Tiger~Cats attendance

As of noon Monday, the Hamilton Ticats were just a couple of hundred seats short of their first full sell-out at Alumni stadium in Guelph. A milestone for sure, but with only one “scheduled” game left at the relatively tiny football field, both the Cats, and their fans are looking ahead to a return to their Hamilton home next year.

Scot Urquhart was in Guelph, trying to determine whether some new fans may follow the Cats down Highway 6 when the team finally leaves it’s temporary home.

I’m not sure even the football club can answer that question at the moment as it too, is trying to gauge just how much fan support the team has picked up in this area, over the last eight home games.

Although really this is a home-away-from-home for Ticat fans. The cozy confines of Guelph stadium, have been warm and welcoming for the Cats this season as they wait for the completion of the new Pan Am stadium.

Lee-Ann Anderson: It’s been a great time. Everybody’s been so friendly. We actually have a chance to tailgate, there’s more room to tailgate.”

Bill and Diane Matthews are season ticket holders in Hamilton. Their clan of sons, daughters and nine grand-children have also warmed to the smaller venue here: “They love every minute of it. They like the tailgating here, they have decent seats. They like the atmosphere here, a lot.”

Even “visitors” say they’ve noticed an improvement in the over-all “fan experience”: “Maybe you’re less likely to have pennies thrown at you, or beer thrown at you.”

But what’s not clear is whether this positive feeling will make the trip back to Hamilton with the team. Ticats say they’ve really enjoyed their experience here and they’ve had a warm reception here in Guelph. But there not sure yet how many of the fans from here will actually go to “Ivor Wynne Stadium” next season.

Mike Johnston is a Guelph resident. But even though he’s enjoyed the season of CFL football available in his own back yard, it still won’t be enough to lure him to Hamilton next year, for more: “I’m not that much of a CFL guy, but while it’s here in Guelph, I’ll see a bunch of games if I can.” “Everybody seems really pumped to have the team in Guelph.”

Back at the tailgate party, Debbie Sedore-Walton has heard a different story, from fans in the stands: “Actually, right in front of us, the people right in front of us in the stands say they’re going to get season tickets in Hamilton next year they think.”

But the gang in Box K say, with only one more game left in Guelph, this turkey is nearly done. And they can’t wait to get back to Balsalm Street. So it sounds like the regulars will be ready for the new “Ivor Wynne” or, I’m sorry, “Tim Hortons Field”, but will the Donut Box be ready for them? Yes! Says Infrastructure Ontario, the governing body for Pan Am games construction. Just last week they reviewed the progress here, and declared the project, on time and on budget. But although the Cats say they managed to sell season tickets to a few thousand Guelph residents for this season, they haven’t got any firm numbers on how many of those fans may actually be delivered to this venue next year.