver that the 2014 Grey Cup — a game many were expecting would be held at Winnipeg’s new Investors Group Field — will instead be held at BC Place.
The Vancouver Sun reported on Thursday that B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Michael Copeland, the chief operating officer of the CFL, will both be in attendance on Friday to formally announce Vancouver will host its second Grey Cup game in four seasons.
The Lions also hosted the 2011 Grey Cup, which they won 34-23 over Winnipeg.
The 2014 game was originally supposed to be held in Ottawa, but delays in both renovations to Frank Clair Stadium and the readmission of the Ottawa franchise into the league made that unviable.
Once Ottawa was out of the mix, the Bombers were considered the leading candidate — and had the backing of CFL commissioner Marc Cohon — to christen their new stadium with a Grey Cup game in 2014. But it was revealed last month the Bombers pulled themselves out of the running, although the club denied reports it was because of cost overruns in the construction of Investors Group Field.
"I can tell you from the Winnipeg Blue Bomber perspective that any reports that suggest we wouldn’t be able to host the 2014 Grey Cup due to financial restrictions are incorrect," club spokesman Darren Cameron said in a statement Feb. 22.
"What is factual is that it is sometimes better for the overall status of the organization when you are dealing with a brand-new facility, to work out the kinks and get fully acclimated to the new facility before hosting a major event such as the Grey Cup. But financial drawbacks on us possibly hosting in 2014 were not and are not a concern whatsoever. We are in a great financial position to host this event whenever it is appropriate for us to do so."
The Bombers are now expected to make a bid for the 2015 or 2016 Grey Cup game. This year’s Grey Cup game is in Regina.
Meanwhile, the Bombers announced the signing of a new defensive back on Thursday.
Import Desia Dunn (24, 5-9, 195, Fresno State) was Fresno State’s top cornerback in both his junior and senior year, finishing his college career with161 tackles, three interceptions, 18 pass knockdowns and three forced fumbles. Dunn went to training camp with the Arizona Cardinals in 2011 and was also on the roster of the Arena Football League’s San Jose SaberCats.
History
Updated on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 6:33 PM CST: adds one small detail
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