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Touchdown Atlantic
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Touchdown Atlantic (French: Touché Atlantique) is a series of neutral site Canadian Football League games played in the Maritime provinces of Canada.

In 2003, the league had struck a committee to examine the feasibility of adding a tenth team, with the leading candidate cities being Quebec City and Halifax.[1] Before the suspension of the Renegades, league commissioner Tom Wright had indicated that Halifax was the leading candidate for expansion.[2] With the success of Touchdown Atlantic 2010, Moncton was also considered for CFL expansion.[3] No Touchdown Atlantic was played from 2014 to 2018, but it returned in 2019 due to the renewed interest in an Atlantic expansion team.

Exhibition games

[edit]

Prior to the official Touchdown Atlantic series, Saint John, New Brunswick, hosted a pair of exhibition games. In 1986, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Montreal Alouettes 35–10 at Canada Games Stadium before a sellout crowd of 11,463 fans.[4][5] The following year, the Alouettes returned to the Port City and lost 14–13 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; the Alouettes would fold a week later.[4][6] An exhibition game between the Ottawa Renegades and Montreal was held in Quebec City in 2003 at PEPS Stadium, with the Alouettes winning 54–23 in front of 10,358.[7][8]

The first game of the Touchdown Atlantic series was an exhibition pre-season match played in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at Huskies Stadium in June 2005. The game, between the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, ended in a 16–16 tie.[9] The game was to gauge Halifax's support for a potential CFL expansion team, which would likely be named the Schooners. Temporary seating was added to boost the capacity, and a sellout crowd of 11,148 attended. It was also used by the league to test its instant replay challenge system[10] which was implemented in the 2006 CFL season.[11]

A second game was to be played on June 3, 2006, at Halifax's Huskies Stadium, with temporary seating for a capacity of 11,000 fans.[12] This game was canceled after the suspension of the Ottawa Renegades, who were scheduled to play the Montreal Alouettes.[13][14]

Regular season games

[edit]

In October 2009, it was officially announced that the Edmonton Eskimos would face the Toronto Argonauts in Moncton, New Brunswick, on September 26, 2010, in the first regular season game in Atlantic Canada. That game was referred to as Touchdown Atlantic.[15] The game was played at the new Moncton Stadium on the campus of Université de Moncton in front of a reported sellout crowd of 20,725. Tickets went on sale to the general public on March 25, 2010, with a one-day pre-sale being conducted the day before. After 32 hours of being up for sale, the 2010 Touchdown Atlantic was announced as a sellout on March 25, 2010.[16] The Eskimos won the game 24–6 thanks to their 247 interception return yards on six interceptions, the second most interception return yards in CFL history.[17]

A 2011 Touchdown Atlantic game, somewhat erroneously known as Touchdown Atlantic II, took place during the 2011 CFL season, again in Moncton.[18] The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were the designated home team and faced the Calgary Stampeders on September 25 at Moncton Stadium.[19] Hamilton won the game, 55–36.

No Touchdown Atlantic was held in 2012. The 2013 edition of Touchdown Atlantic featured the Tiger-Cats hosting the Montreal Alouettes in Moncton on September 21. The game was held in Moncton due to their stadium in Hamilton being replaced; although Moncton attempted to have the Tiger-Cats play the whole season in Moncton, the team opted to only play one game there and have the rest of the season closer to Hamilton (specifically Guelph). Hamilton won the game 28–26.

No Touchdown Atlantic was held from 2014 to 2018 as the league lost momentum for the event. However, there was renewed interest in football in the Maritimes when a group of businessmen began discussions with the league for a franchise based in Halifax.[20][21] While a stadium would still need to be built in Halifax, the discussions were legitimate enough for the league to encourage a season ticket campaign and led to the naming of the team as the Atlantic Schooners (the same as the proposed team from 1982).[22] To promote interest in the event, a Touchdown Atlantic game was announced for 2019 with the event being hosted by this same group, Schooners Sports and Entertainment (SSE).[23] The Argonauts were designated the home team and the Alouettes the visiting team. TSN's Dave Naylor reported that SSE was considering Halifax, Moncton, and Antigonish, Nova Scotia, as potential game sites, with Moncton being the eventual selection.[24][25] Unlike the 2010–2013 versions, Moncton Stadium was not expanded to host the game, and a sellout crowd of only 10,126 watched as the Alouettes defeated the Argonauts (hosting the game in Moncton to avoid a short-notice conversion after Toronto FC hosted a home game the night before) on August 25, 2019.

