Reports: Montreal To Host 50th Vanier Cup in 2014
By Jared Book
Reports out of Le Soleil newspaper report that Montreal will be hosting the 50th edition of the Vanier Cup – Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s Football championship game.
The paper said that the announcement will come after the Provincial election on April 7, saying that the press conference will be held on the 8th, 9th or 10th.
The Montreal Alouettes have said that they are very interested to host the event in the past and there are several details to iron out surrounding the game. Namely, where the game will be played (either Olympic Stadium or Percival Molson Stadium) and of course the events surrounding it as it is the 50th anniversary.
Montreal, historically, hasn’t been a great supporter of university athletics but football has taken over the city. The city supports the Alouettes and now has a real National Title contender at the CIS level with the University of Montreal Carabins. Of course, should the Laval Rouge et Or make it, they will also get a lot of support in the city and also have a bunch of fans travelling.
Overall, this is a coup for the city of Montreal and holding the marquee event. However, they have to be careful hosting it at Olympic Stadium. When it isn’t full – much like when it has been hosted at Rogers Centre/SkyDome – the atmosphere is hard to come by.
It will also be interesting to see how the Alouettes handle this event. If all goes well in their season, they will be playing in the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup which is in Vancouver – the other side of the country – the next day.