Quebec City leads CFL expansion race, but other Canadian cities are in play
The CFL appears to be getting closer to finding its 10th franchise, with one Canadian city emerging as the clear frontrunner.
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston confirmed Friday that Quebec City has become the leading candidate for expansion, following what he described as productive discussions with a prospective local ownership group.
Speaking during his annual state of the league address ahead of Sunday’s Grey Cup, Johnston said the league is encouraged by the conversations but cautioned that there is still considerable work to be done before anything becomes official.
“We have been engaged with very productive conversations with a local ownership group in Quebec City,” Johnston told reporters. “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.”
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The commissioner did not identify the potential ownership group, although Quebec real estate developer William Trudel has previously expressed interest in bringing professional football back to Quebec City.
A potential franchise would give the Montreal Alouettes a natural provincial rival while bringing the CFL back to a 10-team format.
However, Quebec City isn’t the only market being considered.
Johnston confirmed the league continues to have conversations with other Canadian markets as it explores expansion possibilities. He declined to provide an update on Halifax, which has previously been identified as a potential destination for another CFL franchise.
That leaves the door open for other cities to remain in the conversation, even as Quebec City appears to have gained considerable momentum.
The CFL last expanded in 2014, when the Ottawa Redblacks joined the league as its ninth franchise.
Since then, the possibility of adding another team has remained a recurring discussion, with the league continuing to explore ways to grow its footprint across Canada.
For now, Quebec City appears to be in the driver’s seat. But Johnston’s comments suggest the CFL isn’t quite ready to put all its expansion eggs in one basket.