LIONS ROAR INTO HILLSIDE

Local football fans are in for a treat.

For the next 17 days, the B.C. Lions will be at Hillside Stadium preparing for the upcoming Canadian Football League season.

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The action gets underway today (June 2) with the beginning of the team’s rookie camp, followed by full two-a-days beginning this weekend.

Between June 6 and June 19, the squad will practice twice each day on the artificial turf at Hillside.

The only exception will be June 13, when the Lions face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a CFL exhibition game in Regina.

Jeff Putnam, sport development and business operations manager with the City of Kamloops, said the fact the Lions are holding training camp in the Tournament Capital speaks volumes about the city’s facilities.

“It means a lot with an outward perspective,” he said.

“It solidifies the fact that our facilities are at a professional calibre.”

And it means a lot for local football fans.

On-field training camp practice sessions are open to the public — and there’s no charge.

“We’ve got a minor football association that’s just getting started,” Putnam said.

“So that’s a big thing.”

The Lions will also be hosting Fan-Fest Day at Hillside on Saturday, June 12, where fans will have the chance to interact with the team’s players and coaches.

The event begins at 9 a.m. with a walk-through practice, followed by an autograph session at 10 a.m.

There will also be drills for aspiring football players, put on by the Lions and the Kamloops Broncos.

In addition to the football, Putnam said the economic spinoff of having the Lions in town will be significant.

“The Lions themselves, in terms of accommodation, meals, transportation, retail, I’d guess their budget is probably in the $200,000 range for while they’re here,” he said.

“And then there’s other things on top of that. For instance, every day they require 900 pounds of ice and that has to come from somebody locally.”

Putnam said the exposure will also be beneficial to the community in the long-term.

“We’re going to have all the major media outlets from across the province here in Kamloops for the entire camp,” he said.

“All the eyes will be on Kamloops over the next two weeks in the sporting community in B.C.”

Earlier this year, the Lions signed a four-year agreement with the City of Kamloops for the use of Hillside Stadium as a training camp facility.

B.C. LIONS’ TRAINING CAMP — UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Wed., June 2

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rookie camp practice

Thu., June 3

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rookie camp practice

Fri., June 4

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rookie camp practice

*Veterans report to camp on June 5. Two-a-days begin on June 6.