On January 23, 2020, it was announced that the Saskatchewan Roughriders would play the Argonauts in a Touchdown Atlantic game that would be the first regular season game to be played in Halifax.[26] The game was scheduled to be played at Huskies Stadium on the campus of Saint Mary's University, where temporary seating would have brought the seating capacity up to 10,000. However, the game was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27]

While no game was scheduled in 2021 due to the pandemic, it was confirmed on March 24, 2022, that the Argonauts would host the Roughriders in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, at Raymond Field for the first Touchdown Atlantic game to be played in Wolfville.[28] The series continued the following season with the Toronto Argonauts hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Huskies Stadium (Saint Mary's University) in Halifax on Saturday, July 29, 2023. This was the first regular season game held in Halifax after the city hosted a pre-season match in 2005. In June 2023, the league announced the game had sold-out.[29]

Other "Touchdown"-branded games

[edit]

CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in December 2022 that the league was considering hosting other "Touchdown"-branded games in neutral markets outside of Atlantic Canada from 2024.[30] Langford, British Columbia (part of Greater Victoria) was discussed as a potential location for a Touchdown Pacific game at Starlight Stadium beginning in 2024,[31][32] but on November 29, 2023, it was confirmed that the BC Lions and Ottawa Redblacks would play at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria on August 31, 2024, part of the Labour Day weekend slate of games. Temporary seating was added to expand the capacity to 14,000.[33] The Lions won 38–12, and the attendance was 14,727.[34]

Potential for an Atlantic expansion team

[edit]
See also: Atlantic Schooners § Attempted revival, and Schooners Sports and Entertainment

The initial success of the Touchdown Atlantic games placed Moncton in the position of frontrunner for a Canadian Football League franchise in Atlantic Canada, according to commissioner Mark Cohon.[3] Moncton is also well positioned because of its centralized location in the region; a team based in Moncton would represent all three maritime provinces due to the region's small population. Moncton officials negotiated to temporarily host the Tiger-Cats for the 2013 season while Ivor Wynne Stadium was demolished and Tim Hortons Field was under construction. However, citing a desire to be closer to home, the Tiger-Cats announced they would play eight of their nine home games at nearby Guelph, with the ninth being the Touchdown Atlantic contest.[35][36]

By 2015, the potential for an expansion to the Maritimes had once again faded, in part due to Cohon's resignation and the failure to sell out the 2013 contest.[37] Focus by this point had shifted to the Northern Kickoff contest at Shell Place in Fort McMurray, Alberta; it was here, rather than in Moncton, that the league chose to host regular season games that had been displaced because of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup or 2015 Pan American Games. Negotiations to bring a CFL team to the Maritimes resumed under the commission of Randy Ambrosie in 2017, with Halifax and Moncton considered as potential homes for the team.[25]

List of games

[edit]
Game Date Visitor Score Home City Stadium Attendance Ref
Preseason June 11, 2005 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 16–16 Toronto Argonauts Halifax, NS Huskies Stadium 11,148 [38][39][40]
Preseason June 3, 2006 Montreal Alouettes Cancelled Ottawa Renegades Halifax, NS Huskies Stadium — [41][42][43]
Regular season September 26, 2010 Edmonton Eskimos 24–6 Toronto Argonauts Moncton, NB Moncton Stadium 20,725 [44][45]
Regular season September 25, 2011 Calgary Stampeders 36–55 Hamilton Tiger-Cats Moncton, NB Moncton Stadium 20,153 [46][47]
Regular season September 21, 2013 Montreal Alouettes 26–28 Hamilton Tiger-Cats Moncton, NB Moncton Stadium 15,123 [48][49][50]
Regular season August 25, 2019 Montreal Alouettes 28–22 Toronto Argonauts Moncton, NB Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium 10,126 [23][25]
Regular season July 25, 2020 Saskatchewan Roughriders Cancelled Toronto Argonauts Halifax, NS Huskies Stadium — [26][27]
Regular season July 16, 2022 Saskatchewan Roughriders 24–30 Toronto Argonauts Wolfville, NS Raymond Field 10,886 [28][51]
Regular season July 29, 2023 Saskatchewan Roughriders 13–31 Toronto Argonauts Halifax, NS Huskies Stadium 11,555 [52]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Touchdown Atlantic

