Image credit: B.C. Lions

By Marty Hastings

NEW DEAL

What City of Kamloops gives, gets in new training camp deal with B.C. Lions

Aug 6, 2024 | 11:19 AM

Kamloops has the Leos for at least two more years.

The B.C. Lions and the City of Kamloops on Tuesday (Aug. 6) issued a joint press release to announce the CFL club’s training camp will take place at Hillside Stadium, Thompson Rivers University and the Tournament Capital Centre in 2025 and 2026, with an option for 2027.

Dušan Magdolen, the city’s cultural services and events manager, said the deal — the city to pay the Leos $56,650 in 2025, $58,350 in 2026 and, if the option is triggered, $60,000 in 2027 — includes extensive perks in return.

There is an estimated economic spinoff of $300,000 per year into the community, according to the city, and the deal includes marketing of Kamloops and the Tournament Capital brand at Lions’ home games and events throughout the season.

As part of the new deal, the city’s logo will be displayed while coaches and players are interviewed on camera during training camp.

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One 30-second video provided by the city will be played during Lions’ home games at BC Place.

Lions’ social media will feature a minimum-five-part, countdown-to-training-camp video series, the city will receive a full-page advertisement in Lions’ game-day programs and the city will have one box and one banner ad at Leos’ home games.

“Our entire organization is honoured to be heading back to Kamloops for a 15th straight training camp and beyond,” Lions’ co-general manager and director of football operations Neil McEvoy said in the press release.

“Hillside Stadium provides us with the best amenities and prettiest backdrop in all of three-down football and the experience is also enhanced by the outstanding people welcoming us with exceptional hospitality every May.”

The Lions brought training camp to Kamloops in 2010 and never left, despite interest from other cities across the province.

FanFest is held each year, attracting tourists to the city and its hotels and restaurants.

In July of 2017, the Lions signed a three-year contract extension with the city to continue holding camp in the River City through 2020.

That deal — the city to pay the Leos $45,000 in 2018, $50,000 in 2019 and $55,000 in 2020 — did not account for COVID-19, which forced the cancellation of the entire CFL schedule in 2020.

The city and the Lions agreed to roll over the final year of the contract to 2021, when camp was pushed back to July from its usual May start due to the pandemic.

Wildfires burning across the province that summer smoked out the Lions, who cut camp short and headed for the Coast.

A labour dispute threatened camp in 2022 and had an impact on FanFest.

In 2022, the Lions and the city inked a two-year deal, for 2022 and 2023 (the city to pay the Lions $55,000 each year), with an option for 2024 upon mutual agreement.

Smoke from wildfires raging in Northern B.C. and Alberta rolled into Kamloops in time to force the Lions inside last year, moving training camp operations into the Tournament Capital Centre from adjacent Hillside Stadium.

Kamloops was not alone in 2023. CFL camps in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon also moved inside.

Weather and smoke conditions were for the most part favourable in 2024 and a downtown street festival was incorporated with FanFest.

CFJC Today was told in May that a new deal was imminent.

“I don’t think there were any hiccups as far as the city end,” Magdolen said. “It already seemed like people were on board. They [the Lions] just wanted to touch base with TRU and get some of that settled, as far their housing and the food. There was no huge rush. We were really happy and our Tournament Capital events co-ordinator Jeff Topham did an amazing job for them.”