By Ian Hamilton, Leader-PostNovember 28, 2009}
CALGARY — Welcome to Riderville, pop. 2,200 (that’s supposed to be its capacity at any given time, but that number fluctuates as bladders get full).
CALGARY — Welcome to Riderville, pop. 2,200 (that’s supposed to be its capacity at any given time, but that number fluctuates as bladders get full).
We’re in the basement of the Telus Convention Centre and the place is a zoo — and not just because of the large gopher that is roaming around.
The music is blaring, the beer is flowing, cheerleaders from virtually every CFL team are doing their dance routines, Saskatchewan Roughriders banners hang everywhere, and raucous supporters of the Roughriders are mingling with fans from other teams.
Just inside the door, there’s a man who looks like he could be playing in Sunday’s Grey Cup game between the Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes. Asked why he’s at Riderville, Willie Pless breaks into a huge grin.
“Man, it’s Grey Cup time — and Riderville knows how to throw a party,” Pless, who played in three Grey Cups and won one during his 14-season linebacking career, yells over the music.
“Man, it’s Grey Cup time — and Riderville knows how to throw a party,” Pless, who played in three Grey Cups and won one during his 14-season linebacking career, yells over the music.
“I don’t know what it is about the place,” continues Pless, who lives in Edmonton. “They just know how to get together and have a good time. Rider fans are everywhere. When (the Roughriders) aren’t playing against the Eskimos, I cheer for them, too.”
That support may be because Pless played with the Roughriders in 1999. Ryan Cavers, however, doesn’t put any conditions on his loyalty.
The ex-Regina resident may live in Calgary now, but green’s still his colour.
As he heads for the room, he’s resplendent in a helmet made from a real watermelon, a Roughriders jersey, Roughriders game pants, two of those giant Hulk hands, and a faux grass skirt.
“I don’t wear all of this for regular-season games,” Cavers explains. “This is a special occasion.”
You can dress him up and you can take him out? Wow! So what does he wear to regular-season games?
“A Riders track suit,” he replies. “I wish it was velour, but it’s not.”
You can dress him up and you can take him out? Wow! So what does he wear to regular-season games?
“A Riders track suit,” he replies. “I wish it was velour, but it’s not.”
Tough break.
Cavers is at his 15th straight Grey Cup, so he knows all about Riderville. He also plans to make the rounds — Tiger Town (the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ party), the Lions Den (B.C.’s bash), the Atlantic Schooners Down East Kitchen Party (the non-existent expansion team), and so on — but he draws the line at one party.
“Not (the Spirit of) Edmonton,” he says firmly. “F---, no. They might throw a good party, but I refuse to go there. I hate them.”
“Not (the Spirit of) Edmonton,” he says firmly. “F---, no. They might throw a good party, but I refuse to go there. I hate them.”
As Cavers weaves his way inside, one’s eyes are drawn to two women dressed in Als jerseys.
They must have taken a wrong turn. That’s why they’re here, mere hours before their team is to take on the Roughriders in the Grey Cup, right?
They must have taken a wrong turn. That’s why they’re here, mere hours before their team is to take on the Roughriders in the Grey Cup, right?
Wrong.
“We have been so welcomed; it’s been wonderful,” says Bettyann Favot, a Montreal fan who lives in Windsor. “We’ve actually recruited some of (the Roughriders fans) over to the Als.”
Favot is accompanied by Margo Bourke, whose son Josh is a starting offensive lineman with the Als. Her first visit ever to Riderville is based solely on its reputation — although there is some showmanship involved, too.
We had to come here,” she says. “We had to mix up the colours a little bit. Actually, we heard it was the best party and said, ‘We’re going there. No doubt.’ ”
Favot is accompanied by Margo Bourke, whose son Josh is a starting offensive lineman with the Als. Her first visit ever to Riderville is based solely on its reputation — although there is some showmanship involved, too.
We had to come here,” she says. “We had to mix up the colours a little bit. Actually, we heard it was the best party and said, ‘We’re going there. No doubt.’ ”
Kevin Hughes, a Calgary Stampeders fan who lives in Fort McMurray, wasn’t as well-connected as the two women. Even so, here he is, standing at one of the beer tubs wearing a Stamps jersey.
“I had never heard of it before we got about two blocks away,” he says. “I said, ‘Where are we going?’ They said, ‘Riderville.’ I said, ‘What’s that?’ They said, ‘A party.’ I said, ‘Let’s go!’ ”
“I had never heard of it before we got about two blocks away,” he says. “I said, ‘Where are we going?’ They said, ‘Riderville.’ I said, ‘What’s that?’ They said, ‘A party.’ I said, ‘Let’s go!’ ”
So Hughes and his cronies have come to Riderville. So have hundreds of others. So have about a dozen of Calgary’s finest, standing at the top of the escalator, ready to visit Riderville in case they’re needed.
This is obviously the place to be.
This is obviously the place to be.
“We’re popular because we’re from Saskatchewan and we know how to throw a good party,” says Hugh McKay, one of Riderville’s co-chairs. “It’s a standard line and it sounds very planned, but we’re very
welcoming — and we’re Canada’s team.”
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