CFL

Roughriders 2010 Calendar Wallpaper

Since the official Roughriders website only creates wallpapers for 4:3 ratio screens (IE: 1024×768, 1280×1024) and nothing for widescreen monitors, I decided to make my own for the 2010 season. I also miss doing the Sens monthly desktop calendars, so it gave me an excuse to play around in photoshop again a bit :). Please see the chart under the images to see which wallpaper size is appropriate for your screen resolution. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment (good or bad/constructive feedback), and if you want to link to the calendar, please link to this page if you want to share it and not just the images directly.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy! If time permits I’ll make one or two more of these.

Note: If you’re unsure what your screen resolution is, follow these steps to ensure you’re downloading the correct background:

  • Windows: Right click any blank area of your desktop and click on Properties. Go to the Settings tab. Screen Resolution is listed at the lower left.
  • Mac OSX: Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your menu bar and select “System Preferences”, and then select “Displays”
  • Linux w/ Gnome: Click on System, Preferences and select Display
Screen Resolution Wallpaper size
1024 x 768 1280 x 960
1280 x 960 1280 x 960
1440 x 900 1680 x 1050
1680 x 1050 1680 x 1050
1360 x 768 1600 x 900
1366 x 768 1600 x 900
1600 x 900 1600 x 900
1920 x 1080 1600 x 900
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Goodbye South Side

South Side at Frank Clair StadiumOn Sunday July 20th a part of Ottawa history will be no more. The south side stands at Frank Clair Stadium will be demolished, wiping away 50 years of history in just the blink of an eye.

Frank Clair stadium, formerly known as just Landsdowne Park, was first built in 1909 for the Ottawa Exposition. For 50 years only the “North Side” stood, with seating for 10,000, the south side comprising of simple small bleachers. It was in 1960 that the South Side as we know it today was erected. The new structure added 6,414 seats in the lower bowl and 7,870 in the upper bowl. In 1967 the North Side was torn down and rebuilt to include 14,542 seats and also included the Civic Centre arena and convention space.

Over the years, Frank Clair stadium has been home to 2 CFL teams, the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Renegades. The yearly Panda Bowl between rivals Ottawa University Gee Gees and Carleton University Ravens was also held at the stadium.

View of the South Side at Frank ClairIt was after hosting part of the FIFA under 20 World Cup in 2007 that cracks and defects were found in the South Side stands. This lead to the immediate closure of the stands. Upon further investigation it was determined that fixing the problems would be too costly and that the South Side had to come down.

I have many memories of Frank Clair stadium. I spent one summer working at the stadium during the Rough Riders’ final season, dispensing beer to the many thirsty football fans that walked its halls. I attended many concerts, including the biggest concert to ever come to Ottawa. It was in the South Side stands that I sat for the 2005 Rolling Stones concert, sharing that experience with 45,000 others.

Frank Clair south Stands from Bank street.I also attended many football games, for both the Renegades and the Rough Riders. For most of those games I sat in the North Side stands (not by choice), but I always found the atmosphere more fun on the South Side. The North Side always appeared to have a more sophisticated, sports minded atmosphere while the South Side was always party central.

At 8am next Sunday the stands that tower over the Rideau canal will come crashing down in a puff of smoke, concrete dust and melting steel. Never again will fans hear a response to the famous local football chant “South Side sucks!”