Hamilton Ticats reveal plans for fun-filled Grey Cup festival

An outdoor music festival, elevated catwalk, more seats and food served from "shipping container infrastructure" are among what the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have planned for the 2021 Grey Cup game.

The team will install seating around the video board, along the patio rail and on the field, with seats spanning the entire 110-yard sideline, the team says. In total, the seating will expand from the regular capacity of 23,218 seats to more than 33,000.

It will also have a "Grey Cup Social" in the south plaza along Cannon Street that will have live music, "a food and drink expo" and video screens showing the game.

Hamilton's top chefs will prepare "signature dishes" and "delicious staples inspired by CFL cities," the team said on its website. It will also have "unique food and beverage options delivered through shipping container infrastructure paying homage to Hamilton's industrial roots."

Here are some other highlights the team listed:

• The social will "deliver phenomenal sightlines of the football action" and view of the main video board, pus video screens around the plaza. 
• There will be "communal seating areas," plus "outdoor patio heaters and enclosed fireplaces."
• There will be an elevated catwalk stage extending more than 61 metres (200 feet), from Cannon Street to the end zone. 
• A two-tier party patio near the north end zone.
• An "authentic smokehouse barbecue and beverage access."
• Loge seating along the south end zone.

Tiger-Cats season seat holders for 2019 will get first dibs on their seats for the 2021 Grey Cup game, and first access to tickets anywhere in the stadium. That includes Grey Cup Social tickets, which are $89 otherwise. This offer, called the Caretaker's Commitment, ends June 12.