'Best place ever!' Winnipeg scores big as Grey Cup 2015 host
Visiting Grey Cup fans dragged their tired bodies through Winnipeg's airport Monday morning, heading home and offering one last salute — in a hoarse voices — to the city's week-long football party.
"Best place ever. Amazing. Glad to go home today but just awesome party," said Steve Rogers, an Ottawa Redblacks fan, whose team fell 26-20 in Sunday's championship game against the Edmonton Eskimos.
Despite the result, Rogers said his time in Winnipeg was not a loss.
"Just the people — awesome, amazing," he said in a scratchy, barely-there voice. "You guys did great."
Those sentiments were echoed by Brent Duthie, who also made the trip in to see his Redblacks play.
"We love the Grey Cup. It's our second one in Winnipeg and we had a marvelous time," he said. "Everything was great."
Cindy Dorward, who was still geared up in her jersey and with an Eskimos' temporary glitter tattoo on her cheek, applauded the city as she waited for her flight back to Edmonton.
"Winnipeg really did put on a good show. The fireworks were amazing; hospitality was excellent," she said.
Downtown businesses are also thrilled with the event. The Shark Club said it doubled sales.
"Canada loves their football, so to be blessed with everyone coming down and making this their regular hangout spot while they are here from their home to see the Grey Cup,," said Shark Club general manager Rachel Sacco.
"It's amazing. There's no word to describe it... I had to order extra liquor. We haven't seen this in a really long time."
But fans were also in a giving mood. Winnipeg Harvest got donations of food and money and raised $20,000 at a lunch event.
"It has a huge impact on what we do here. At this time of the year people are spending their money elsewhere, boots for kids in the winter months, Christmas time is coming, so dollar is getting stretched so it helps with donations coming in," said Colleen McVarish, development manager at Winnipeg Harvest.
