Latest news with #tailgate
CBC
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
'Fantastic' Bombers atmosphere inspires new CFL commissioner on league-wide tour
Social Sharing Stewart Johnston didn't even need to watch a down of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' game last week to be "blown away" by the experience. The CFL's new commissioner saw team billboards on his drive to Princess Auto Stadium, watched fans at the official tailgate party enjoy some barbecue and bevvies and spotted kids testing their football skills two hours before kickoff against the Edmonton Elks. "You started to feel the energy before you even got to the stadium, and then I was blown away by the tailgate. It is truly an event," Stewart said in a phone interview this week during a pit stop at his Toronto home before continuing visits to all CFL cities. Appointed in April as the league's 15th commissioner, the former TSN president made his seventh of nine stops in Winnipeg as part of what he calls his "100-day listening tour." The 54-year-old caps it off next weekend, stopping Thursday in Calgary, when the Stampeders host the Blue Bombers, then Sunday in Edmonton for a game between the Elks and Ottawa Redblacks. When he took the job, Johnston identified three things to focus on to ensure the league's success: entertainment, innovation and community. The Blue Bombers get check marks for all three. Walking around the stadium concourse, Johnston weaved through fans in their 20s and 30s socializing at one end near the Rum Hut, while some of the seventh consecutive sellout of 32,343 spectators took in the action from seats in a family section. "Throughout all of sport, particularly in North America, we've seen this transition to social areas that is incredibly important for young adults for their version of consuming a game, which is simply different," Johnston said. "To see them all having such a great time socializing with each other, occasionally glancing down and cheering for a play, and then continuing great conversation with food and drink, it was fantastic, and it brings such a great energy to the stadium." His tour includes speaking with club staff, players, fans and media. He's asking fans to name three things the league is doing "wonderfully" and two they believe need improvement. Responses have included some recurring themes. 'Fan for life' Fans appreciate the strong sense of Canadiana in the league and rising Canadian stars. There's positive feedback about "the refreshed look" of TSN broadcasts and optimism about improved ratings and game-day revenue. Through the first four weeks of the season, ratings were up 9.9 per cent from the same time last year. Many fans are excited about CFL players potentially competing at the 2028 Olympics in flag football, a sport Johnston believes can be linked to the league. His 14-year-old daughter, Vivian, took up flag football at school last fall and tells him how much fun it is. If participants become fans of that game, it could progress to watching the three-down game. "If you live in a market where there is a CFL team, maybe your whole team would want to go and attend a game," Johnston said. "And if you attend a game, maybe you buy a jersey or a hat and become a fan for life." When it comes to what the CFL can do better, fans have told him they want a more professional and modern look to the league's website. They're also curious about when there will be a 10th team, as well as how the league plans to attract younger fans. Blue Bombers president and chief executive officer Wade Miller said staff have worked hard to draw a range of fans during the past decade. There is a 55-45 split of male and female game-day fans, more than 60 per cent of a capacity crowd are season-ticket holders and the age of fans is trending down. "It's giving them what they want," Miller said of fans age 18-30. "It's the ability stand up, the ability to walk around and be social." Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only franchises to turn a profit last season. Miller said clubs' executives share ideas to help each other. "Off the field, the CFL teams work extremely well together, and we're all in this together," he said. There are opportunities to make games events, Johnston said. He pointed to the B.C. Lions holding concerts before season-opening games, with stars such as Snoop Dog and 50 Cent. 'Selling 1 ticket at a time' The Stampeders' game against the Bombers on Thursday is tied to the Calgary Stampede that kicks off the next day. The inaugural Stampede Bowl includes a trophy for the winner, and in a partnership with the Stampede, tickets to the game come with admission to some Stampede events. Country and rock artists will also play sets before the game, at halftime and post-game at Stamps House. "If there was one lesson I've learned from Wade Miller and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it's we've got to focus on selling one ticket at a time," Johnston said.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
CFL commissioner takes notes from ‘fantastic' Bombers atmosphere on league-wide tour
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston, the former president of The Sports Network (TSN), is photographed at TSN's studios in Toronto, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston WINNIPEG — Stewart Johnston didn't even need to watch a down of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers game last week to be 'blown away' by the experience. The CFL's new commissioner saw team billboards on his drive to Princess Auto Stadium, watched fans at the official tailgate party enjoy some barbecue and bevvies and spotted kids testing their football skills two hours before kickoff against the Edmonton Elks. 'You started to feel the energy before you even got to the stadium, and then I was blown away by the tailgate. It is truly an event,' Stewart said in a phone interview this week during a pitstop at his Toronto home before continuing visits to all CFL cities. Appointed in April as the league's 15th commissioner, the former TSN president made his seventh of nine stops in Winnipeg as part of what he calls his '100-day listening tour.' The 54-year-old caps it off Thursday in Calgary when the Stampeders host the Blue Bombers, then Sunday's game in Edmonton between the Elks and Ottawa Redblacks. When he took the job, Johnston identified three components to focus on to ensure the league's success: entertainment, innovation and community. The Blue Bombers get check marks for all three. Walking around the stadium concourse, Johnston weaved through fans in their 20s and 30s socializing at one end near the Rum Hut, while some of the seventh-consecutive sellout of 32,343 spectators took in the action from their seats that included a family section. 'Throughout all of sport, particularly in North America, we've seen this transition to social areas that is incredibly important for young adults for their version of consuming a game, which is simply different,' Johnston said. 