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
Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Almost 2 months after it destroyed Baltimore's Key Bridge, the Dali cargo ship has been moved
The cargo ship Dali is being moved from the site of its catastrophic collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in a crucial step toward fully reopening the busy Port of Baltimore.