Edmonton Elks fan says wearing paper bag led to his ejection from stadium
To bag or not to bag?
Actually, when it comes to the current state of the Edmonton Elks, that isn't the question.
Longtime fan Cameron Jones wants to know why he was kicked out of Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday. Jones said he was holding a paper bag in his hands when he was ordered to leave by Edmonton police.
"I'm like, 'For what reason?' And (the policeman) says, 'Security asked me to have you leave the premises.' He's like, 'If we don't like your white shoes or the way you’re dressed, the premises has the ability to kick you out for no reason.'"
While Jones and his co-workers, with whom he attended the 27-0 Elks loss to the visiting B.C. Lions, were seen on a national broadcast while wearing bags over their heads in the stands, he says he followed stadium rules and did not walk the concourse with his face hidden — unlike two weeks before that, when he said security had no problem with bags at all.
"I walked through the concourse, walked everywhere, people high-fiving me like crazy," he said of his experience walking underneath the stands on July 13, when the Elks lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
But with the Elks now reaching historic new lows — they set the North American professional sports record with their 21st consecutive home loss and sport a record of 0-8 to start the 2023 Canadian Football League season — fan anger and team frustration is likely at an all-time high.
"If I didn't have this in my hand, I wouldn’t have got kicked out," Jones said. "I think somebody at some point said, 'Those guys down there are bad for business.'"
Jones said he called the team four days ago for an explanation but was told it's a City of Edmonton issue, but when he contacted the city, they redirected him back to the Elks.
The city provided CTV News Edmonton with a statement on Thursday that said, "Commonwealth Security is reviewing video footage to see if there is evidence of this alleged incident. They will also be reviewing any after-actions and incident reports to see if there are any documented evictions of people wearing bags."
Either way, Jones says he plans to be back in his paper bag for the Elks' next home game: Thursday, Aug. 10, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers -- anything, he says, to provoke any kind of change before it's too late.
"If no fans show up — this is for any business — if people don't show up to your business, you don't make money," Jones said. "You lose your team."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.