#ForTheW: Winnipeg celebrates Blue Bombers ending 29-year Grey Cup drought

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers ended a 29-year Grey Cup drought on Sunday night, defeating the 15-3 Hamilton Tiger-Cats by a score of 33-12.

It was a shocking upset that has been celebrated over the past twelve hours by the long-suffering Winnipeg faithful. Thanks to social media, many of those celebrations were captured for others to see.

Blue Bomber fans congregated in downtown Winnipeg at Portage and Main, one of Western Canada’s oldest intersections, to celebrate the victory together.

Celebrating the @Wpg_BlueBombers Grey Cup win with a couple thousand fans at Portage and Main! 29 years in the making, well deserved for these fans and this city! #greycup2019 pic.twitter.com/UzTjr9ibtI

— Jamie Moses (@jmoses_mla) November 25, 2019

Portage and Main tonight. @Wpg_BlueBombers #GreyCup107 #greycup2019 pic.twitter.com/g5vYKNd15q

— Joe Scarpelli (@scarpellinews) November 25, 2019

Good times #portageandmain #bluebombers #winnipeg #fortheW #greycup107 @Wpg_BlueBombers #204 @zachary_wynne pic.twitter.com/fFpqXFkWw1

— Michael Wynne (@Windog0101) November 25, 2019

Portage and Main. @Wpg_BlueBombers #ForTheW We are the Champions.l🏆 @andrewharris33 @Bighill44 @Demski9 pic.twitter.com/0jw9mLLbdn

— Mike Kuchirka (@FlyersFaithful1) November 25, 2019

There was singing…

Absolutely manic. This team loves their Head Coach. #BlueBombers pic.twitter.com/At3HIzSije

— Ahmar Khan (@AhmarSKhan) November 25, 2019

…and dancing…

Woot woot Go Blue @Air_Bear_ @NicDea48 pic.twitter.com/4WDukuuXXZ

— Michelle ❤️'s the Winnipeg Jets!! (@MissA_Jetsfan) November 25, 2019

…and beer crushing…

Watch to the end. Priceless. #ForTheW pic.twitter.com/8cIUGlaeMk

— Brett Megarry (@BrettMegarry) November 25, 2019

…and an outpouring of emotions.

Told ya I'd cry #CurseReversed @Wpg_BlueBombers GREY CUP CHAMPIONS !!!#ThankYou !!!! pic.twitter.com/iD7mYhxLiW

— Golden Boy (@WPGGoldenBoy) November 25, 2019

WE DID THIS!!!!! #ForTheW #Bombers #GreyCup pic.twitter.com/812Aa3Gtzh

— KJ💙🏈💛 (@notncalgary) November 25, 2019

It’s sinking in , I’m Sobbing!

— Leftycarol (@BlueBfan) November 25, 2019

This fan took to the streets in a riotous act of passion for his team.

I thought my rioting days were behind me, but c’mon, we just WON the #GreyCup! 🏈 #BlueBox #ForTheW #Sports #GreyCup2019 #PleaseRiotResponsibly pic.twitter.com/0skdRssnxG

— Colin Lougheed (@Colin_Lougheed) November 25, 2019

Chris Matthew, also known affectionately as ‘Shorts Guy,’ celebrated the victory by putting on pants for the first time in 18 years.

After 18 long years, Shorts Guy puts on some pants!! 😂😂#GreyCup @Wpg_BlueBombers pic.twitter.com/TCZdIqn7z6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 25, 2019

The Canadian mafia celebrated together in the locker room. Mike O’Shea and Kyle Walters are pounding beers, the latter of whom is sporting a mustache worthy Festival du Voyageur.

Winnipeg is the only team in the CFL with Canadians serving as the team’s CEO, general manager, and head coach.

Canadian mafia hosting the grey cup. pic.twitter.com/Ee7VQWC63m

— Bob Irving (@BobIrvingCJOB) November 25, 2019

Equipment manager Brad Fotty, who joined the team in 1991, hoisted the Grey Cup for the first time in his 28-year career. What a moment for an unsung member of the Winnipeg Football Club.

https://twitter.com/erin_petreny/status/1198829325480423424

Families and friends celebrated together in Calgary and back at home in Winnipeg.

Nothing makes me happier than sharing this night with my best friend @Xpeggr .. and seeing him this happy!! #GreyCup pic.twitter.com/RWjkCuDvnI

— Miss Marcia (@MarciaOnTheGo) November 25, 2019

Transcona representing #ForTheW #Bombers @Wpg_BlueBombers pic.twitter.com/6CIOX802uC

— Nik Kowalski (@nik_kowalski) November 25, 2019

Champions forever! #4theW 🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/3gLzjUzhbs

— Kristina Bighill (@KristinaBighill) November 25, 2019

.@Yoshi_Hardrick will literally give you the shirt off his back 😂#ForTheW #GreyCup pic.twitter.com/qtwQoO5mbg

— CFL (@CFL) November 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/Grayson_Besser_/status/1198796298826080257

https://twitter.com/tinalapo/status/1198920185937219586

Champions forever pic.twitter.com/5BjM2GKmqN

— Jermarcus Hardrick (@Yoshi_Hardrick) November 25, 2019

Very cool moment for #Bombers coach Mike O’Shea just now. #wfp pic.twitter.com/pwBU04L3hT

— Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) November 25, 2019

The drought was finally over. Fans under the age of 30 had never witnessed a Blue Bomber Grey Cup victory before.

What a win for the city of #Winnipeg. HERE WE GO #BLUEBOMBERS!!!! 🔵💣 #GreyCup @CFLonTSN pic.twitter.com/n2OIUKNXIT

— Jesse Pollock (@jpolly22) November 25, 2019

This is what it feels like!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lQraA6tDmv

— Blue Bomber History (@BomberHistory) November 25, 2019

WHERE ARE YOUR 1990 JOKES NOW BITCHES!!! #ForTheW #ForTheEffingW #Bombers

— Robert Dalton (@RougeDalts) November 25, 2019

Chris Streveler sported one of the greatest championship outfits ever, donning large sunglasses and an open flannel jacket over his bare chest.

And plenty of Blue Bomber alumni shared their congratulations.

THE DROUGHT IS OVER BABY! @Wpg_BlueBombers That’s for the fans and the city of #Winnipeg #ThatsMyCity #PaperPlates

— Milt Stegall (@MiltStegallTSN) November 25, 2019

Love❤ this Team -Sending Congratulations to the
Bombers -especially the Players & the Coaches & Management on the Battle for the Grey Cup -1 Step left- Beat a very good Hamilton team & bring back the Grey Cup ending a 28 year Drought. It's going to happen- BELIEVE!! 🏈🏆

— Chris Walby (@BigBluto63) November 18, 2019

I was wrong about this defense not being able to win the way they played. Doesn’t matter how or why they won, they’re champs so there’s that. Congrats to the city of #WINNIPEG, you deserve it.

— Jason Vega (@VegaJason) November 25, 2019

The city of Winnipeg deserves this… Congrats to all the homies and the best fans in the CFL #bombers

— Clarence Denmark (@OnAnotherOne) November 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/GregPeach90/status/1198796929540349952

Congratulations are in order to everyone that had a hand in ending this drought. But this one has to be for the fans that stuck with this team for almost 3 decades.

— Doug Brown (@DougBrown97) November 25, 2019

It was a night CFL fans won’t soon forget — most of all in The Peg.