B.C. Lions make $300,000 donation to amateur football

Photo: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions have made a significant investment in amateur football within the province of British Columbia, donating $309,435.07 in 50/50 proceeds from this past season. It is the largest single-season donation in the history of the program.

The club held two “guaranteed jackpot” games in 2022, which saw the 50/50 pot reach a minimum of $100,000. There will be two more such contests in 2023.

“With two guaranteed draws and a home playoff game, the 2022 B.C. Lions 50/50 draw was a great success,” said director of community partnerships Jamie Taras in a statement.

“The Lions organization is proud of our continued commitment to grow football at all levels in British Columbia. Our thanks go out to the British Columbia Football Conference for their help running the 50/50 draw and to our fans for purchasing tickets in support of amateur football.”

B.C. averaged home crowds of 20,387 this past season, which was a 12.7 percent increase from 2019. It was also an increase of 38.7 percent from 2021 when attendance at BC Place was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lions hosted a playoff game this past season for the first time since 2016, defeating the Calgary Stampeders by a score of 30-16 to advance to the West Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Lions sell 50/50 tickets in-stadium as well as online.