Laval to host 2015 Vanier Cup in Quebec City

QUEBEC CITY  – Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced on Monday that Laval University has been selected to host the 51^st Vanier Cup in 2015.

The CIS football championship game will be played in Quebec City for the fourth time in seven years. The event was a resounding success at TELUS-Université Laval Stadium in 2009, 2010 and 2013, each time attracting enthusiastic crowds far exceeding the seating capacity of 12,750.

The 2015 national final is slated for Saturday, November 28. Kickoff time will be announced at a later date.

“We are thrilled to return to Quebec City for the 2015 Vanier Cup,” said Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of CIS. “We are coming off a string of very successful Vanier Cups, including the 50^th edition in Montreal, and we strongly feel that staging the game in Quebec City next fall will help us build on that success. We have no doubt Laval will put on another spectacular event and will offer a memorable experience to our student-athletes and fans.”

A near-sellout crowd of 22,649 was on hand at Montreal’s Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on Nov. 29 to see the hometown Montreal Carabins capture the first Vanier Cup in school history thanks to a dramatic 20-19 triumph over the McMaster Marauders.

In addition to the three standing-room only crowds at TELUS-UL Stadium in 2009, 2010 and 2013, the CIS final has recently attracted a game record 37,098 spectators at Rogers Centre in Toronto in 2012, as well as 24,935 fans at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver in 2011 in its first-ever venture in British Columbia.

“It’s an honour to host the 51^st Vanier Cup at Laval University. We’ve proven in the past our capacity to organize this kind of event, not only thanks to our state of the art infrastructures, but also our sports services personnel,” said Laval director of athletics and recreation, Christian Gagnon. “An outstanding experience for the student-athletes, coaches, fans, television audience and partners is guaranteed.”

The Laval football program has enjoyed unparalleled success since its CIS debut in 1996, both on the field and at the gate.

The Rouge et Or have claimed a record eight Vanier Cup titles, two more than Western, one of the oldest programs in Canadian university football. From a fan experience perspective, Laval has led the country in attendance almost since day one, including a remarkable average of 13,817 in six home games in 2014.

“People in Quebec City have proven they are university football fans, and not just Rouge et Or fans,” said Gilles Lépine, assistant athletic director and coordinator of the Rouge et Or program. A packed stadium in 2009, when the Rouge et Or weren’t in the game, is the perfect example.”

Only Varsity Stadium (21) and Rogers Centre (17), both in Toronto, have had the honour of hosting the Vanier Cup more often that TELUS-UL Stadium. The game has been played at CNE Stadium in Toronto and Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton three times apiece.

NOTES: The 2015 CIS football semifinals, both set for Nov. 21, will see the RSEQ champions visit the OUA champs in the Mitchell Bowl, and the Canada West titlists travel to the Maritimes to take on the AUS champs in the Uteck Bowl.

ALL-TIME VANIER CUP VENUES:

Varsity Stadium, Toronto (21): 1965-1972, 1976-1988

Rogers Centre, Toronto (17): 1989-2003, 2007, 2012

TELUS-Université Laval Stadium, Quebec City (4): 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015

CNE Stadium, Toronto (3): 1973, 1974, 1975

Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (3): 2004, 2005, 2008

Griffiths Stadium at PotashCorp Park, Saskatoon (1): 2006

BC Place Stadium, Vancouver (1): 2011

Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal (1): 2014

 

VANIER CUPS AT TELUS-UL STADIUM (seating capacity: 12,750):

2013 (Nov. 23): Laval 25, Calgary 14 (18,543)

2010 (Nov. 27): Laval 29, Calgary 2 (16,237)

2009 (Nov. 28): Queen’s 33, Calgary 31 (18,628)

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on: