Winnipeg sports fans returning to the stands amid loosened restrictions
Manitoba sports fans love to show appreciation for their teams, but when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place, it took fans out of the stands.
Last weekend restrictions were loosened as part of the Manitoba reopening plan, and soon sports fans will be able to reap the rewards.
This Wednesday, Valour FC will be allowing fans into IG Field for the first time in months to watch a game live and in person.
Head Coach and General Manager for the football club, Robert Gale, said it's been a long off-season.
"It's been a tough time for everybody in Manitoba and across the world, let alone here, so sports, in general, have suffered," said Gale.
The team is allowing up to 2,000 people to attend the game on July 7 and all future matches scheduled for this summer.
Gale said fans are the heartbeat of the club.
"They can be the twelfth man in our sport, especially our fans," said Gale.
"It gives you an extra little tingle, and gives you all the feels and emotions, and reminds you why we do this. We're representing our city. We're representing our province and trying to make those fans proud every single day."
One Manitoba team, however, isn't allowing fans in the stands this season.
Earlier this year, The Winnipeg Goldeyes told their fan base the club would not be hosting games at Shaw Park this year. Instead, they're playing out the season south of the border in Jackson, Tennessee.
The team said they'll assess a return to Winnipeg when the restrictions are loosened at the border.
The CFL released their schedule in June, and the Winnipeg Blue bombers said there could be fans in the seats when the team returns to IG Field in August.
Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Miller said Manitoba's reopening plan would allow 50 per cent capacity at IG Field by August. Still, he hopes to see that number increase as health restrictions continue to loosen.
He said fans would have to be fully vaccinated in order to attend games.
The 2,000 fans who attend the Valour FC game on Wednesday will only take up about 6 per cent of IG Fields capacity, and those fans will need to be fully vaccinated to attend as well.
Gale said the team is excited to see fans returning to stadiums.
"It's also a good indicator that we're getting ahead of this pandemic and closer to an end to what's been a very rough year and a half," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.