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Touchdown Atlantic (French: Touché Atlantique) is a series of neutral-site regular season games in the Canadian Football League (CFL) held in Canada's Maritime provinces, designed to promote professional football in the region, stimulate local economies, and gauge fan interest for potential franchise expansion. The inaugural event occurred in 2005 as a preseason matchup at in , featuring the and , which ended in a 16–16 tie. The series expanded to regular season play starting in 2010, with games hosted in , (2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019) and later in (2022 and 2023), drawing sellout crowds and generating significant economic impacts, such as over $10 million from the 2023 edition alone. Notable contests include the 2011 ' 55–36 victory over the in Moncton, the 2019 Montreal Alouettes' 28–22 win against , and back-to-back triumphs in 2022 (30–24 over in ) and 2023 (31–13 over in Halifax). No Atlantic games were scheduled for 2024 or 2025, with the CFL instead launching the Pacific series on the West Coast in 2024, though the league anticipates a return of the Atlantic event within the next few years.

Origins and Purpose

Inception in 2010

In October 2009, (CFL) Commissioner announced plans for a regular-season game in , , as part of an initiative to introduce professional Canadian football to and assess regional interest for potential league expansion. The were selected as the home team, with the opponent to be determined later, and the event was positioned as a celebration of the sport in , including complementary activities like university and high school games, a parade, and fan festivals to build community engagement. This planning built on prior exhibition games in the region, such as a 2005 pre-season matchup in Halifax, but marked the first regular-season contest east of . On February 1, 2010, Cohon revealed full details, naming the Eskimos as the visiting team for the inaugural Touchdown Atlantic game, scheduled for September 26 at the newly constructed Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium on the campus. The event, sponsored by , aimed to deliver an affordable family-friendly experience, with kickoff set at 1:00 p.m. local time and tickets priced starting at $25 to encourage broad attendance. Organizers emphasized the strategic value of hosting in to foster grassroots support and evaluate market viability for future growth, aligning with Cohon's vision for league expansion. The game overcame logistical hurdles inherent to the stadium's primary design as a track-and-field and soccer venue for the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics. Crews installed approximately 11,000 temporary seats to expand capacity to over 20,000 and adapted the natural grass pitch by adding extensions in the end zones to meet CFL field specifications, ensuring a professional setup without permanent alterations. These modifications, completed in advance of the event, highlighted the collaborative effort between the CFL, local authorities, and the university to host the game seamlessly. The September 26 matchup drew a sellout crowd of 20,725, exceeding expectations and generating enthusiastic fan participation, with tickets selling out within days of going on sale in March. The Edmonton Eskimos defeated the 24–6 in a contest broadcast nationally on TSN, but the result was secondary to the overwhelming positive response, which Cohon later described as a "tremendous success" and a key highlight of his tenure, validating the region's appetite for CFL football.

