Quebec City has emerged as the leading contender for a tenth Canadian Football League franchise following substantive discussions between league leadership and a local ownership group, Commissioner Stewart Johnston announced on Friday.
League leadership has engaged in productive conversations with a prospective ownership group in the Quebec capital. Johnston revealed the development during his state of the league address in Calgary, noting that the market sits at the front of the queue for a new team.
“We have been engaged with very productive conversations with a local ownership group in Quebec City,” Johnston told reporters, according to CityNews Montreal. “We are encouraged by those, and we can say that Quebec City has emerged as the leading contender for the 10th franchise in the CFL.”
While the commissioner declined to identify the prospective owners, local real estate developer William Trudel has previously expressed public interest in bringing a club to the region. Johnston also declined to specify a timeline for when a franchise might begin play.
| Market | Status | Key Infrastructure Need |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City | Leading Contender | New Stadium Required |
| Halifax | On Radar | Permanent Venue Needed |
Adding a team in Quebec would require significant capital investment in stadium infrastructure. TSN reported that existing facilities, including those at Laval University, would serve only as temporary venues while a dedicated professional stadium is constructed.
League officials highlighted the commercial and competitive upside of establishing a natural geographic rival for the Montreal Alouettes.
“When we think of the regional rivalry that a team there could develop with the Alouettes, that would be spectacular,” Johnston said, as reported. “We know that Quebec City can handle big events. It’s an outstanding market; it’s an outstanding football market.”
Although Quebec City holds the current advantage, league executives continue discussions with alternative Canadian markets.
The CFL has long sought a 10th franchise, but Johnston said the league is also talking to other markets in Canada. He declined to comment when asked directly about Halifax, which previously emerged as a potential expansion city.
“We’ve seen with Touchdown Atlantic the success we can have there,” Johnston said.
“So certainly our interest in that region has not waned simply because we’re discussing other markets,” Johnston added.
“There is still a lot of work to do and when’s there’s something more to report, we’ll hand it over to you,” Johnston said.
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