The CFL is coming to Victoria next season.
The B.C. Lions will play the Ottawa Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park on Aug. 31.
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie and Lions president Duane Vienneau made the announcement on Wednesday (Nov. 29) at the Victoria Conference Centre.
鈥淲e really want to bring the sport of football and the CFL experience to the community,鈥� Vienneau said.
The East Coast has hosted five CFL 鈥淭ouchdown Atlantic鈥� games since 2005.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a thrill for us to bring touchdown to another market,鈥� Ambrosie said. 鈥淭he 2024 touchdown game will now be rebranded 鈥楾ouchdown Pacific鈥�. Its about sharing our game with all Canadians. The B.C. Lions don鈥檛 belong to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. They belong to the entire province.鈥�
The 2023 鈥淭ouchdown Atlantic鈥� game on the campus of Saint Mary鈥檚 University in Halifax generated more than $10 million overall for businesses and communities across the region. The game featured the Saskatchewan 颅Roughriders and Toronto 颅Argonauts on July 29.
鈥淭he economic impact is immense,鈥� Vienneau added. 鈥淚t will be a key driver in the community.鈥�
Royal Athletic Park will be expanded to hold approximately 10,000 to 14,000 fans, including standing room.
鈥淭his is an amazing opportunity for Vancouver Island to really become very familiar with the game,鈥� Victoria Mayor and Lions season ticket holder Marianne Alto said. 鈥淭he Lions are always a fantastic team. They do belong to all of British Columbia. We鈥檙e going to claim them on Aug. 31. This is gonna be a momentous occasion and an opportunity to build not just the sport, but an amazing series of benefits for the city and the community.鈥�
Ambrosie didn鈥檛 rule out Victoria possibly getting a CFL team one day.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what happens once you come here,鈥� Ambrosie said. 鈥淲ho knows? Once you light that fuse, you don鈥檛 know exactly where it takes you. For now, this is not about a permanent team in Victoria.鈥�
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie announces that the league is bringing a game to Victoria next season. The will play the Ottawa at Royal Athletic Park on Aug. 31.
鈥� Brendan Mayer (@BrendanMayer)
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers came out on top 24-13 over the Lions in the CFL West Division final on Nov. 11.
The Montreal Alouettes defeated Winnipeg 28-24 in the Grey Cup on Nov. 19.
Vancouver will host the 2024 Grey Cup at BC Place on November 17, 2024.
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