Hamilton, ON (June 23, 2008) – The Canadian Football League (CFL) kicks off its 2008 season here Thursday night as the Tiger-Cats face the Montreal Alouettes, followed by the B.C. Lions and the Stampeders from Calgary.
And we can’t wait.
“We’re looking forward to a great season of football on the field, and a celebration of our league and what it means to the country, beyond the sidelines,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.
“Our theme for the season is, ‘This is Our League’. It speaks to our league’s important place in Canada, and our game’s unique ability to bring Canadians together.”
The CFL is building upon a strong foundation, Cohon said.
“Our average attendance of more than 29,000 last year was the highest since 1983, and marked the seventh straight year of positive growth, as young families in particular turn to the CFL for fun that’s affordable, and stars that are accessible,” he said.
“Our television ratings are strong, with an average of 363,000 viewers per game over the past three seasons – and over ten times that for the Grey Cup. We’re looking forward to this, the first year of our new exclusive partnership with TSN. And our partnerships with other major Canadian companies, including RONA, Molson, Tim Horton’s and Scotiabank, continue to deepen and grow,” Cohon said.
“We’re coming off one of the greatest Grey Cup experiences in our history – in Toronto – and we’re confident that if anyone can top it, it’s Montreal this November and the 96th Grey Cup. And we know our game, with its three downs, broad field, and lightning quick pace, will deliver the excitement Canadians love,” he said.
“We’re confident that Thursday night will kick it all off in fine style. It’s the first season opener here in Hamilton since 1977, and I know the Tiger-Cats are working to make it a tremendous event. Clearly, this is the place to be in the East on opening night, just as Calgary is the place to be in the West.”
About the Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League is our league. It’s built on a tradition as proud, staged on a field as broad, and played at a pace as exciting as the country we are proud to call home. Our championship game, the Grey Cup, is the biggest single annual sporting event in Canada. And the 96th edition will be played on November 23, 2008 in Montreal, QC. For additional information, visit CFL.ca.
