Fans flock to IG Field for Blue Bombers' Grey Cup celebration

Thousands of fans roared when a replay of the moment the Winnipeg Blue Bombers secured their second consecutive Grey Cup aired on the screens inside IG Field on Wednesday evening.

Three days after Sunday's thrilling 33-25 overtime victory over the hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Bombers celebrated another CFL championship with their fans, following their 2019 Grey Cup win. 

It looked a bit different than the massive parade that rolled through Winnipeg's downtown area two years ago.

That wasn't just because former quarterback Chris Streveler wasn't there in a fur coat and cowboy hat this time, or because fans were in the stands on a misty mid-December night.

As a result of pandemic public health orders, a downtown victory parade like the one in 2019 wasn't permitted this time, but that didn't stop fans of all ages from turning up to a party where the Grey Cup was the guest of honour.

"This looks a little different than a parade," Bombers head coach and six-time Grey Cup champion Mike O'Shea told the crowd. "This is phenomenal."

Longtime Bombers superfan John Couture attended his 48th consecutive Grey Cup on Sunday. He was also among those inside the stadium for Wednesday's big party.

Decked in an array of Bombers garb, Couture said watching Winnipeg win its 12th Grey Cup in franchise history was "unbelievable."

"I was distraught when we didn't have a Grey Cup in 2020," when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the season to be cancelled, Couture told CBC News.

"It really bothered me. So mentally I was preparing for another Bomber victory and it did happen."

WATCH | Blue Bombers celebrate Grey Cup win with fans:

Blue Bombers and their fans celebrate back-to-back Grey Cup wins

3 years ago

Duration 1:56

COVID-19 may have cancelled their victory parade but that didn't stop the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from showing off the Grey Cup for thousands of fully vaccinated fans at IG Field Wednesday night.

Carter Kennington was also in the stands at Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field on Sunday.

He and his mother, Maureen Kennington, weren't going to miss the chance to celebrate on Wednesday with their favourite team.

"It just means the world to us," Carter said.

"And if this is all we get this year because there is not going to be a parade, we wanted to show our support. We wanted to show the guys one last time that we love them."

Maureen, wearing a vintage Bombers sweater that used to belong to her father, says she's been a fan of the team since she was a child.

"Football is my game. They bring me joy. [If] I think of Winnipeg and a sport … it's football and it's the Bombers," she said.

Although her father died a few years ago, Maureen imagines him celebrating another Winnipeg Grey Cup title.

"I'm sure he's twirling around somewhere up in heaven, screaming and doing a Blue and Gold dance for sure," she said.

Like countless other Bomber fans, lifelong friends Gerri Stewart and Stacey Deperas were on edge throughout much of the 108th Grey Cup.

"I was very stressed for a better part of it, but we finished it with the W so that's all that matters," Stewart said.

They both attended the parade in 2019 and, like the Kenningtons, knew they couldn't miss this year's celebration.

"It was so sudden and unbelievable," Deperas said of the game's overtime ending. "It was so wild watching the Hamilton fans starting to celebrate early, thinking that they had won."

Mekseb Samuel, 13, didn't become a Bombers fan until he watched Winnipeg pummel Hamilton 33-12 in the 2019 Grey Cup game.

He was excited to be in the stands at IG Field on Wednesday to celebrate the Bombers' successful defence of the title with his father and sister.

"This is my first time being here and a whole lot of Winnipeggers are here, and I'm just very happy," Mekseb said.

He recalled Bombers linebacker Kyrie Wilson collecting the game-sealing interception after it pinballed off two other Winnipeg defenders.

"I was like, 'Oh my god! This is crazy!'"

Prior to the start of the celebration at the stadium, O'Shea gave kudos to the fans.

"All our players really respect, understand how valuable our fans are to us," said O'Shea.

"In a fan-driven league — this type of league — they're ultimately very important, and we have the best in the league for sure."