Manitoba

Bombers bringing back 'beer snake,' begin 2015 ticket sales

Just two days after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers cleared out their lockers marking the end to a disappointing 2014 season, the organization announced some goodies for fans, including reviving the beer snake.

Just two days after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers cleared out their lockers marking the end to a disappointing 2014 season, the organization announced some goodies for fans, including reviving the beer snake.

The club is also in the process of finalizing plans for the sale of Grey Cup and 2015 season tickets and creating a new section for frenzied blue and gold fans.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans support a "beer snake" at a home game in 2010. The snake is a long chain of beer cups stacked inside each other and support overhead by Bombers fans. ((YouTube.com))

“We are always listening to our fans,” said Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller.

“They’ve told us they want a place where they can stand on their feet all game, wear their craziest Bomber gear, and cheer at top volume from the opening whistle until the final snap.”

Miller said the creation of the rowdy seating area, dubbed the “Fanatic Fan Zone,” grew out of listening to what fans want.

“We created this area so these fans can enjoy the game in their unique way, without disturbing some of our more traditional fans,” said Miller. 

In an attempt to entice louder fans into sitting in the Fanatic Fan Zone, the club said it would be lowering seating prices in the section by $50.

The beer snake, returning next season after being banned in 2010, is a tradition where beer-drinking Bomber fans work to stack their empties together and support an ever-growing snake-like chain of cups overhead. However, the beer snake will be restricted to the Fanatic Fan Zone, Bomber officials said.

Ticket sale increases

Fans will have until Dec. 15 to snag season tickets and can expect a few fee increases.

“The increases are necessary due to increasing operating costs of the Club, most notably in football and facility operations,” Miller said in a release.

Bomber officials said the club is reorganizing eight seating sections in the stadium. The restructuring is resulting in a modest increase to season ticket prices in the range of $0.50 to $2.05 per game – an average increase of around two per cent, the club said.

Currently season tickets cost anywhere from $23.14 to $99.27 per game.