Well, if it's on Wikipedia, it MUST be true.
Yeah, the tornado was right around that time too, but I'm pretty sure the City of Champions ego-trip was inspired by the Oilers/Eskimos winning the Stanley/Grey Cups in the same year. I remember the big marketing blitz about it with Grant Fuhr and Gizmo Williams shaking hands to show off their rings with big sh*t-eating grins on their faces. I could be wrong though...