If you haven’t been to a Coors Light Watch Party, you’re missing out.
Fans from across the city put on their Green and Gold attire and gather to eat, drink beer, and cheer on their team.
Scott Hackman of CISN country 103.9 FM has been there almost from the beginning. He started hosting the parties in 2013 and has watched them grow in size and entertainment ever since.
“As we go along the parties gain a larger and larger following,” he says. “I feel the experience brings people back, even those that just happened to be at the location during the party speak of the time they had and how they’d follow along with the Eskimos for the next one.”
The Coors Light Watch Parties began at the Tilted Kilt in 2013. Fans came out to watch a 30-20 victory over the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The next one is this Saturday at Central Social Hall in St. Albert @ 5p.m.
The events are a great opportunity to watch the game with some of the Eskimos most diehard fans. It is the closest you can get to the Commonwealth experience while the team is away.
“The cheer team performs, there are prizes to give away… and the team, especially with their performances in the fourth quarter this season, gives fans a reason to stay in their chairs,” Hackman says. “I can honestly say I haven’t crossed paths with someone who attended a watch party and didn’t thoroughly enjoy the experience that the Eskimos and Coors Light provide, along with the host location.”
The Coors Light Watch Parties just keep getting better. Hackman says the best experience he’s had was just two weeks ago.
“It’s fresh in my mind, but I’ll say the Watch Party at Average Joes in Sherwood Park for the October 10 game in Calgary,” he says. “The people that make a point of coming to these parties are hardcores, so when a game is as meaningful as that one was … the atmosphere sets itself. Playing Calgary makes hosting a breeze. Nothing makes a host happy like a smiling, cheering crowd.”
Over the years the party has travelled from Edmonton to Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, the River Cree Casino and St. Albert.
It’s about what the fans want.
“I make a point to ask people about their experience at each watch party and I can’t say there’s an aspect that really needs improvement. Prizes, beer and an incredible football team to watch? How does it get any better?” says Hackman. “That said, I would always like to see someone new… and make an Eskimo fan out of them. I’ll encourage everyone to reach out to me or the staff with the Eskimos to find out more about the watch parties and partake in one themselves.”
See you Saturday, 5 p.m. @ Central Social Hall in St. Albert to watch the Eskimos take on the Roughriders in Regina.
