From BYOB to famous sluice juice, more than 40 years of Spirit of Edmonton breakfasts

A breakfast started by Edmonton Eskimo fans more than 40 years ago will return to the city this weekend as an essential part ofGrey Cup celebrations.

Close to 4,000 people are expected to attend the Spirit of Edmonton breakfast on Fridayand Saturdayat the Shaw Conference Centre. As the first day quickly sold out, volunteersadded a second.

"It was the first sold-out event for the Grey Cup this year," said KeithKeating, former chair of the Spirit of Edmonton. "In lots of cities,it's a harder ticket to get than a ticket to the game.

"It's totally a party. The food is secondary for many people."

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The breakfast isrun by Edmonton Eskimos fans, but is open to all CFLfans.

The event includescheer teamsand live music and a signature drink: sluice juice.

Organizers won't reveal theingredients, saying only that they use a 500-gallon tank and pump system to serve it.

The breakfast is a part of the Spirit of Edmonton party that runs from Thursdayto Saturdayat the WestinHotel. The annual party is hosted by more than 100volunteers in every city where the Grey Cup is played.

Grey Cup 2018: The Spirit of Edmonton

6 years ago

Duration 1:52

An Edmonton woman has a collection dedicated to 33 years of volunteering at the Spirit of Edmonton breakfast. The event is a Grey Cup staple.

First breakfast in 1975

Former Edmonton Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur, now B.C. Lions president, was involved in the first Spirit of Edmonton breakfast held in Calgary in 1975, whenthe Stampeders hosted the Eskimos.

"It was to really get the Eskimo fans going and pumped up to get ready for the game," LeLacheur said.

LeLacheur expected to sell a few hundred tickets. They sold close to 1,300.

"Back in those days, you couldn't get a liquor permit on a Sunday. So we had all the radio and TV stations in Edmonton promote it as BYOB."

He called the breakfast a marquee event of Grey Cup weekend, and said he's happy to see it continue.

"Everybody knows about the Spirit of Edmonton room and the Spirit of Edmonton breakfast," LeLacheursaid. "It's been around the longest of any of the the teams having events at the Grey Cup."

Edmonton last hosted the Grey Cup in 2010. This year's game starts at 4 p.m. Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium.

Listen Live on Edmonton AM

Mark Connolly and theEdmonton AM team will be broadcasting live from the Spirit of Edmonton breakfaston Friday morning from 5:30- 8:30 a.m.

Travis.mcewan@cbc.ca

@Travismcewancbc