Objectives for Regional Expansion

The Touchdown Atlantic series was established with the primary objective of expanding the Canadian Football League's (CFL) footprint into , a region that has never hosted a permanent CFL franchise. By hosting games in underserved markets, the initiative aimed to gauge interest in professional , foster long-term fan engagement, and explore the viability of future expansion. Specific goals included cultivating a dedicated fanbase among local residents, particularly through youth-oriented programs such as football clinics and community events that introduced younger audiences to the sport. Additionally, the series sought to increase media exposure for the CFL in , leveraging the events to highlight the league's excitement and cultural relevance beyond its traditional western and central Canadian strongholds. Central to these objectives were strategic partnerships with local governments and businesses in , where the inaugural regular-season game was held in . Collaborations with entities like the Moncton Football Association, the provincial premier's office, and the city mayor's administration facilitated logistical support and community integration, positioning the event as a catalyst for regional and . These alliances emphasized affordable ticketing and festival-style programming to draw visitors, resulting in an estimated $6.7 million economic impact for the area in through visitor spending on accommodations, dining, and entertainment. Such partnerships not only boosted short-term but also aimed to establish the CFL as a recurring economic driver in the province. Success metrics from the early events underscored the initiative's effectiveness in building enthusiasm. The 2010 game, serving as an initial , saw over 20,000 tickets sell out within 32 hours of going on sale, reflecting strong regional interest and positive fan response. Post-event feedback highlighted the event's high quality, with widespread acclaim for its accessibility and community involvement, though specific quantitative surveys from that year are limited; later iterations, such as in 2023, reported 85.2% of attendees expressing support for a Halifax-based franchise, indicating sustained viability testing. By 2013, the objectives had evolved from one-off market testing to establishing Touchdown Atlantic as a recurring , with games held annually in , , and 2013 to solidify fan loyalty and infrastructure familiarity in . This progression demonstrated growing confidence in the region's potential, transitioning the series into a platform for ongoing CFL promotion rather than isolated trials, despite subsequent pauses due to scheduling and expansion priorities.

Game Formats and Series

Exhibition Games

The Atlantic series began with non-competitive designed to gauge interest in () expansion to , serving as promotional events rather than affecting league standings. These pre-season contests emphasized fan engagement and community involvement over competitive outcomes, allowing teams to test logistics at neutral venues without disrupting regular-season schedules. Due to scheduling constraints associated with playing on neutral sites, such as limited availability of suitable stadiums and travel demands, the format was confined to pre-season play, providing a low-stakes opportunity to build regional enthusiasm. The inaugural and sole completed exhibition game under the Touchdown Atlantic banner occurred on June 11, 2005, at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, Nova Scotia, featuring the Toronto Argonauts against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which ended in a 16–16 tie before an attendance of over 11,000 fans. The event highlighted entertainment and community elements, including a Friday-night kickoff party, a pre-game festival, open team practices with autograph sessions, and a schools program to introduce youth to the sport, all aimed at fostering long-term interest in professional football in the Maritimes. Hamilton head coach Greg Marshall expressed optimism about the potential for expansion, noting the evident community interest and the need for improved facilities to support a franchise in Halifax. A follow-up exhibition was planned for June 3, 2006, pitting the Montreal Alouettes against the at the same venue, but it was cancelled due to the Renegades' suspension from . This limited scope underscored the challenges of neutral-site exhibitions, paving the way for a shift to regular-season games beginning in 2010 to better assess sustained fan support.

