Alerus/Canad Complex

[bincitysioux]

GF Herald

In related news, the Alerus Center has sold all of the $30 season passes for tailgating. Passes for individual games are still available and will be on sale Monday at the center's office. A limited number of passes also will be available on game day to ensure fans of opposing teams have a chance to tailgate, too.

[GeauxSioux]

From those who went to the game, how was the game day atmosphere? How did the Canad play into the situation? How did the parking fees work out? Shuttle system? Tailgating fees?

[airmail]

I saw a lot of people walking... probably helped the parking situation tremendously. The tailgating area had numbers painted on the spots, evrything seemed to be fine.

[mjchewy]

From those who went to the game, how was the game day atmosphere? How did the Canad play into the situation? How did the parking fees work out? Shuttle system? Tailgating fees?

I live in Bismarck, so we left early Thursday morning (like 8:30 am) to get to GF so we could get a tailgating ticket. We got there around Noon and went straight to the Al. The lady was collecting money for the tailgating tickets. She had no more than 16 parking spots available, so we grabbed one and then were told that we could come back later because we had a numbered spot saved for us, so we did. We showed up about 4:30 to see that they added another ten spots or so to the group of tailgating spots and we lost our spot at the end next to the cones (which was actually a bigger area, because you could use the coned off area). We ended up being able to trade our spot for another, but we were a little discouraged that the spot we paid for was no longer at the location we thought.

There are some kinks to work out, but for the most part went on as usual with no issues.

Good game, GO SIOUX!!!

[Jeremy_und2004]

Well we drove to the Chester Fritz parking lot and took the shuttle over. Lets just say I'll be there earlier next time. Got to the parking lot at 6:25 and got into the Alerus during Humbolts first possesion. I'm guessing a lot of people didn't want to pay, therefor creating a larger amount of people using the shuttles.

[GeauxSioux]

Tourists Flocking from Canada

"For football games we`ll be getting tickets and packaging them with guest rooms and we`ve got some arrangement at Engelstad arena to do the same, and for almost any other event in town," says Ledohowski.

And Alerus Commission officials have already been meeting with Canad officials about turning the complex into a marketing force to be reckoned with.

Good news for GF!

[Big10Sioux]

I've felt for awhile that Grand Forks hasn't taken enough advantage of the 500,000 plus people living an easy (sans the border crossing) 2 hour drive north in Winnipeg. Obviously, Canada loves hockey but they also support and follow football (CFL, NFL, NCAA). Both programs routinely have several Canadian and local Winnipeg athletes competing for them. With the two highest level college programs of these sports in GF it should be a major asset and receive the type of marketing it deserves. Hopefully, the Canad can improve the relationship.

[jimdahl]

The move of the Canadian dollar above parity this morning, for the first time since 1976, could help a lot.

When you consider that a Canadian with the same income has 62% more buying power in U.S.-dollar denominated goods than in 2002, G.F. has a significant opportunity to sell hotel rooms, sporting event tickets, and grinders with taco meat to Canadians.

[Smoggy]

The move of the Canadian dollar above parity this morning, for the first time since 1976, could help a lot.

When you consider that a Canadian with the same income has 62% more buying power in U.S.-dollar denominated goods than in 2002, G.F. has a significant opportunity to sell hotel rooms, sporting event tickets, and grinders with taco meat to Canadians.

Mmmmmmm, taco meat.

Thanks for teasing those of us not in GF AND too poor to online order Red Pepper Jim.