Calgary to host 2009 Grey Cup
McMahon Stadium was site of 1975, 1993 and 2000 CFL championships
With any luck, a series of coaching and player moves by the Calgary Stampeders this off-season will pay off in a Grey Cup appearance — on their own field.
On Wednesday, Canadian Football League commissioner Mark Cohon was in Calgary, where he announced the 2009 Grey Cup will be played at McMahon Stadium.
"The Grey Cup is the ultimate celebration of our league and our country and what the two mean to each other," said Cohon. "And that makes the City of Calgary the perfect host. After all, it was Calgarians who first turned the game into a festival 60 years ago, when they came to Toronto and painted the town Stampeder red.
"I have every confidence they will help us all write a joyous new chapter in our history come 2009."
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Stampeders managing partner Ted Hellard and club president Scott Ackles joined Cohon at the news conference.
"We are proud to host the 2009 Grey Cup," said Bronconnier. "Nobody throws a Grey Cup party like Calgary and we are inviting Canadian football fans to come join us for the celebration in November 2009."
Calgary last hosted the Grey Cup in 2000 when the B.C. Lions edged the Montreal Alouettes 28-26. The 1975 and 1993 Grey Cups also were contested at McMahon Stadium.
The announcement would mark the first time in three years that the Grey Cup is being slated for Western Canada. Last year's contest was at Toronto's Rogers Centre, won 23-19 by Saskatchewan over Winnipeg, while this year's game will be played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
In 2006, Winnipeg hosted the Grey Cup at Canad Inns Stadium as the Lions defeated Montreal 25-14.
Also Wednesday, Ackles introduced Malcolm Kirk, publisher of the Calgary Herald, as the 2009 Calgary Grey Cup championship and festival chairman and Greg Albrecht as festival president.
"Calgary is a high-energy, fun-loving city and its people proud, generous and incredibly hospitable," said Kirk. "We are looking forward to staging a spectacular festival for the community and visitors from across Canada."
With files from the Calgary Stampeders