Regular Season Games

The Touchdown Atlantic series transitioned to regular season games starting in 2010, featuring competitive matches that contribute to CFL standings and playoff berths while promoting in . These contests differ from earlier exhibition formats by carrying direct implications for team records and division races, often drawing dedicated crowds despite logistical challenges like travel and venue capacities. The inaugural regular season game took place on September 26, 2010, at Moncton Stadium in , with the hosting the Edmonton Eskimos. Edmonton won 24–6 in front of a sellout crowd of 20,725, marking the first CFL regular season game in and generating significant regional excitement. On September 25, 2011, the hosted the at Moncton Stadium in a thrilling, high-octane opener that ended with Hamilton's 55-36 victory, marked by explosive plays including multiple touchdown passes and long receptions. The game attracted 20,153 spectators, reflecting robust enthusiasm from the Maritime region and marking one of the series' strongest attendances to date. The 2013 installment, held September 21 at the same venue, pitted the against the Montreal Alouettes in a tense defensive battle that Hamilton won 28-26 on a late rally. kicker Brett Lauther's perfect 4-for-4 performance proved pivotal, while the crowd of 15,123 created an electric atmosphere despite the close scoreline. After a six-year hiatus, the series resumed with the August 25, 2019, matchup at Stadium between the Montreal Alouettes and , where Montreal prevailed 28-22 in a game totaling 981 offensive yards. The Alouettes' performance, led by quarterback Johnny Manziel's 249 passing yards and a touchdown, highlighted their comeback, drawing 10,126 fans and underscoring sustained interest amid expansion discussions. The disrupted the schedule, canceling planned events in 2020 and limiting the 2021 season without a neutral-site game in the region. The series rebounded in 2022 on July 16 at Acadia University's Raymond Field in , , as the outlasted the 30-24 before a sellout of 10,866. Linebacker Wynton McManis's 50-yard return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter turned the tide in a hard-fought divisional clash. In 2023, Touchdown Atlantic returned to Halifax's on July 29, where the undefeated dominated the 31-13 in front of 11,555 attendees. Toronto's balanced attack, including special teams scores, extended their perfect start to 6-0, while the event generated over $10 million in economic impact for the region. Following the 2023 edition, the CFL opted for a Touchdown Pacific game in 2024 instead of an Atlantic counterpart, focusing resources on western expansion efforts. League reports confirm no Touchdown Atlantic regular season game is scheduled for 2025, amid ongoing evaluations of franchise viability in .

Venues and Logistics

Hosting Locations

The primary hosting venue for Touchdown Atlantic games has been in , , which opened in 2010 specifically to accommodate major sporting events including CFL exhibitions. The stadium features 8,300 permanent seats and can expand to over 20,000 with temporary seating installations, allowing it to host large crowds for football games despite its base configuration for track and field. It served as the site for the inaugural Touchdown Atlantic in 2010 between the Edmonton Eskimos and , followed by regular-season matchups in 2011 ( vs. ) and 2013 ( vs. Montreal Alouettes), as well as a 2019 regular-season game between the and Montreal Alouettes. In 2022, Touchdown Atlantic shifted to Nova Scotia for the first time as a regular-season event, held at Raymond Field on the campus of Acadia University in Wolfville, where temporary expansions increased capacity to 10,886 for the Saskatchewan Roughriders-Toronto Argonauts matchup. The 2023 edition moved to Huskies Stadium at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, with capacity expanded to over 10,000 fans through additional seating and party zones for the Toronto Argonauts-Saskatchewan Roughriders rematch. These Nova Scotia venues were selected due to their existing artificial turf fields compliant with CFL standards, enabling quick adaptations for professional play without major renovations. Location choices for Touchdown Atlantic prioritize cities near Atlantic Canada's major population centers, such as (serving ) and the Halifax regional municipality (Nova Scotia's largest urban area), to maximize fan accessibility and regional engagement. Local sponsorships, including and event partnerships from provincial governments and businesses, have supported like turf maintenance and temporary , fostering community buy-in while testing market viability for broader CFL presence. The success of the 2022 and 2023 events in Nova Scotia, which drew sellout crowds and positive feedback, has prompted discussions of rotating or expanding hosting sites within the region, though no Touchdown Atlantic game occurred in 2024 or 2025, and future venues remain unconfirmed as of November 2025.

