MEDIA
Lions roam east to Abbotsford for 2006 ...
2006-03-21 16:46:37
The BC Lions Football Club announced today that it has reached an agreement with the City of Abbotsford and will hold its 2006 training camp in the Fraser Valley city this May.
With a combined total of more than 115 players, coaches and support staff during the peak of training camp, the Lions contingent will spend almost three weeks on site starting off with rookie camp which begins Thursday, May 18th.
The club will make Columbia Bible College its temporary home and practice daily at Rotary Stadium and surrounding fields located on the grounds of Abbotsford Exhibition Park.
“I am very pleased to be going to Abbotsford for training camp this year,&rdquo said Lions GM and head coach, Wally Buono. “From our earliest negotiations with Abbotsford city officials, we have been very impressed with the hospitality and flexibility they have demonstrated and in the end, this was a very easy decision for our organization.&rdquo
Abbotsford is BC's fifth largest municipality with a population of more than 130,000 people. Abbotsford is this summer's host city for the 2006 BC Senior's Games and was the successful locale for the 2004 BC Summer Games. The City is no stranger to hosting major teams and sporting events and the addition of the Lion's Training Camp will be a great boost to the Abbotsford's profile as a sports friendly city.
“We're very excited about this opportunity to host the BC Lions in our community,&rdquo says Abbotsford Mayor, George Ferguson. “Exhibition Park is a perfect facility for them and I'm sure they will appreciate the hospitality and warm welcome I know our citizens will give them.&rdquo
“Abbotsford's extensive community support and multitude of first-rate facilities guarantee that any sporting event will be a fun and enjoyable experience,&rdquo says Tourism Abbotsford, Executive Director, Dan Stefanson. “This provides a great opportunity to showcase Abbotsford as one of the leading sport host communities in the Province of BC.&rdquo
With a combined total of more than 115 players, coaches and support staff during the peak of training camp, the Lions contingent will spend almost three weeks on site starting off with rookie camp which begins Thursday, May 18th.
The club will make Columbia Bible College its temporary home and practice daily at Rotary Stadium and surrounding fields located on the grounds of Abbotsford Exhibition Park.
“I am very pleased to be going to Abbotsford for training camp this year,&rdquo said Lions GM and head coach, Wally Buono. “From our earliest negotiations with Abbotsford city officials, we have been very impressed with the hospitality and flexibility they have demonstrated and in the end, this was a very easy decision for our organization.&rdquo
Abbotsford is BC's fifth largest municipality with a population of more than 130,000 people. Abbotsford is this summer's host city for the 2006 BC Senior's Games and was the successful locale for the 2004 BC Summer Games. The City is no stranger to hosting major teams and sporting events and the addition of the Lion's Training Camp will be a great boost to the Abbotsford's profile as a sports friendly city.
“We're very excited about this opportunity to host the BC Lions in our community,&rdquo says Abbotsford Mayor, George Ferguson. “Exhibition Park is a perfect facility for them and I'm sure they will appreciate the hospitality and warm welcome I know our citizens will give them.&rdquo
“Abbotsford's extensive community support and multitude of first-rate facilities guarantee that any sporting event will be a fun and enjoyable experience,&rdquo says Tourism Abbotsford, Executive Director, Dan Stefanson. “This provides a great opportunity to showcase Abbotsford as one of the leading sport host communities in the Province of BC.&rdquo
