AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 22, 2026
Quebec City Leads CFL Expansion Race
The Canadian Football League (CFL) has had nine teams since the Ottawa Redblacks joined in 2014. Discussions on league expansion have intensified under commissioner Stewart Johnston, who, since taking office in spring 2025, has signaled optimism about reaching 10 teams by 2030. A significant development came in September 2026, when reports placed Quebec City as the leading candidate for the league’s next franchise.
Conditional Approval for Quebec City Franchise
On September 9, 2026, Quebec media sources reported that the CFL’s board of governors voted unanimously in favor of Quebec City’s expansion bid. While the league stopped short of confirming or denying the vote, Johnston acknowledged productive talks with a committed group and identified Quebec City as a serious contender. However, the approval remains conditional, hinging chiefly on stadium financing.
- Prospective Owner: William Trudel, an ex-police officer and current real estate developer
- Expansion Fee: C$25 million (reported, not yet paid)
- Proposed Stadium: 25,000-seat open-air venue at the Colisée de Québec site
- Stadium Cost: Estimated at C$350 million
- Temporary Venue: Stade Telus at Université Laval campus
- Target Start: 2030 or 2031 season
The franchise’s future depends on securing public funding for stadium construction, a process complicated by Quebec’s upcoming provincial election on October 5, 2026. Final agreements from both city and provincial governments are pending, and none were anticipated before the election.
Institutional and Political Backing for the Project
The Quebec City bid garners strong support from local football institutions, notably the Université Laval Rouge et Or. In March 2026, team president Jacques Tanguay pledged to back a CFL franchise if a new stadium is built, clearing the way for partnership rather than competition at the local level. The Montreal Alouettes’ owner, Pierre Karl Péladeau—also head of Québecor, which operates nearby Centre Vidéotron—supports the project as well.
Political figures have largely expressed approval. Four of five provincial party leaders and Prime Minister Mark Carney have spoken in favor of the stadium proposal. The designated stadium site is the soon-to-be-demolished Colisée de Québec, providing land adjacent to an existing major venue.
Commercial Prospects and Media Landscape
The CFL renewed its media deals in 2026, expanding exposure. Bell Media extended its role, DAZN joined as a broadcast partner, and YouTube will stream preseason games starting in 2027. For French-language audiences, RDS stays on as the exclusive broadcaster for all Montreal Alouettes games, playoffs, and the Grey Cup.
Quebec’s betting landscape is unique; private online betting is unavailable, with Loto-Québec operating the only legal platforms. Thus, a Quebec City CFL team would derive much of its commercial value from ticket sales, local sponsorships, and French-language broadcast reach rather than betting revenues, which remain significant only in regulated markets like Ontario and Alberta.
CFL Attendance and Stadium Uncertainties
Attendance remains an open question. Historic data from past CFL games in Quebec City highlight uncertainty: a 2003 preseason game drew 10,358 fans, while a similar 2015 event attracted 4,778. Both occurred at Stade Telus as neutral-site contests. The league’s final approval of a Quebec City team awaits confirmation of stadium funding, completion of demolition and construction work, and possibly a temporary arrangement with Université Laval if an early launch occurs. The stadium will be built to new CFL field dimensions, reducing length from 150 to 130 yards in 2027.
Competing CFL Expansion Candidates
Quebec City’s conditional approval puts it ahead of other possible sites. Halifax’s decades-long pursuit of a CFL franchise has stalled, despite previous government funding commitments and new stadium proposals. The league has also hosted games in non-franchise cities such as Moncton, Halifax, Wolfville, Langford, and Kelowna, but no other city presently has an ownership group or approved bid.
The prospect of U.S.-based expansion is off the table for the near future, with commissioner Johnston emphasizing a Canadian 10th team as the priority. Quebec City’s bid, anchored by an owner, a venue plan, and conditional backing, now serves as the blueprint. Final success hinges on resolving the critical issue of stadium funding and construction.
Source: cultmtl.com.
