The Ottawa Redblacks may have overtaken the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the unofficial second favourite team of most CFL fans. New stadium, new players, even a new name has launched Ottawa out in front as the feel-good story of Canadian football so far this season.
Pregame, the Glebe (Ottawa’s shopping district) was packed full of live music acts. Fans in Henry Burris and Chevon Walker jerseys were everywhere. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and was the beginning of a fantastic night of football in Canada’s capital.
Their first home game was packed full of 24,000 ravenous fans and the team delivered on an exciting last minute field goal to beat the visiting Toronto Argonauts. I was lucky enough to be present at that game and was completely blown away by the atmosphere at TD Place Stadium. It was as if Ottawa football had never left.
The longtime rivalry between the south and north side seats was alive and well. An enormous “North side still sucks” sign hanging from the south side bleachers was great. And each time the Argos kicker Swayze Waters lined up for a field goal, chants of “South side sucks!” rose in rhythm from the fans in my section–an original noise-creating idea instead of the generic cheers and jeers in most other stadiums. Hamilton has a rivalry between their bleachers as well, but not to the same extent as in Ottawa.
The happy-go-lucky factor was apparent at the stadium as well. The game itself was far from a textbook CFL gam, but you could tell the fans appreciated every play as if it was the Grey Cup. Simple 10 yard completions by QB Henry Burris were followed by excited gasps, then raucous cheers. A clear drop in the first quarter on a long pass down the middle by Redblacks receiver Kierrie Johnson was followed by laughing and “oh wells” instead of cursing and bitterness you’d expect on such a disappointing play. Johnson made up for his earlier drop with a 43-yard catch to set up the Redblacks’ game winning field goal. The crowd went nuts and strangers were hugging and high-fiving.
It was an exciting ending to a great home debut for Ottawa football. Despite being an Argos fan who would, under normal circumstances, have been extremely frustrated and rattled by the loss, I could not help but be happy for the Redblacks and their fans.
This Saturday night, the Redblacks host the defending Grey Cup champs from Saskatchewan. Two exciting teams, two great fan bases. It doesn’t get any better then that. At least everyone’s second-favourite team will win.
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