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David wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:20 am

Here is a really clear shot of the modern reply-scoreboard installed in 1970. This is a screen grab from the 1971 Grey Cup in which it is showing sponsor "Players" cigarettes. Not sure if it was used for that game or not.




DH

Good screenshot, David.

The picture just reinforces the point I made several times already. I think there was only a large billboard advertising Players cigarettes and no actual replay screen. One would think that if there was really a replay screen, then it would have certainly been in use in an important game such as the 1971 Grey Cup.

Robbie wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 27, 2019 1:24 pm

David wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:20 am

Here is a really clear shot of the modern reply-scoreboard installed in 1970. This is a screen grab from the 1971 Grey Cup in which it is showing sponsor "Players" cigarettes. Not sure if it was used for that game or not.




DH

Good screenshot, David.

The picture just reinforces the point I made several times already. I think there was only a large billboard advertising Players cigarettes and no actual replay screen. One would think that if there was really a replay screen, then it would have certainly been in use in an important game such as the 1971 Grey Cup.

When the Empire Stadium screen was installed, it was only used for replays, and only after some plays. It wasn't used for live video. The cigarette company sign showed on the replay screen when it wasn't being used for replays. It wasn't until after B.C. Place opened in 1983 that live video was shown on the big screen during games. Nowadays spectators are spoiled by the size and quality of the screen in B.C. Place. It's tempting to watch the screen rather than the field because the closeup video often provides a better view of live action.

i remember that i thought was a replay screen at empire. never remember it being used, and wondered why it wasn't.

funny thinking of obscure stuff you haven't thought of in years.

I think we know it had the capability of showing instant-replay - a novelty back then - and I am quite sure it was utilized for a game or two (part-way through the 1970 season). But I seem to recall reading that it became too controversial or there was opposition and the PNE and/or the Lions were mandated by the league to discontinue its use.

I'll see if I can find the real story behind this somewhat mysterious scoreboard.


DH

David wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:59 pm

I think we know it had the capability of showing instant-replay - a novelty back then - and I am quite sure it was utilized for a game or two (part-way through the 1970 season). But I seem to recall reading that it became too controversial or there was opposition and the PNE and/or the Lions were mandated by the league to discontinue its use.

I don’t recall a controversy, at least in the early years from 1970 to 1973. I had season tickets and was at every game. I recall the screen being used for key replays in each game. It was a novelty in the CFL and was well received by fans, as primitive as it seems today. It just wasn’t in constant use like modern video screens.

Excellent pictures of both outside and inside Empire Stadium in 1993 by Bob Busser just before it was demolished.

https://ballparks.smugmug.com/Empire-St ... -Columbia/

In several pictures, you can see what remained of the scoreboard and video screen.

Another picture of the replay screen in the background.

That's quarterback Don Moorhead (#27) and head coach Eagle Keys on a warm summer night in 1974.


DH

David wrote: ↑

Thu May 14, 2020 10:02 pm

That's quarterback Don Moorhead (#27) and head coach Eagle Keys on a warm summer night in 1974.


DH

In those days our seats were in section EE, aka the CKNW '98 Club, and I remember a few summer evenings like the one in the photo where we would need to "salute" the sunset, much like Coach Keys is doing, in order to see what was happening down on the field!

I guess the souvenir team ballcap hadn't been invented yet.

grunching..

i moved to vancouver 1979...

i remember the screen. i don't remember it being on though.

i loved empire stadium BTW..

my four empire memories (more general memories),

1) getting killed by eskimos even when things started promisingly

2) fights in the stands during sunny afternoon games.

3) final game of season vs. montreal. i think we were out of playoff race. small crowd and it was raining hard. i wonder if that was the last game at empire before bc place.... i associate tony proudfoot with this game. no idea why other than he is also associated with montreal (city and team i believe)

4) running on field after game. players were so big and the field sloped alot (middle much higher than sidelines)....... i think it would help attendance if teams allowed some sort of controlled access to field after games. maybe kids and parents.

my one whitecap memory. willie johnston (sp?) taking a swig of beer before corner kick and then we scored off corner kick. also, peter lorimar scoring from the opening kick against malmo sweden.