Enlarge Image

Enlarge Image

Jim Bell

THE Bombers surpassed the 20,000 mark in season-ticket sales Tuesday morning, a mark that represents a new high for the CFL franchise.

Business is so brisk at the Bombers office, in fact, that the club has decided to cap the number of season tickets sold for the 2011 season.

Only 2,500 more season passes will be made available before the June 23 deadline, as the club wants to ensure a healthy number of single-game tickets remain.

Impressive stuff. Especially when you consider the team has no playoff wins since 2007, has missed the post-season two years in a row, and is coming off a forgettable 4-14 campaign.

The club is scheduled to move into a 33,000-seat, partially covered stadium at the University of Manitoba next summer, and current season-ticket holders will have the first right of refusal on ducats for the new era of Bombers football.

"We do have a very loyal and supportive fan base historically," president Jim Bell said. "Sixteen or eighteen thousand fans are always going to be there for us, but certainly the new stadium (helps)."

Winnipeg opens its 2011 regular season home schedule July 8 against Toronto.

PREDICTION: Cory Watson, the second-year receiver out of Concordia, is going to have a monster year. That declaration is based on two factors:

a) He's been an excellent pass catcher from the tail end of 2010 and beyond, looking noticeably more effective when on the field in games (averaging 16.7 yards a catch), lighting it up at the club's mini-camp this past spring, and quietly going about his business this month.

b) As non-import newcomers like Jade Etienne and Kito Poblah (who won't play Thursday due to an Achilles injury) find their way in the offence, Watson is already ahead of the curve. He hasn't generated the huge interest like the two high draft picks have, but that works to his advantage, he says.

"I like it like that; I like not being worried about until I hit the field," he said. "It's nice to be looked at, to be appreciated, but it's not something I'm looking for. I like flying under the radar."

GET PHYSICAL: "I'm looking forward to it. Just for the fact that it will be the first time in a long time where we can go full-bore, 100 per cent out there. You can tell some of the guys are getting excited about (the pre-season game). It's hard not finishing plays sometimes," said rookie linebacker Henoc Muamba on his first game action as a member of the Blue and Gold.

FINALLY: A player to keep an eye on in Montreal: DB/KR Johnny Sears. The lanky 24-year-old has been a head-turner during camp, busting up plays with some impressive athletic ability.

Here's Sears on whether or not he knows he's making noise at this camp: "I've been making good strides, I think, and that was my plan coming here. I wanted to make an impression on the coaching staff. I want to put a stamp on this with a good game now; let 'em know I'm here to stay."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 15, 2011 C4