By Tim SwitzerDecember 15, 2008
Those who deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on-field product aren't the only ones excited about slotback Jason Clermont signing with the team.
Those who deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on-field product aren't the only ones excited about slotback Jason Clermont signing with the team.
Bringing the hometown boy on board could mean good things all around for the organization.
"Things are so strong you'd say, 'How do you make it better?' " said Riders president Jim Hopson. "But Jason is a rare individual. I was always told by a lot of people that signing name players doesn't have that much of an impact on ticket sales and so on because it comes down to team performance. But I think this will. We'll see a spike in our renewals over the next few days. Partly because they want to see Jason in Green and White, but also because it shows our commitment to winning and that we're really serious about being an elite team. Having Jason and (fellow slotback) Andy Fantuz and so on is pretty significant."
"Things are so strong you'd say, 'How do you make it better?' " said Riders president Jim Hopson. "But Jason is a rare individual. I was always told by a lot of people that signing name players doesn't have that much of an impact on ticket sales and so on because it comes down to team performance. But I think this will. We'll see a spike in our renewals over the next few days. Partly because they want to see Jason in Green and White, but also because it shows our commitment to winning and that we're really serious about being an elite team. Having Jason and (fellow slotback) Andy Fantuz and so on is pretty significant."
Hopson, who checks the season-ticket numbers each morning, said there had not been a spike in renewals (new season-ticket sales have not yet started) in the days leading up to Clermont's signing, but they were on pace with last season, when the Roughriders were coming off a Grey Cup win.
Even before the press conference to announce Clermont's signing was complete on Friday, the Roughriders were making money off their new acquisition. One fan dropped in to have her jersey emblazoned with Clermont's name and No. 82 on the back signed by the player.
Forty jerseys were prepared for the announcement on Friday and flew off the shelves over the weekend.
Forty jerseys were prepared for the announcement on Friday and flew off the shelves over the weekend.
"As soon as we signed Jason, we said 'Get 'em ready,' " Hopson said laughing. "I'm sure we'll be producing more as we go forward."
That's not the only value Clermont brings. He was a prominent figure in the Vancouver sporting community during his seven seasons with the B.C. Lions and that will likely continue in Regina and the rest of Saskatchewan.
"(Before joining the Roughriders), I couldn't commit to things I wanted to do that took us into May, June and July like help coach or something like that," said Clermont.
The 29-year-old slotback is one of a growing number of players that make their homes in Regina year-round.
"(Before joining the Roughriders), I couldn't commit to things I wanted to do that took us into May, June and July like help coach or something like that," said Clermont.
The 29-year-old slotback is one of a growing number of players that make their homes in Regina year-round.
"There's so many already: Jeremy O'Day, Gene Makowsky, Matt Dominguez, Mike McCullough, Scott Schultz," said Hopson. "You go through and we've got about 20 guys living in town so that's pretty significant."
There could be some benefit to Clermont outside the football world, too. He works as a realtor with Royal LePage and may well garner a few new clients being in the city permanently.
"We're going to work to have some systems in place so we can have the business running year-round and be able to support our clients," said Clermont. "We've been doing that for the past couple years on a smaller scale and we're looking to improve on that now that I'm here year-round."
"We're going to work to have some systems in place so we can have the business running year-round and be able to support our clients," said Clermont. "We've been doing that for the past couple years on a smaller scale and we're looking to improve on that now that I'm here year-round."
Hopson said the team could not enter into any sort of partnership with Clermont the Realtor, but he still expects the newest Roughrider to make his name in that field very quickly.
"We can't try to run money around the salary management system, but Jason and I spoke about this and he understands being a part of the Riders will have a positive impact on his business," said Hopson. "He's a bright young guy, a good businessman. You heard how he treated this. He wasn't going to go out and shop himself around. He was going to talk to us and try to get the deal done and if not then go. That shows he's smart, he's pragmatic and we're excited to have him."
"We can't try to run money around the salary management system, but Jason and I spoke about this and he understands being a part of the Riders will have a positive impact on his business," said Hopson. "He's a bright young guy, a good businessman. You heard how he treated this. He wasn't going to go out and shop himself around. He was going to talk to us and try to get the deal done and if not then go. That shows he's smart, he's pragmatic and we're excited to have him."
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