'To see them all having such a great time socializing with each other, occasionally glancing down and cheering for a play, and then continuing great conversation with food and drink, it was fantastic and it brings such a great energy to the stadium.' His tour includes speaking with club staff, players, fans and media. He's asking fans to name three things the league is doing 'wonderfully' and two they believe need improvement. Responses have included some recurring themes. Fans appreciate the strong sense of Canadiana in the league and rising Canadian stars. There's positive feedback about 'the refreshed look' of TSN broadcasts and optimism about improved ratings and game-day revenue. Through the first four weeks of the season, ratings were up 9.9 per cent from the same time last year. Many fans are excited about CFL players potentially competing at the 2028 Olympics in flag football, a sport Johnston believes can be linked to the league. His 14-year-old daughter, Vivian, took up flag football at school last fall and tells him how much fun it is. If participants become fans of that game, it could progress to watching the three-down game. 'If you live in a market where there is a CFL team, maybe your whole team would want to go and attend a game,' Johnston said. 'And if you attend a game, maybe you buy a jersey or a hat and become a fan for life.' When it comes to what the CFL can do better, fans have told him they want a more professional and modern look to the league's website. They're also curious about when there will be a 10th team, as well as how the league plans to attract younger fans. Blue Bombers president and chief executive officer Wade Miller said staff have worked hard to draw a range of fans during the past decade. There is a 55-45 split of male and female game-day fans, more than 60 per cent of a capacity crowd are season-ticket holders and the age of fans is trending down. 'It's giving them what they want,' Miller said of fans aged 18-30. 'It's the ability stand up, the ability to walk around and be social.' Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only franchises to turn a profit last season. Miller said clubs' executives share ideas to help each other. 'Off the field, the CFL teams work extremely well together and we're all in this together,' he said. There are opportunities to make games events, Johnston said. He pointed to the B.C. Lions holding concerts before season-opening games with stars such as Snoop Dog and 50 Cent. The Stampeders' game against the Bombers on Thursday is tied to the Calgary Stampede that kicks off the next day. The inaugural Stampede Bowl includes a trophy for the winner. And in a partnership with the Stampede, tickets to the game come with admission to some Stampede events. Country and rock artists will also play sets before the game, at halftime and post-game at Stamps House. 'If there was one lesson I've learned from Wade Miller and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it's we've got to focus on selling one ticket at a time,' Johnston said. 'It's thinking about new ways to drive an engagement with our fans and then showing an incredible appreciation for our fans. Customer service needs to be incredible.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie F1 star Daniel Ricciardo's fans turn on him over social media post: 'Surely you don't need money that badly'
Daniel Ricciardo has come under fire from fans after launching a tongue-in-cheek promotion with an Australian betting app. The recently retired Formula One star posted a video to social media announcing a new 'tailgate' business. What looked like a light-hearted comeback quickly turned sour when followers discovered it was part of a gambling promotion. In the video posted to X, Ricciardo is shown lounging in a deck chair, declaring, 'Retirement ain't what it's cracked up to be.' He jokes about being bored with hitting golf balls and looking for a 'real passion project'. 'I love my football and I love a good time. Now it's time for me to do both,' he said. Ricciardo then announces the launch of his own tailgate business in partnership with Dabble. The video ends with Ricciardo encouraging fans to 'get the party started' by visiting But the website doesn't promote a business venture from Ricciardo at all. Instead, it's a global competition to win the Ultimate Texas Tailgate experience. The prize includes flights, accommodation, and tickets to NFL matches – with Ricciardo as host. While the video was clearly intended as satire, not everyone found it amusing, with many fans left frustrated by Ricciardo's decision to align with a gambling company. 'Don't promote something that destroys lives, do something positive. Please,' one follower wrote. Another commented, 'We're truly going to look back at these gambling ads someday in the way that we look back at cigarette ads now.' One follower simply wrote, 'Money badger strikes again,' a play on Ricciardo's old nickname, the Honey Badger. One fan wrote, 'Surely you don't need the money that badly,' while others called the move disappointing 'What a shame. You're shilling for a gambling company. JFC. Surely you don't need the money that badly,' said another. Critics were particularly upset because Dabble is a social betting platform. It allows users to place bets, follow others, and share tips in a community-driven feed. While popular with younger audiences, the platform's marketing tactics have raised questions. Gambling reform advocates argue such content normalises wagering through humour and celebrity endorsement. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australians lose roughly $25billion each year to legal gambling. Other estimates place total losses closer to $31.5billion, making Australia's gambling losses the highest per capita in the world. 'Seriously mate? Money that tight is it? So bloody disappointing,' another angry fan posted. The criticism comes just months after Ricciardo quietly stepped away from fulltime Formula One racing. He made his F1 debut in 2011 and soon established himself as one of the sport's most exciting drivers. A move to Toro Rosso in 2012 showed his promise, but it was his 2014 switch to Red Bull Racing that launched his career into the spotlight. Ricciardo won three Grands Prix in his debut season at Red Bull, finishing third in the world championship. Known for his daring overtakes and wide smile, he added wins in Malaysia (2016), Azerbaijan (2017), and Monaco (2018). In 2019, he left for Renault, aiming to rebuild a struggling team. While wins proved elusive, he secured two podiums in 2020 and earned respect as a leader. He joined McLaren in 2021 and delivered their first win in nearly a decade at Monza. But inconsistent form in 2022 led to his exit. After a reserve role with Red Bull in 2023, Ricciardo returned mid-season with AlphaTauri. The results didn't improve, and he quietly retired from full-time racing in 2025.