Attendance and Economic Impact

Touchdown Atlantic events have demonstrated consistent fan interest, though has fluctuated based on venue capacity and external factors. Early regular season games in , , drew strong crowds, with 20,725 fans attending the 2010 matchup between the and at Moncton Stadium. The 2011 game between the and attracted 20,153 spectators at the same venue. Subsequent games saw slightly lower turnout, including 15,123 for the 2013 contest between the Montreal Alouettes and . The 2019 edition, featuring the Montreal Alouettes versus at , had 10,126 in , filling the venue to over capacity. The series faced a significant dip due to the , with the 2020 game in Halifax cancelled and no event scheduled in 2021. Recovery came in with the return to , where 10,886 fans watched the defeat the at Raymond Field in . The following year, a sold-out crowd of 11,555 filled in Halifax for another Argonauts-Roughriders clash. Economically, Touchdown Atlantic has provided substantial benefits to host communities through visitor spending on accommodations, dining, and merchandise. A 2022 study by Sport Tourism Canada estimated the event generated $12.7 million in overall economic impact for , including $8 million in direct visitor expenditures from 7,879 out-of-town attendees. In 2023, the impact totaled $10 million, with $7.3 million in provincial economic activity and $6.8 million concentrated in Halifax, though higher local attendance reduced out-of-region spending compared to the prior year. Earlier events in similarly boosted local economies, though specific figures from tourism reports highlight multimillion-dollar infusions from similar spending patterns. Community engagement forms a key aspect of Touchdown Atlantic, with initiatives promoting football at the grassroots level and fostering local involvement. The CFL's Touchdowns for Communities program, supported by partners like OK Tire, has donated up to $50,000 annually to youth football development, including school programs and community events tied to the series. Volunteer opportunities during events have drawn hundreds of locals, enhancing regional pride and participation in CFL activities. In 2023, outreach efforts in focused on post-flood recovery, providing healing through fan gatherings and youth clinics. Challenges for the series include the impacts of the on scheduling and the vulnerabilities of outdoor venues to weather. The 2020 and 2021 pauses disrupted momentum, but the 2022 return marked a successful post-pandemic recovery with full . Events at stadiums like Moncton Stadium and remain exposed to Atlantic Canada's variable climate, including rain and wind, which can affect logistics and fan experience, though no major disruptions have been reported.

Other Touchdown-Branded Events

The Canadian Football League (CFL) has expanded its Touchdown-branded initiatives beyond the Atlantic series with Touchdown Pacific, a western counterpart designed to promote the sport in non-traditional markets on . Launched in 2024, Touchdown Pacific mirrors the neutral-site format of by hosting regular-season games outside a team's home stadium to build fan engagement and assess regional interest. Unlike the Atlantic series, which targets potential expansion in the Maritime provinces, Touchdown Pacific emphasizes strengthening support for the in British Columbia's island communities, such as Victoria. The inaugural Touchdown Pacific event took place on August 31, 2024, at Royal Athletic Park in , featuring the against the . The Lions secured a 38-12 victory, with throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. The game sold out in under an hour, drawing an announced attendance of 14,727 fans, the highest for a CFL game at the venue. Complementing the match, a three-day festival included open practices, live music, food vendors, and autograph sessions, enhancing community involvement. Both Atlantic and Pacific share the branding strategy to market neutral-site games as special events, fostering excitement and economic benefits in underserved areas while serving as a model for league growth. However, Pacific events have focused exclusively on locales to date, with smaller venue capacities compared to Atlantic games, resulting in attendances around 14,000-15,000 rather than the larger crowds typical of east coast outings. As of 2025, no further Pacific or other Touchdown-branded events were held, following the CFL's decision to pause neutral-site games in the series for the season.

Ties to CFL Expansion Efforts

The concept of an Atlantic Canada-based (CFL) franchise, originally proposed as the Atlantic Schooners in the and revisited in the without success, experienced a significant revival through the Touchdown Atlantic series, which demonstrated regional fan interest starting in 2010. In 2023, the ownership group (SSE), operating under Maritime Football Limited, submitted a formal expansion bid to the CFL, proposing the Atlantic Schooners as the 10th franchise with an initial home in . This bid built on earlier 2018 negotiations, emphasizing a dedicated at Shannon Park to anchor the team, though it ultimately faltered due to unresolved commitments, leading to SSE's dissolution later in 2023 and the processing of refunds for deposits in 2025. The CFL has since distanced itself from SSE operations, while the "Atlantic Schooners" name continues to be associated with potential expansion efforts. Former CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie prioritized the addition of a 10th team in Atlantic Canada from 2023 until his retirement in early 2025, frequently citing the success of Touchdown Atlantic games as key evidence of market viability, including high attendance and positive fan surveys indicating over 85% support for a local franchise. Ambrosie was succeeded by Stewart Johnston, who as of November 2025 has stated that while expansion is not the league's top priority, it remains focused on adding a 10th team within Canada. In March 2023, Ambrosie announced a renewed expansion push targeting the region, describing it as a "huge priority" while highlighting the series' role in building momentum. By January 2024, Ambrosie reiterated belief in expansion opportunities, though progress remained stalled, and in September 2025, Commissioner Johnston noted receipt of interest from Canadian and international investors in potential expansion franchise ownership, with discussions continuing without a firm timeline as of November 2025, underscoring the series' ongoing influence on league strategy. The CFL mandates that expansion venues meet a minimum capacity of seats to ensure financial sustainability, a threshold that has shaped Atlantic proposals. In , , local leaders have advocated for upgrades to , which currently holds about 10,000 permanent seats but can expand temporarily to over ; earlier bids referenced a potential $170 million facility development, with discussions tying it to a 2026 timeline amid broader regional infrastructure plans. Despite these efforts, challenges persist around financial viability, including securing stable ownership and stadium funding, with September 2025 reports noting interest from Canadian and international investors but no concrete timeline for resolution. The absence of a Touchdown Atlantic game in 2025 was partly attributed to a strategic shift toward resolving expansion hurdles rather than continuing promotional events. Strong series attendance, averaging over 10,000 fans per game, has provided supporting context for these discussions.

