Dave Sallenback called it – a B.C. Lions victory.
“We’re gonna be like 34 -17,” Sallenback said.
This was his fearless prediction when he arrived, travelling all the way from Abbotsford, early Saturday at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria.
He wasn’t too far off.
The Lions beat Ottawa Redblacks, 38 -12 in the Canadian Football League’s ‘Touchdown Pacific’ showcase.
Like Sallenback, Dawn Tisdale and her family took the ferry from Vancouver to support the Lions on Vancouver Island.
“Go Lions go! Yeah!” Tisdale exclaimed. “We’re season ticket holders and we’re so excited; special events, staying with friends and catching all the vibes.”
Sallenback wittingly described the CFL matchup as an epic capital city battle.
“We’re battling the capital of our country, and they come to the capital of our province and we’re gonna kick the capital out of them.”
The day started early for many Lions fans, arriving around noon, wearing their jerseys and braving the heat to get in their seats for the match. The supporters included Victoria HarbourCats baseball coach Todd Haney, who stood out in red amid the sea of orange and black.
“It’s electric. We have amazing fans in Victoria,” Haney said. “But obviously we have a bunch of people that are coming over for the football game, so it’s a great day and a great time for Victoria, the city itself. I can’t wait to see the stadium. I’m used to it from the baseball standpoint. I’m so excited to see it on the football side. So yeah it’s just an electric day.”
As the crowd patiently waited in line to get in, some were already inside, hanging out by the field watching the Lions warm up before the game.
The temporary grandstand provided additional seats to accommodate all 14,727 fans who attended the sold-out game.
The CFL’s first Touchdown Pacific game in Victoria was the first game the Lions have played outside Vancouver’s B.C. Place, Empire Stadium and Empire Field in its 70-year franchise history,
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