Grey Cup arrives in Calgary for final game on traditional Canadian field
The trophy was escorted by the military as the city begins a week of festivities before Sunday's game between Edmonton and Montreal.
CALGARY · The Grey Cup trophy arrived in Calgary on Monday, marking the start of a week of celebrations leading up to Sunday's 113th championship game, which will be the last played on the Canadian Football League's traditional 110-yard field. The iconic trophy was escorted into the city by members of the Canadian Armed Forces and welcomed during a ceremony at Mewata Armoury. Dignitaries attending the event included Alberta Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who officially welcomed the trophy to the city. "On behalf of the City of Calgary, let’s welcome the 113th Grey Cup to our blue-sky city," said Farkas during the ceremony. "Let’s get ready for some football." The trophy arrived in a horse-drawn wagon with a bagpipe escort. CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said the military presence carried added weight following the recent training tragedy at CFB Wainwright, where four soldiers were killed and 39 others injured.
"For more than a century, the Grey Cup has travelled through Canadian history," Johnston told the crowd at the armoury. "It has been celebrated in times of joy and carried with Canadians through times of sacrifice. So there is something especially meaningful about having members of the Canadian Armed Forces help carry it to Calgary." Organizers said the event was not only a celebration of Canadian football but also an opportunity to recognize the long-standing connection between the sport and military service. "From the military football teams that helped build the game in its early years to the Grey Cup champion teams of World War II to the enduring partnership that we see here today, the stories of Canadian football and military service have often been intertwined," said Col. Kyle Clapperton. The arrival signals the official beginning of Grey Cup Week in Calgary, with events planned throughout the week leading up to Sunday's championship game at McMahon Stadium.
The Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Elks will face off at 5 p.m. MT on Sunday. Most events, both free and ticketed, will take place as part of the Cenovus Grey Cup Festival at Stampede Park, which begins on Wednesday and runs through the week. The festival includes a family friendly kickoff party at the Big Four Roadhouse on Wednesday featuring a moment of remembrance for veterans and musical performances.
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On Thursday and Saturday, the venue will host two 18-plus nightly concerts. Beginning on Wednesday and running through to game day, the free Suncor Street Festival will take over Lot 3 at Stampede Park, featuring interactive stations, public art installations, a beer garden, musical acts and a nightly drone light show. Thursday through Saturday, the Calgary Grey Cup Committee and Calgary Stampede Caravan Committee will host a free pancake breakfast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other events include the free Telus Family Zone at the BMO Centre, daily ticketed FanDuel Team Parties, and an afternoon and evening rodeo at the Nutrien Western Event Centre on Saturday. An all-day Girls in Sport Summit will take place at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday. The Grey Cup Festival will host its official free FanDuel Game Day Tailgate in the East Lot of McMahon Stadium from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
This year's game is significant as it will be the final CFL championship played on a 110-yard field with 20-yard end zones and goal posts on the goal line. Beginning in 2027, the field will shrink to 100 yards, the end zones will be 15 yards and the uprights will move to the back line. Johnston has described the changes as changing the canvas so football’s features can shine more brightly, projecting more offensive plays and touchdowns. The Edmonton Elks, who finished first in the West Division with a 13-5 record, are back in the Grey Cup for the first time since winning their last title in 2015. Nosy Mag reported last week that the Elks advanced by defeating the B.C. Lions 28-16 in the division final. The Montreal Alouettes finished first in the East with a league-best 14-4 record before downing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 in their division final. The two teams split their two-game season series, with each winning at home.
With files from The Canadian Press, CityNews and CBC News