T-rex combine: Elks announce family friendly theme nights aimed at drawing young fans
The Edmonton Elks announced today that changes are coming for the imminent 2024 season.
Families and younger people who don't go to games all the time are being targeted. Special family-friendly theme nights and activities will take place throughout the season. Edmontonians will also be able to purchase single-game tickets for all regular season home games.
"It started for us back in the fall," says Evan Daum, VP of Marketing and Fan Engagement. "What do we want to do in terms of attracting families and different people to Commonwealth Stadium? It took us down the road of coming to some different themes that we haven't done in the past."
Throughout the season, the Elks will be hosting '90's Night, Dino Day, Hollywood Night, Country Day and a Halloween Spooktacular alongside returning events like Family Day and Indigenous Celebration Day, among others. All home games will feature some kind of theme.
Dino Day will "have the world's first T-Rex Combine at halftime," says Daum. "We're going to get people dressed up in inflatable dinosaurs, and do some vertical jumps and 40-yard dashes. In terms of the broad approach, it really is trying to combine some family focused themes that will get young families out to the games and create that next generation of football fan."
The 2024 season is the 75th for the team. The "Salute to 75" Home Opener on June 8 will debut the new "Elks Fan Park," as well as what the Elks say is the largest alumni autograph session in club history.
Elks Fan Park will open 90 minutes before every home game this season, and feature a tailgate party with live music, Jackie Parker's food and drinks, The Brick Kid Zone playground and a Re/Max family picnic.
Daum says the team wishes to strike a balance between targeting a younger demographic and not taking existing fans for granted.
"Regardless of the result on the field, we need to create an atmosphere and experience that's fun for people. You have to have a robust package that is compelling for people to get off their butts and come to the stadium. (It has to be) more fun than sitting at home or doing something else."
A full schedule of season-long events can be found on the Elks' website, where fans can already purchase tickets.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III will return to public duties on Tuesday when he visits a cancer treatment charity, beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
A group of Toronto tenants have been on a rent strike for a year and say there's no resolution in sight
Dozens of tenants in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park area have now been withholding their rent for one year, and it’s unclear when the dispute will end.
U.K. police arrest man wielding a sword in east London, 5 people are taken to the hospital
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and two police officers on Tuesday in the east London community of Hainault before being arrested, police said.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.