CFL takes major step forward in expanding to 10 teams

The CFL could be getting a 10th team, with Quebec City emerging as the league’s leading expansion candidate.

According to a report from TVA’s Stéphane Turcot, the CFL’s nine governors voted unanimously on Sept. 9 to move forward with the possibility of adding a franchise in Quebec City.

The vote does not mean the expansion team has officially been awarded, but it represents a significant step forward for a market that has been discussed as a potential CFL destination for several years.

“We have had good discussions with a local, serious, and determined group that is working to bring CFL football to the region,” CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston told TVA.

The CFL later confirmed to Sportsnet that Quebec City is a “leading contender” for expansion, while noting that discussions remain ongoing.

Should the project move forward, the league could reportedly welcome its 10th franchise as early as 2030 or 2031.

A major piece of the puzzle will be finding a suitable stadium. Current plans reportedly call for a new 25,000-seat open-air stadium to be built on the site of the former Colisée de Québec, with construction estimated to cost approximately $350 million.

Quebec City has long been viewed as an intriguing CFL market thanks in large part to the popularity of the Université Laval Rouge et Or football program. The city has also previously been mentioned by CFL officials as a potential destination as the league looks to expand beyond its current nine-team setup.

The CFL has not added a new franchise since the Ottawa Redblacks began play in 2014.

For now, there is still plenty of work to be done before Quebec City officially becomes the CFL’s 10th franchise. But after years of expansion talk, Wednesday’s news represents perhaps the clearest indication yet that the league could finally be moving toward adding another team.

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