Legendary CFL fan, Labour Day Classic host Wayne Kuntz passes away at 76

Photo courtesy: Kelly Kuntz

The CFL has lost one of its most iconic fans, as Wayne Kuntz passed away on Thursday night at the age of 76.

His daughter, Kelly, confirmed his passing in a Facebook post on Friday. Her full message can be read below.

“For everyone who has been checking in and messaging, I wanted to let you know that Dad passed peacefully last night at the hospital.

There was no big emergency or suffering. He simply slipped away quietly.

Yesterday he told me very firmly, ‘I’m going home today.’ I can’t stop thinking about that.

We are heartbroken, but I truly feel that he is at peace.

Dad had such a wide circle of friends, teammates, musicians and people who knew him over the years. If there is someone you think should know, please help us pass this along. I know I won’t be able to reach everyone myself.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along, prayed for him, checked in and loved Dad through all of this. I may not be able to respond to everyone right away, but please know I see your messages and appreciate them more than you know.”

Kuntz was reportedly battling metastatic prostate cancer and had also suffered a stroke. He had been hospitalized for the past several weeks and was in intensive care for the Labour Day Classic, the game where he built his legacy.

The Regina native has long hosted Wayne’s World Tailgate Party, a Labour Day Classic tradition that spans over two decades. Reportedly, the first Wayne’s World happened serendipitously in 2004 when close to 100 fans from Winnipeg unloaded a few buses near old Mosaic Stadium.

Many of the fans were consuming alcohol on public property, which drew the ire of nearby security guards. A fan asked Kuntz if they could drink in his backyard, which is located just off the old Mosaic Stadium bus lane, and he obliged. Soon, the yard was jam-packed with Blue Bombers fans. It’s been a tradition ever since.

Even though Kuntz’s home hasn’t been located at the foot of Mosaic Stadium since the new building was opened in 2017, hundreds of fans have made the short walk to his backyard to party before the annual Labour Day Classic.

Earlier this year, the CFL community rallied to raise over $19,000 in support of Kuntz after a major house fire. Even though he was in hospital, fans still gathered near the site of his Garnet Street home on Labour Day this year to honour him.