Grey and Vanier Cups to meet in 2011

Football
Together again: Grey and Vanier Cups to meet in 2011
Nov. 22, 2010

Courtesy Canadian Interuniversity Sport 

OTTAWA (CIS / CFL) – Canadian Interuniversity sport, the Canadian Football League, MRX and Associates and the 2011 Grey Cup Festival proudly announced Monday a joint partnership agreement that will see the CIS football final, the Vanier Cup, held jointly with the Grey Cup in 2011 in Vancouver.

The 47th Vanier Cup will be played at BC Place on Friday, November 25, followed by the 99th Grey Cup on Sunday, November 27. It will mark the first time in history the CIS title match is held in the province of British Columbia. 

Additional details as well as specifics of the larger partnership will be released by CIS, CFL, MRX and Grey Cup 2011 in the coming weeks including ticket packages, schedule of events and fan festivals.

The national finals were organized jointly with great success in 2007 in Toronto when 26,787 fans turned up at Rogers Centre to watch the University of Manitoba Bisons and Saint Mary’s University Huskies battle for CIS supremacy. It was the largest Vanier Cup crowd since 1995 and the seventh largest in history. 

Prior to 2007, the two events had been held in the same city on the same weekend on only one occasion, back in 1973, also in Toronto.

“This is an important partnership for CIS and we look forward to being a part of what promises to be a tremendous celebration of Canadian football in Vancouver in 2011,” said CIS President, Clint Hamilton.

“Our league is delighted to have the CIS join us on the grandest stage in Canadian sport,” said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the CFL. “It’s great for our game, fun for our fans and trains an even brighter spotlight on great Canadian athletes, at the university as well as professional level.”

“We’re extremely pleased to have the Vanier Cup in British Columbia for the first time and having it as part of our “Raise the Roof” Grey Cup festival,” said David Braley, owner of the 99th Grey Cup host BC Lions. “This provides a great opportunity to highlight the importance of the development of amateur football in the natural setting of the 99th Grey Cup weekend. It will be true celebration of football Canadian style.”

The 2010 Vanier Cup between Calgary and Laval is set for Saturday at PEPS Stadium in Quebec City. The 98th Grey Cup between Montreal and Regina follows on Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.