After a one-year hiatus, Touchdown Atlantic is back in the Maritimes.
The Canadian Football League took a leave from Touchdown Atlantic last year to celebrate its centennial.
CFL commissioner Mark Cohon says he is happy to be back, noting the continued success of the event will go a long way in determining whether a team could succeed in Moncton.
“One game doesn’t really make a season, but again, it does start to build the momentum. Can we create more corporate support? Can you get a sense of fan base?” says Cohon.
The game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Montreal Alouettes was carefully chosen and the league is expecting a sellout.
“We also knew there would be some real interest in the (Alouettes) here, that’s not research, that’s anecdotal, but we thought there’d be a lot more interest in the (Alouettes) here,” says Cohon.
This will be Ti-Cat player Henry Burris’ second trip to the Maritimes. He played for Calgary in the 2011 game.
“I'm excited about coming back,” says Burris. “When I heard about the opportunity for us to play against Montreal out here, especially in September, it kind of gave me a little déjà vu.”
“I’ve been very jealous seeing the other teams come out here and play, because you see all the excitement and you want to be part of something that’s new to the league,” says Alouettes player Anthony Calvillo.
Hamilton will be the home team for the game, but Moncton’s proximity to Quebec and the province’s French culture is sure to draw a lot of Alouette fans.
“That’s what I keep hearing too, so I’m looking forward to it, because we’ve had some struggles in Hamilton, to be honest with you,” says Calvillo.
“Hopefully, we can win some fans over and wear the black and yellow,” says Burris.
Tickets go on sale May 25. Fans can get them a day earlier by registering for the CFL Fieldpass on the league website. Prices range from $49 to $95.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
