Ex-Raider Biletnikoff in town for NFL game announcement

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This article was published 05/06/2019 (2286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fred Biletnikoff has vivid memories of his first visit to Manitoba and Winnipeg Stadium as a member of the Montreal Alouettes in 1980.

His latest trip to the provincial capital almost 40 years later came as a bit of a jolt when he visited IG Field, the six-year-old home of the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I’ll tell you, when we drove up, my God, what a difference,” said the 76-year-old Pro Football Hall of Famer, who serves as a roving ambassador for his old team, the Oakland Raiders. “It’s unbelievable. The old place was packed but one end was open and the locker rooms were older. But that’s just the way it was. But to see this facility, you walk around a little bit and look around, it’s first class.

“When all the players come here and coaches, they’re going to be surprised what they see with the stadium. It’s going to be great.”

Biletnikoff accompanied Raiders executive vice-president Dan Ventrelle to Winnipeg for Wednesday’s news conference to formally announce the staging a NFL exhibition game between the Raiders and Green Bay Packers at IG Field on Thursday, Aug. 22.

The Week 3 pre-season game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be televised nationally on TSN and RDS. Blue Bombers season-ticket holder have immediate access to buying tickets while a general sale to the public begins Saturday at 10 a.m.

Tickets prices, set by the promoter On Ice Entertainment, range from $75 to $340.

The Raiders, who are relocating to Las Vegas for the 2020 season, are the home team for the Winnipeg game. The club also considered Regina and Edmonton as a location for the Week 3 pre-season game.

“We did look at a number of different venues and everyone was in the mix until we made a decision,” said On Ice president John Graham. “I think you had to have full commitment to make this happen and we definitely have this here. I think (Blue Bombers CEO) Wade (Miller) and his team’s efforts were phenomenal in making it happen.”

The Raiders, who also have a Week 5 regular-season game against the Chicago Bears in London, will be the first NFL club to play games in three countries during the course of one season.

“We wanted to play in a place that was modern and had the types of ammenities NFL fans would expect and are used to,” said Ventrelle. “This place certainly has that. We wanted to play in a place that had an enthusiastic community, where fans rallied behind the team and really seemed to love football. That describes this community.”

Ventrelle said planning for the visit is underway and it’s possible the clubs could practise in Winnipeg in advance of the game. The game could feature a number of established stars, including superstar Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“We intentionally chose the third pre-season game because that’s the pre-season game where the starters generally get most of the work,” said Ventrelle.

Miller admitted an NFL game has an economic spinoff similar to hosting a major concert at the stadium.

“There’s obviously a benefit to us to host an event of this size at the stadium, financially,” said Miller. “But I believe the real benefit is increasing the awareness and celebrating football.”

In a related move, the Canadian Premier League’s Valour FC announced its previously scheduled Aug. 22 home match against FC Edmonton has been rescheduled for Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. to make way for the Raiders and Packers.

The Blue Bombers also plan to distribute 2,500 tickets to the Aug. 19 soccer game to local youth. Founding Valour FC members should contact the Winnipeg Football Club to suggest charities or youth groups they’d like to see receive tickets.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14