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The Edmonton Eskimos are hosting a pregame Pokemon Go event Saturday

The Edmonton Eskimos are hosting a pregame Pokemon Go event Saturday

Pokemon Go is sweeping the world, and the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos are getting in on the action with a unique pre-game promotion for their game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday. The team announced on Facebook that they're encouraging fans to come early and spend time before the game (set to start at 7 p.m. Eastern) collecting Pokemon, with the team even setting off lures to facilitate that. Here are the details:

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During the pregame on Saturday we'll be encouraging fans to walk around the concourse and bowl looking for Pokemon. With the free TELUS wifi saving your data, the hundreds of trainers that will be there, and the fact we'll be setting off lures inside the Stadium -- you're sure to add to your Pokedex.

Pokemon trainers will need a ticket to the Esks vs T-Cats game to participate, but your game ticket still gets you an awesome football game, a halftime show with Flo Rida, and free entry into K-Days on July 23rd. Tickets start at just $30: http://www.esks.com/single-game-tickets/

This seems like a great idea by the Eskimos, a way to tap into some of the enthusiasm around Pokemon Go and potentially attract more of the young and technology-savvy fans the CFL's always seeking. Doing it before the game also should have the benefit of getting more fans in early and spreading out some of the usual pre-game lines. The team's Twitter account's getting in on the fun, too, tweeting a photo of Snorlax at practice:

But what about those who don't care about Pokemon? Well, there will probably be some muttering about "kids these days," but this really shouldn't interfere with anyone else's enjoyment too much. Those who want to participate can, and those who don't want to can do their normal pre-game routine. There also will be more conventional entertainments available:

So, between Pokemon Go, the Coors Light party games, Flo Rida's halftime show and the tickets setting fans into the K-Days festival (including a Matt Good concert that night), there are plenty of extra incentives for fans to head out to this game. (They're also all a million times better-thought out than some previous CFL promotions, such as the Ottawa Renegades' infamous Mardi Gras Nights.) It should be a pretty good on-field contest, too; the Eskimos are 2-1 and coming off a 20-16 win over Winnipeg, while the 2-2 Ticats got back on track this past week with a 31-7 thumping of Montreal. Pokemon or no Pokemon, there are plenty of good reasons to keep an eye on this one. Let's just hope there's no flooding this time, even if it might bring out aquatic Pokemon.