CFL's Touchdown Atlantic

IT'S A "TOUCHDOWN ATLANTIC" AS THE EDMONTON ESKIMOS WILL FACE THE TORONTO ARGONAUTS ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 IN MONCTON

First regular season Canadian Football League game ever in the region will be a true celebration of the game and its fans in the region: Commissioner Cohon

MONCTON, Feb. 1 /CNW/ - The Edmonton Eskimos will face the Toronto Argonauts here on September 26 in the first regular season Canadian Football League (CFL) game ever in Atlantic Canada , an exciting event fans have officially dubbed Touchdown Atlantic, Commissioner Mark Cohon announced today.

"We're going to celebrate our game and our fans here in Atlantic Canada by bringing them together," Cohon said.

"This is a real game featuring two of our flagship teams in front of what we hope will be one of the largest crowds ever to watch a football game in Canada east of Montreal ."

In conjunction with today's release of the full Canadian Football League 2010 schedule, Cohon revealed:

    
    -  The game will officially be known as Touchdown Atlantic after fans
       chose that name in a vote organized by the Moncton Times-Transcript,
       which received more than 3,000 ballots from readers.

    -  The date for the game is September 26, late enough in the Fall to make
       it possible for students from across the region to travel to the game.

    -  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Moncton time, to encourage families and fans
       of all ages to attend.

    -  The Eskimos, led by star quarterback Ricky Ray, will provide the
       opposition for the Toronto Argonauts, previously announced as the
       "home squad" for the contest.
    

Laying claim to being North America's oldest professional sports franchise, the Argonauts, founded in 1873, have won 15 Grey Cup championships and claim 52 Canadian Football Hall of Famers.

The Eskimos have been the most dominant team of the CFL's modern era, capturing 13 Grey Cups since their inception in 1949, producing 36 Hall of Famers, and holding the North American pro sports record for consecutive playoff appearances - 34 straight years, from 1972 to 2005.

Organizers are working on a plan for ticket sales and prices that ensures the game is affordable for almost everyone, Cohon said.

"Those details will be announced in March but our goal is to do this the CFL way, by being truly accessible to our fans," he said.

Fans can register at CFL.ca/Moncton to receive all the latest information, including ticket prices and when they go-on sale, access to a ticket pre-sale and festival event information.

The game will be preceded by a weekend festival of Atlantic Canadian entertainment and football, including fun parties, great food, top bands and high school and university football.

"The people of Moncton are thrilled to be hosting the Argos and Eskimos, and we're encouraging our friends from across Atlantic Canada to join us in a celebration of our great region and the great game of Canadian football," said Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc .

"It's going to be an event, and a weekend, to remember."

Rick LeLacheur, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Edmonton Eskimos, said it's an honour to represent the CFL along with the Toronto Argonauts.

"We're very proud of our league, and very grateful to fans in Moncton and across Atlantic Canada for hosting us. We hope many of them will allow us the privilege of returning the favour by joining us in November for Grey Cup," said LeLacheur, who also co-chairs Edmonton's 2010 Grey Cup Festival Committee.

"The Argonauts organization and players are thrilled to be selected as the home team for our fans in Atlantic Canada ," said Toronto Argonauts President and CEO Bob Nicholson .

"We plan to do more than just play football in Moncton. We're looking forward to being a real presence in the community. We want to make a positive difference, paint the town Double Blue and win lots of new friends, as well as win the game."

ABOUT THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Canadian Football League is our league. It's built on a tradition as proud, staged on a field as broad, and played at a pace as exciting as the country we are proud to call home. Our championship game, the Grey Cup, is the biggest single annual sporting event in Canada . And the 98th edition will be played on November 28, 2010 in Edmonton , Alberta.

For further information: Jamie Dykstra, Manager, Communications, Canadian Football League, [phone], [email protected]