The Gray Cup has landed in Hamilton.
The CFL championship trophy arrived at Bayfront Park Tuesday morning, delivered by a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon helicopter.
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie also arrived by helicopter and said, “If you ever want to get from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum to this park, I highly recommend a helicopter.”
Several dozen fans gathered for the cup’s arrival, the first of a Series of events leading up to Sunday’s Gray Cup between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Tim Horton’s Field.
Read more:
Things to do at the 2021 Gray Cup Festival in Hamilton
The COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 CFL season, so the Blue Bombers will attempt to defend their 2019 league championship.
The Tiger-Cats hope to claim their first title since 1999.
“The party starts today,” said Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “We expect a fantastic match on Sunday.”
“Being here is a testament to our resilience,” Ambrosie added. “In this city, it is also a testament to its toughness.”
Read more:
Hamilton Tiger-Cats advance to Gray Cup after beating Argonauts in Toronto
It’s been 25 years since Hamilton last hosted the Gray Cup in 1996. Before that, it was 1972.
“Who you’re looking at today is 12-year-old Bob Young,” said Bob Young, owner of Hamilton Tiger Cats, “just as excited as I was at ’72.”
“How much better for a community, for a league, for our players, than playing at home in the Gray Cup in Hamilton,” Young added.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were scheduled to fly into Hamilton Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca