hardcore football fans all have strong loyalty to their team, their community, their tribe. But Edmonton Eskimos fans go two steps beyond loyalty to utter devotion towards what the Eskimos represent, in the form of commitment to excellence and character.
Hardcore Edmonton Eskimos Fans
Players inspire the hardcore fans to contribute to their community. Devoted Eskimo fans follow their heroes giving their time, energy and hard earned money to various causes. Some of the main causes include:
- Purolator Tackle Hunger game day food drive
- Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation telethon
- Canadian Armed Forces at Military Night t-shirt sales and donations to support military families
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Edmonton donations
- Santas Anonymous game day toys for kids drive
However, it goes beyond just giving during the football season. The Eskimos encourage and inspire fans to give year round, making Edmonton one of the most charitable cities in North America. Edmonton and the Alberta capital area often get a bad rap by people who fail to take the time to get to know anything about Edmonton and Edmontonians. Edmonton is a young, highly educated, highly active city that loves sport and the arts. The populace goes out of their way to help those in need, as Edmontonians did in the time of crisis in Fort McMurray, or with donations for humanitarian aid for war torn Ukraine.
Blue Collar Identity
It is part of the blue collar persona to work hard and play hard. When you work long hours in difficult and even dangerous conditions, you have to trust the guy or gal next to you to do their job well too. This is something that is also true with football teams. It is why blue collar players, who are tough, driven to get the job done, and smart enough to pull the team together quickly, become fan favourites in Edmonton.
Eskimo hardcore fans identify with Mike Reilly, because he has the type of toughness and character that the blue collar Edmontonian respects. He has a big heart not only on the field, but off the field contributing his time and inspiring others in the community. They cheer for the little guy who plays big like JC Sherritt, because he represents someone who has had to overcome being told no – no you can’t do this or can’t do that, because of your size or the post-secondary school you attended.
These players remain connected to the past and honor the traditions to celebrate those that have come before and sacrificed.
History Evokes Emotion
People outside of Edmonton often criticize the city’s self-given label City of Champions. They think it refers to the success of the Edmonton Oilers and Eskimos in the 1980’s. However, it was adopted in 1987 when mayor Laurence Decore declared Edmonton the “city of champions” after the response to Black Friday, when a deadly tornado destroyed parts of city and surrounding area. The deep emotions that are still tied to Black Friday and the need for something positive came from Edmonton’s sport teams, both the Oilers and the Eskimos.
We Edmontonians were reminded of that era in 2000, when during an Eskimos game, an announcement requesting medical personnel report to the media center, followed by reports about the Pine Lake disaster. Through good times and bad, the Eskimos have been there as a necessary distraction and contributors to the community when the need arises.
On Wednesday the Eskimos hosted Fire Aid Concert in Commonwealth in support of the Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo relief fund. With all funds going to the community the Eskimos once again rise to the challenge to help out. The hardcore Eskimos fan will be there with their heroes supporting the cause, drinking in the emotion and living another page of history.
Hardcore Fan Passion
As fans we have parasocial one-sided relationship with a team and players. However, this does not deter some Eskimo hardcore fans from being passionate devoting many hours of time and energy as fans. Eskimo hardcore fans hang out and talk football on Eskfans where they not only interact with fellow fans, but some of the Eskimos alumni from time to time. The team enables fans to connect with the Esks App, Esks on Facebook, and Esks on Twitter.
In today’s world the passion flows in an instant, while connected in the stadium and watching the game hardcore fans use one of many applications on their phones to share the experience. The Eskimos must continue down this path and have fan generated content, creating a digital world where hardcore fans can help more casual fans understand what they are watching.
At the last game in Commonwealth, some of us in the stands chatted with a group of casual fans sitting behind us. These fans didn’t know all the rules and strategy, specifically around the end of regulation and overtime. They asked questions and we answered. The Esks could use their application to enable new and casual fans access to the knowledge of long-term fans who are willing to contribute to the experience.
The Next Wave
With 55% of Edmonton under 34 years old, the market is ready for a change in approach. The Eskimos sponsor watch parties for away games for hardcore fans around Edmonton where fans can interact, win prizes and of course watch the game together. The Eskimos have opened up in-stadium party patios, lounges like the Quarterbacks Club, and even a football-oriented lounge at the Edmonton international airport.
The team has also evolved their game day experience to be more inclusive to the college crowd with a pre-game beer garden and half-time bands such as USS. This new party event atmosphere, coupled with fantasy football services like Draft Kings, is set to hook the next generation of hardcore fans.
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