In this photo: Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar and B.C. Lions’ general manager Wally Buono share a laugh at Hillside Stadium in June. KTW file photo
The B.C. Lions will hold training camp in Kamloops through 2017.
“We say it over and over and we’re not saying something that’s not true — Kamloops is first-class and the facilities are world-class,” Lions’ general manager Wally Buono told KTW at a press conference held to announce the extension on Monday, Sept. 15, at the Tournament Capital Centre.
“When you look at the support we get from fans, from the city and from the corporate community, it makes it really, really tough not to come back.”
Camp came to Kamloops in 2010 on a three-year deal with an option for 2013, which was exercised.
The Leos announced on Feb. 14, 2013, they would stay in Kamloops through 2014.
In May, the city and the Lions confirmed camp would be held in the River City in 2015. The two sides continued to talk about a longer-term extension, the one announced Monday.
Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar spoke at the press conference, trumpeting the Leos’ value to the city from a marketing standpoint.
“It really backs up our credibility when we call ourselves Canada’s Tournament Capital, that we mean it and we can deliver,” said Milobar, who raved about the Hillside Stadium facilities, which, he noted, make several other CFL training-camp sites look like parking lots.
Nanaimo, Prince George, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Courtenay and Kelowna are among the cities rumoured to be interested in hosting camp, but they were unable to intercept it from Kamloops.
The Lions are not ruling out staying at Hillside past 2017, but both Buono and George Chayka, the Lions’ vice-president of business, said they will be looking at other options.
“It’s been difficult to leave the City of Kamloops,” Chayka said.
“They’ve just done a really great job. It’s a great city to work with.
“We’re going to be back for another three years and we’ll explore where our next location will be after 2017.
“We pride ourselves on being the British Columbia Lions and being relevant across the province.”
The city pays the Lions about $40,000 to hold camp. There is an estimated economic spinoff of $300,000 into the community.
Kamloops is also promoted in game programs and on the Jumbotron at Lions’ home games at BC Place Stadium and the city receives $10,000 in tickets, which are sold or given to charities for fundraising.
Lions’ head coach Mike Benevides would have no qualms if Kamloops was long-term home base to training camp.
“In terms of the facilities and everything else, there’s nothing that matches it,” Benevides said in June of 2013.
“You can talk to people from the other league [the NFL] that come here as scouts . . . it’s everything that we want.”
Milobar would like to see the Lions stay here beyond 2017.
“That continuity is huge and certainly, if we can, that would be so wonderful and that would be great,” the mayor said.
“But, the Lions like to try and move things around from time to time and we only have so many funds available for us at the same time.”
Inclement weather has plagued camp in years past, but clear skies and warm temperatures were the norm at Hillside in 2014.
“If you guys can guarantee that for the next 20 years, we might be back for 20 years,” Buono said with a laugh.
“It’s getting better every year and this year was by far the best.”
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