B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay launches a pass against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during first half CFL action in Hamilton, Ontario on Saturday October 22, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/FRANK GUNNFRANK GUNN/The Canadian Press
Ticket sales are brisk in Winnipeg for the CFL's East Division final, not so in Vancouver for the Western title game.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had roughly 1,000 tickets left for Sunday's meeting with the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats and are expecting a sellout at Canad Inns Stadium. In Vancouver, the likelihood of a sellout is painfully remote.
The B.C. Lions have confirmed 30,000 tickets have been purchased for the West Division final against the Edmonton Eskimos. That leaves close to 24,000 seats still available. The Grey Cup, which will be held in B.C. Place on Nov, 27, has already been sold out at 54,000.
Overall, the CFL's attendance figures for 2011 were an improvement on the league's television ratings.
The CFL and TSN recently confirmed a significant drop in viewers during the regular season after years of growth. On the attendance side, the league experienced a two per cent increase over 2010. That means the CFL will reach the two million mark in attendance, a mark that includes the playoffs.
The attendance issue was raised Sunday during the East and West semi-finals. At Montreal's Olympic Stadium, a smallish crowd of 33,501 took in the Alouettes' thrilling 52-44 loss to Hamilton. In the West, 30,183 fans attended the Eskimos 33-19 pounding of their provincial foes the Calgary Stampeders.
On the plus side, the two semi-finals drew a combined 63,684, an increase over the last year's semi-finals total of 57,043.