The idea of Touchdown Atlantic has been to spark interest in a potential expansion franchise in the Atlantic Schooners. The team would be based in Halifax, the largest city in the region or possibly a split with Halifax and Moncton in New Brunswick.
The first CFL game in Atlantic Canada was on June 11, 2005, a preseason game with Hamilton and Toronto that finished in a 16-16 tie. That game was played at Huskies Stadium at St. Mary's University just south of downtown Halifax. The game drew 11,148 with expanded seating.
The CFL scheduled a 2006 preseason game on June 3 for that same stadium. That game was cancelled since the Ottawa Renegades, the host team against Montreal, folded.
When the concept returned in 2010, the CFL focused on the regular season in Moncton since the city has an established stadium. Moncton Stadium, now known as Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium, hosted regular season games in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019. The attendance was around 20,000 for the first 2 games, falling to about 15,000 in 2013 and 10,000 in 2019.
The CFL finally figured out that putting a game in Nova Scotia was a smart move. The league scheduled a game at Huskies Stadium in 2020. Oops.
The @CFL is in @TownOfWolfville at @AcadiaU setting up.
— Acadia Athletics (@AcadiaAthletics) July 5, 2022
The @sskroughriders vs @TorontoArgos July 16 at the Touchdown Atlantic event.
The 7,000 temporary seats will help triple the population of Wolfville.#CFL #TouchdownAtlantic #Wolfville #AcadiaU #Football #NovaScotia pic.twitter.com/62HI73FiBm
The league shifted the 2022 version to Raymond Field in Wolfville, 90 km north of Halifax.
The facilities in Atlantic Canada have been a concern. Huskies Stadium and Raymond Field needed considerable temporary seating to get to 10,000-11,000. The Atlantic Schooners would have been a reality long ago if there was a viable stadium in Halifax.
There are high schools in Texas that have a nice enough stadium that if you put that structure in Halifax along the water, there would be a 10th team in the CFL.
There has been a hesistancy to build a stadium of any kind in Halifax, despite the potential for expanded tourism. The soccer team HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League play at Wanderers Grounds on the Halifax Commons. A larger stadium to suit both teams would be highly logical.
2020 Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax: What would have been
If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes
CFL once again comes to Moncton for 2019 Touchdown Atlantic
The CFL said the 10,000 seats for Touchdown Atlantic 2022 sold out within an hour after going on sale.
Hopefully, that is a great sign for enthusiasm for the CFL in this region.
We don't know much about Wolfville, so we are intrigued. Touchdown Atlantic starts Saturday at 3 pm Atlantic time, 2 pm Eastern, and 11 am in Vancouver. Saskatchewan serves as the "road team" and Toronto is the "home team": the same teams scheduled for the 2020 contest.
TSN will have the game in Canada with ESPN+ taking the TSN feed in the United States. Rod Smith and Glen Suitor are scheduled to call the game from Wolfville.
Analysis: Could Moncton host a permanent CFL franchise?
CFL hits Moncton, showcasing New Brunswick
Traditionally, the prince searches for the person who fits the glass slipper. Cities beg for teams to come their way. If Halifax showed any kind of enthusiasm for a stadium, this would be a done deal. Playing a regular season game in Nova Scotia is a step way over due, and quite frankly, in the wrong location. Small steps indeed.
CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage
We will have tomorrow's preview that will cover the full week of the CFL.
photo credit: CFL
Twitter capture: @AcadiaAthletics
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