CFL, AJLCF to hire third party to test air quality after Labor Day game dispute
The CFL and AJLCF say an independent third-party organization will test air quality and provide metrics for upcoming games after launching an investigation into conditions at the Edmonton Elks-Stampeders game from Calgary on Monday.
The two organizations said in a joint statement Thursday that the decision to play, or continue to play, a game will be based on metrics provided by the organization.
If the measurement indicates an air quality health index of seven, the game will be interrupted.
Monday’s game at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium went ahead despite Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health Index for Calgary being between eight and 10 throughout the day.
The AJLCF says it informed the CFL in writing twice — before and after kickoff — that the competition should not take place due to unsafe working conditions.
Environment Canada’s air quality index for northwest Calgary was still at nine four hours after kickoff.
Elks defensive end Jake Ceresna says the players felt smoke during the game but had to focus on the game itself resulting in a 35-31 win for Stampeders.
Edmonton head coach Chris Jones said a*sistant general manager Geroy Simon told him before the game that the game could be called off due to the conditions.
“We had really bad air quality here this year and had to race indoors and outdoors. Some days we are present, some days we are absent,” he said. “I woke up that morning and…Geroy told me he had spoken with league officials, that we might be delayed.
“We kind of followed protocol after that. »
— With files from Steven Sandor in Edmonton
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