‘It’s group and enjoyable and love:’ Grey Cup superfans descend onto Winnipeg

WINNIPEG — Their groups is probably not vying for this yr’s Grey Cup, however that hasn’t stopped some devoted Canadian soccer followers from descending on the centre of the nation to witness the championship recreation.

The 112th Grey Cup will see the Saskatchewan Roughriders tackle the Montreal Alouettes at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday.

Longtime Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan and season-ticket holder Sheree Bashak donned a head-to-toe ensemble she handcrafted herself that included a big foil hat with handles to characterize the coveted trophy, whereas her husband, Steve, wore a blow-up soccer costume as they took half in Friday’s avenue pageant.

Bashak has been has been travelling to absorb Grey Cup video games since 2014, and it’s the sixth yr she has dressed up because the cup. This yr’s costume required a brand new hat after her outdated paper mache one took a beating from making 5 prior journeys.

“It’s community and fun and love, and we need more of that in the world,” the Brampton, Ont., resident stated when requested what brings her again annually.

Bashak accomplished her outfit with a pair of customized earrings. On one ear, a soccer participant outfitted in inexperienced dangles above her shoulder to characterize Rider nation. The different ear has a participant in blue with a white ‘M’ emblazoned on the jersey to pay homage to the Alouettes.

But when requested who she’s cheering for on Sunday, she needed to go together with the Prairie group.

“I think I’m going Saskatchewan, because I’m still crying over our Ticat loss against Montreal last week. So I don’t know if my heart can bring me to cheer for them.”

Other occasions embody concert events and cooking competitions.

Attending the annual championship has develop into a household affair for one father and son.

Barry Ryan, who’s from Toronto, has been going to the video games together with his son, Kevin, for the previous 25 years. Ryan’s grandson James Salverda, who now lives in Winnipeg, began becoming a member of them about 12 years in the past.

This Grey Cup recreation is particular as a result of Kevin Ryan’s daughter is becoming a member of the trio for the primary time.

The three males haven’t solely made the video games a customized, however have additionally created outfits to showcase the custom.

They every put on a mechanics jumpsuit with patches that show annually they attended the Grey Cup and the placement it was held in, together with numerous football-related pins.

Kevin Ryan stated the championship gives a chance for followers to come back collectively in a means that isn’t seen in different sports activities.

“You see everyone is wearing their team colours, but there’s no fights,” he stated. “I have a button that says ‘Argos suck,’ but it doesn’t cause a fight or anything. Any other sport I would wear a button like this, there’d be a fight breaking out.”

For Surrey, B.C., resident Kyle Dunn, attending the championship is a 23-year ritual. The B.C. Lions superfan has drawn his associate, Heather Smith, into the fandom, along with her attending her second Grey Cup this yr.

“It’s just a great atmosphere,” Dunn stated. “It’s a place where you can go and we all have similar interests. We’re all here for football. We’re all here to have a good time, and it’s uniquely Canadian.”

When fascinated with his favorite second, Dunn stated it has to go to the 2011 recreation when the Lions defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium.

With his group out of the operating for this yr’s trophy, Dunn is barely cheering for a recreation that comes all the way down to the final second.

“I’m cheering for both teams to lose,” he stated with fun.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 15, 2025.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press