GREY CUP ORGANIZERS DREAMING OF $1M 50-50
Rhodes envisions windfall for lucky winner — and football groups
Len Rhodes has a million-dollar dream for the 2018 Grey Cup.
Two million, in fact, if you count the other half of the 50-50 raffle that is planned on being held during the 2018 Canadian Football League championship final at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 25.
One day after announcing $840,000 was raised for local amateur football organizations from 2017 proceeds, the Edmonton Eskimos president and CEO spoke of what’s in the works for an even bigger windfall next year.
Split among the Edmonton Huskies and Edmonton Wildcats junior teams, Football Alberta’s northern programs, the University of Alberta and the Edmonton Eskimos Alumni Association, that $840,000 is the most received in a year.
Since the automation of the 50-50 process in 2012, the Eskimos have raised a total of $3.7 million for amateur football.
“No one in this country ’s coming close to what we’re doing,” Rhodes said. “Don’t forget, the other side of that is what the fans win in the stadium.”
And he would like nothing more than to be able to send someone home from the Grey Cup a millionaire.
“We set the North American record last year at the July 14th game when Samantha and Quentin Ebertz took home $435,919.50,” Rhodes said.
Attendance at that game was 36,260. The Grey Cup will be at full capacity, which is 56,302 before any expanded seating is brought in.
Will the national spotlight and the championship atmosphere be enough to push the jackpot to seven figures?
“You know? I think so because if you take our per-caps on 50-50, we know once it hits a threshold, the per-caps increase geometrically,” Rhodes said. “I don’t think it’s out of the question that we could hit a million dollars.
“Now, I’m not going to go on record and say that (it will), but in my dreams? Yes, I think it could get there.”
No Grey Cup ticket? No problem. “Knowing the Grey Cup is going to be sold out, we feel there is another opportunity over and above for those who can’t get into the building but want to participate in some of the festivities that are going to take place on Jasper Ave., our gala dinner or at the awards night,” Rhodes said, adding another raffle will be held over Grey Cup Week.
And with the jackpots expected to reach sky high at the Grey Cup, Rhodes said there will be a tie-in to some sort of legacy project in the community, details of which will be announced at a later date.
“As well, 2018 is also the Edmonton Eskimos’ 70th year of play,” Rhodes said. “So what we want to do for the regular-season home opener is to seed the take-home jackpot with $70,000 to get it started and represent the 70th year.”
IN AND OUT: Have the Eskimos found the next Adarius Bowman?
While he’s got a long way to go to prove it, coming in at six-foot-three and 220 pounds, newly signed receiver Juron Criner certainly has the physical measurements to draw early comparisons to Edmonton’s most productive pass catcher over the past four years.
Criner made 30 catches for 470 yards and four touchdowns over the past two seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks.
The Eskimos also announced the re-signing of running back Travon Van, making for a mighty crowded backfield with C.J. Gable, John White, Marion Grice, LaDarius Perkins and newcomer Korliss Marshall under contract.
Also a former Redblacks member, Van, a five-foot-11, 205-pound Montana product, earned 352 yards and four touchdowns on 88 touches across six games with the Eskimos last year.
The Eskimos have 76 players listed on the team website.