Motor 1
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘Thought I Was Doing Him a Favor:' Woman Tries to Tow a Payload in Husband's Dodge Ram Bighorn. Then She Makes a Common Mistake
Helping your spouse tow a trailer should earn you brownie points, not body shop bills. But when one woman forgot to lift the tailgate on her husband's Dodge Ram, she got a crash course in clearance, and a viral moment that's now a teachable one. There's plenty of regret and empathy stoked by a recent TikTok clip from creator Meggles (@meggles2446) that shows the crumpled aftereffects of her attempt to run an errand and help out her husband using his truck. 'I was doing my husband a great favor by pulling this trailer around. Didn't realize his tailgate was down, and I done [expletive'd] it up,' she said in the clip that's been viewed more than 440,000 times. Whether the trailer jackknifed or just made a tight turn, the top of the tailgate is crumpled. The problem comes down to clearance and geometry. When you're backing up or making a tight turn, the front corners of the trailer tend to swing inward toward the tow vehicle. A lowered tailgate sits exactly where the trailer's tongue jack or A-frame wants to go, and the result is often an expensive collision. It's a good idea to take a few minutes to refresh on the best tips for hauling with a pickup. Always Tow With the Tailgate Up Many trailers include a vertical tongue jack designed to lift the coupler. It's great for getting the trailer hitched, but terrible news for an open tailgate. Even a mild turn can cause the jack to punch directly into the gate, creasing it or worse. And unlike the heavy steel tailgates of older trucks, most modern models use lightweight aluminum construction that's engineered for vertical strength but not horizontal impact. Trucks like the Ram 1500, Ford F-150, and GMC Sierra are particularly vulnerable, and a trailer tongue can fold an open tailgate like a paper plate. The issue becomes even more acute when trailers include large front-mounted accessories like toolboxes, propane tanks, or spare tires, which reduce the already tight clearance. These elements sit high enough and far enough forward to make early contact with a tailgate that's been left open, even if you're being careful. In trailer math, inches matter. And a lowered tailgate eats up a lot of them. Thankfully, it's not hard to avoid this kind of damage with a few common-sense habits. It starts with a simple walkaround. Before towing anything—even across a driveway—it's smart to check that the tailgate is closed and latched, the hitch pin is inserted, safety chains are crossed and secured, and the trailer lights are working properly. Physically touching each component helps avoid the kind of memory lapse that leads to viral regret. U-Haul offers a basic towing checklist that's worth reviewing for new haulers or anyone stepping into a borrowed setup. More Towing Action The Lexus GX550 Tows Like a Dream: Review Man Arrested After Trying to Tow a Car Backwards on a Highway For those who don't tow often, a printed cheat sheet or a digital checklist app like Checklist Wrangler can be a lifesaver. Visual reminders also help. Some owners slap warning stickers inside the tailgate or use bright clothes or magnets to prompt a last-minute check before driving off. More DIY-savvy owners even wire in custom tailgate sensors that display a dashboard warning if the gate's still open when the vehicle moves. And for people who tow regularly, there's a more permanent fix. Fifth-wheel-style or 'V-notch' tailgates—designed to allow clearance for gooseneck hitches—can also protect standard trailers from tailgate interference. These drop-in replacements often come with locking latches and powder-coated steel construction, and can be found from aftermarket suppliers like Buyers Products or Motor1 reached out to the creator via direct message and to Dodge/Stellantis via email. We'll update if either responds. Now Trending Mechanic Says These Redesigned Lugnuts Are the 'Worst Thing' Automakers Have Done. Then He Shows Why 'Watched Too Much Fast & Furious:' MK4 Toyota Supra Evades Police on Highway. Then a Trooper Conducts 'Insane' PIT Maneuver Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
CTV News
12-05-2025
- CTV News
Pure Country Sudbury looking for tailgate team superstar
Northern Ontario Watch A summer employment opportunity has popped up to be a part of the Pure Country Sudbury tailgate team where you get to go to cool events.
