Not only did the Alouettes defeat Hamilton last Sunday night, there was an announced crowd of 21,014 at Molson Stadium.<\/p>\n
That was the Als\u2019 second-highest attendance this season, and in stark contrast to their previous Sunday night home game, when a .<\/p>\n
For the sake of owner , we hope the majority of fans last Sunday actually paid for their tickets. This franchise has been known for giving ducats away in the past, generating barter arrangements and devising numerous promotions to attract spectators. <\/p>\n
None of this hides the fact the team\u2019s venue isn\u2019t considered fan-friendly, has limited parking options, stands with dilapidated staircases, and is difficult to reach. Once there, the majority of fans must spend three hours sitting on benches.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce arriving at Molson Stadium, it\u2019s a death-defying feat to navigate the concourse, composed of steep inclines, declines and side hills,\u201d wrote Don Thompson, a New Jersey resident who, despite using a wheelchair, purchased a three-game ticket package this season. \u201cI\u2019ve had nothing but frustration dealing with this team. I have significant disposable income, which I enthusiastically spend on sports entertainment. Even as a wheelchair user, I\u2019m very comfortable buying tickets, getting to and from venues. I\u2019ve never encountered anything like the Alouettes. They have an antiquated ticket system. Their customer service people are of absolutely no use in facilitating the purchase of tickets.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was at the home opener,\u201d wrote Kevin Tucker, 66. \u201cThe benches killed my butt by the third quarter. And walking from your seat to the aisle or vice versa was difficult to navigate as the cement between the rows is slanted forward and narrow. One can\u2019t complain about location or atmosphere, but I won\u2019t be back. And I love the CFL.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the Als\u2019 nine regular-season home games this season, three were scheduled for Saturday, with two each on Friday and Sunday. They play their traditional Thanksgiving Monday afternoon home game and have one match on a Thursday. Weekend games aren\u2019t conducive, wrote Brian Gilbert.<\/p>\n
\u201cMolson Stadium isn\u2019t customer-friendly, especially for seniors and disabled people,\u201d Gilbert stated. \u201cThere\u2019s very little parking available. It doesn\u2019t have enough washrooms. It doesn\u2019t have handrails in certain sections \u2014 which is illegal. And the downtown location is hard to get to with all the construction and roadwork taking place indefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n
They finally listened: For years we have been imploring the Als to run the ball more. Guess what? An effective ground game actually works in the CFL and has been known to come in handy come November and the playoffs, when the weather turns nasty.<\/p>\n
, a 5-foot-9, 215-pound battering-ram, had 19 carries for 156 yards against the Tiger-Cats, while also scoring a touchdown. His longest run was 26 yards. He had five carries of at least 10 yards, and three of at least 20. He compensated for quarterback Davis Alexander\u2019s underwhelming performance of 187 yards passing.<\/p>\n