CFL.ca Staff

MONCTON -- The Host Committee for the Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic Festival unveiled details today of the festivities leading into the first-ever regular season CFL game in Atlantic Canada. The Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic game, between “home team” Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos takes place at the Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium on Sunday, September 26th.

“This really promises to be a perfect match: the excitement of the CFL and the legendary hospitality of Moncton and Atlantic Canada, coming together for what will be a truly memorable week of fun and football,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. “It’s no wonder that wherever I travel across the country, our fans are talking about Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic.”

“While football fans are excited for Sunday’s game, there is so much more happening in Moncton that week,” says Host Committee Co-Chair Brent Scrimshaw.  “We have worked hard to create a festival that will make Moncton the place to be regardless whether you have a ticket to the sold out game or not.  It is a front-to-back celebration of Canadian football.”

The week of celebration will officially kick off on Thursday, September 23rd and runs through until the big kick off at 1p.m. on Sunday. The following events are sure to bring football frenzy to Moncton this fall!

CFL Atlantic Alumni Association Golf Classic: In support of the Moncton Football Association Charities, the Royal Oaks Golf Club will host an opportunity for golfers in the region to play with former CFL greats. Registration is at 11 a.m. on Thursday, with shotgun start at noon. This event is open to the public with individual golf registration at $175 or $700 for foursomes. Contact: Jan Carinci 852-3218 or 961-2783

The Future Stars Festival: A showcase of amateur football in the region with High School and University games to be played at Rocky Stone Field.

On Thursday, the Odyssée Olympiens and the Mathieu Martin Matadors start their game at 7p.m. Friday features a High School double header at 4 p.m. the Moncton High Purple Knights and the Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders own the field, followed by a second game at 7:15 p.m. when the Harrison Trimble Trojans and the Riverview Royals go head to head. Wrapping up the action of the Future Stars Festival is the AUS Football Match-Up, Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Mount Allison Mounties will host the Saint Mary’s Huskies. 

Tickets for High School games are $5 for adults and $3 for students and University football match-up tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.

The Scotiabank PigSkin Soirée: Since 2006, Scotiabank has sponsored the Grey Cup Galas, an evening of food and entertainment unique to the host city. This year, Scotiabank is proud to be a part of Moncton’s gala event, featuring Lucien and key CFL personalities, and great local cuisine!  Tickets for the Scotiabank Pigskin Soirée are $2,500 for a table of 10 and are expected to sell out quickly. Please contact the host committee office by calling 506-389-5925 for tickets and more information.

The Street Festival and Mainstage Showcase sponsored by Lotto Max and Molson Canadian: A free event for all that runs Thursday through Saturday on Moncton’s Main Street with many interactive booths and demonstrations designed for the entire family. Free musical entertainment will run each evening from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. on the Lotto Max Mainstage.

Among the featured artists to take the stage will be Universal Recording Artists the Trews and Joel Plaskett and the Emergency.

With four albums in seven years, two of them gold; 10 Top-10 singles, two of them No.1 and one gold; multiple awards, for best single, video and live group; and close to 800 live shows under its belt, including support slots for the Rolling Stones, Robert Plant, Guns N’ Roses, Nickelback and KISS, the Trews - comprised of lead vocalist Colin MacDonald; his brother, guitarist John- Angus MacDonald; cousin, drummer Sean Dalton, and long-time friend, bassist Jack Syperek - keep pushing themselves in the studio and onstage, always ready to give an intuitive and intense rock 'n' roll show of songs that have killer hook.

Since 2006, Joel Plaskett has toured extensively both solo and with The Emergency, to sold-out clubs and theatres throughout Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, on the heels of great Canadian success with his Make A Little Noise DVD & EP (2006) and Ashtray Rock concept album (2007).  Make A Little Noise spawned an infectiously catchy hit single, “Nowhere With You,” that landed Plaskett on the Top 10 at hot Adult Contemporary (AC) radio. He also garnered three 2007 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs) “of the year” wins.  Ashtray Rock was nominated for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and earned Plaskett and his band all six of the 2008 “of the year” ECMAs for which he, and they, were nominated. He’s also earned several Juno nominations (including Songwriter of the Year along side Neil Young), and was the First Place Winner in the 2008 Great American Song Contest and the Billboard World Song Contest, for “Fashionable People” (in the Pop Category).

More great acts will be confirmed in the coming months.

The Economy Glass Tailgate Party:  What’s a football game without a tailgate party?  Festivities get underway Sunday morning at 10 a.m., with the first ever with the first ever Tailgate Party sponsored by Economy Glass and City Thermo Pane. Adjacent to the Stadium, this party will feature food and entertainment in traditional tailgate style. Tickets for the Economy Glass Tailgate Party are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 14 and all proceeds from the tailgate party will be in support of our two hospitals.

“As you can see there is something for everyone during the Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic Festival,” adds Scrimshaw.” 

“Scotiabank is proud to again partner with the CFL to engage communities on the East Coast in the Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic, and share in the same passion that unites in football fans from communities across Canada,” said David Noel, Scotiabank District Vice-President, East New Brunswick/PEI District. “Our roots are firmly in Atlantic Canada, making this event a natural connection to our staff, customers and Atlantic Canadians.”

For schedules and up to the minute details you can log on to www.touchdownatlantic.ca.  Tickets for the Future Stars Festival and the Economy Glass Tailgate Party will be available this summer through the Moncton Coliseum Box office.