The BC Lions are heading to Victoria this summer to face off against the Ottawa Redblacks, and in anticipation, CHEK News is offering fans a special promo code to get their tickets early for the game happening Saturday, Aug. 31.
There are a limited number of passes available for this pre-sale, so head to chekmedia.link/BCLions starting at noon Wednesday, March 20, and enter code CHEKKICKOFF for tickets to the game to envelop Royal Athletic Park.
Editor’s note: The CHEK pre-sale code ended on March 22 at 10 a.m.
Duane Vienneau, the team’s president, says the Vancouver-based CFL team is excited to come to the Island for the big-ticket, season-regular game known as Touchdown Pacific.
“We’re just happy to be here,” said Vienneau on CHEK News’ newscast Tuesday, when the pre-sale was announced. “It’s the first time ever. It’s happened on the Atlantic side before, but this is a first for Touchdown Pacific, and we’re just happy…”
The CHEK pre-sale offers football fans early access to tickets, which will be on sale to the general public starting on Thursday, March 28, at 10 a.m.
Tickets start at $35 and range up to $95. Additionally, there will be a VIP hospitality section in the East end zone, according to the Lions.
CHEK viewers can also enter a contest to win two tickets to the game, two tailgate party passes, a $100 food and beverage gift card and a $250 BC Lions merch package. Email [email protected] to enter, and the winner be announced sometime during CHEK News’ newscasts on Thursday, March 21.
“You won’t need anything else. Just win that prize,” exclaimed Vienneau.
Gearing up for game day
The Lions announced the game last November, and Vienneau says the event will likely substantially boost Victoria’s economy thanks to the influx of visitors.
“We’ve done these in the past in other parts of the country in Atlantic Canada. The last couple of them have been in the $17 million economic impact,” he said.
“You have people coming from coast to coast coming here, and we’re just happy that we get to do it in Victoria. We have such a great fan base here, and we’re going to show it off to the rest of the country.”
Tens of thousands are expected to attend.
“We’re trying to break the record. I think the record for Royal Athletic Park is somewhere in the (13,000s), so we’re going to squeeze every last person in here to get to (14,000),” said Vienneau.
Leading up to game day, events are happening on Thursday, Aug. 29, and Friday, Aug. 30, including a free festival at downtown’s Ship Point Inner Harbour, where the public can enjoy food, drinks and entertainment, says Vienneau.
BC Lions’ players and coaches will also take part in community events.
Last November, team owner Amar Doman, who was born and raised in Victoria, said he was excited to see them play in B.C.’s capital, while Mayor Marianne Alto noted that she and her son hadn’t missed a home opener in 20 years.
Vienneau adds that the community support is strong.
“Your mayor (Marianne Alto) is a 20-year season seat holder. When we first talked to her about bringing this event here, we didn’t even get it out, and she was like, ‘Yes, yes, yes, we’re in!'” he recalled.
“So we’ve been having tons of support out of the community, and our season seat holders are excited to come over, and we hear from people all over the country every day.”
Ethan Morneau