Complete Game Roster

Chronological List of Matches

The Touchdown Atlantic series has featured six regular-season games since its inception in 2010, with no contests held in 2012, 2014, or from 2016 to 2020 due to a combination of scheduling decisions, a league lockout in 2014, and the in 2020. There was also no game in 2021 or 2024 as the CFL prioritized other neutral-site initiatives, and the 2025 edition was canceled by league decision to reassess market viability in . The following table summarizes all played matches in chronological order.
YearDateTeams (Home/Visitor)ScoreVenueAttendanceKey Notes
2010September 26 vs. EskimosEdmonton 24–6 Stadium, , NB20,725Inaugural regular-season game in ; sold out in 32 hours.
2011September 25 vs. Hamilton 55–36 Stadium, , NB20,153High-scoring affair; second consecutive sellout in .
2013September 21 vs. Montreal AlouettesHamilton 28–26 Stadium, , NB15,123Comeback victory for Hamilton in the fourth quarter.
2019August 25 vs. Montreal AlouettesMontreal 28–22, , NB10,126Return after five-year hiatus; lowest attendance in series history due to smaller venue capacity.
2022July 16 vs. Toronto 30–24Raymond Field, Wolfville, 10,886First game in ; game-winning pick-six by Toronto's Wynton McManis.
2023July 29 vs. Toronto 31–13, Halifax, 11,555Rematch of 2022 game; Toronto's Javon Leake scored on a 71-yard punt return.

Notable Records and Statistics

The have demonstrated notable success in recent Touchdown Atlantic regular season games, securing victories in their last two appearances against the in 2022 (30–24) and 2023 (31–13), contributing to a team total of 89 points scored across four outings since 2010. The series has seen impressive crowd turnout, with the highest attendance recorded at 20,725 for the inaugural game in 2010 at Moncton Stadium, where the Eskimos defeated 24–6. Subsequent events in 2011 and 2013 drew 20,153 and 15,123 fans, respectively, underscoring strong regional interest in the neutral-site format. Among the highest-scoring contests, the 2011 matchup stands out, as the edged the 55–36 for a combined 91 points at Moncton Stadium, highlighted by Marcus Thigpen's 139 receiving yards and two touchdowns for Hamilton. Player performances have added to the series' highlights, including Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson's franchise-record 464 passing yards in the 2019 loss to Montreal (22–28), while Jr. threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns in the same game. Across the six regular season games to date, contests have averaged approximately 54 points per game, reflecting an offensive tilt possibly influenced by the neutral venue's reduced crowd bias. Completion percentages have hovered around 65% league-wide in these matchups, with trends showing fewer turnovers (averaging 2.5 per game) compared to typical CFL outings, attributed to the balanced atmosphere. Designated home teams hold a 67% win rate (4–2) since the series began, often leveraging strategic adjustments suited to the Maritime settings.

References

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  26. https://cfldb.ca/articles/2011/09/touchdown-atlantic-2011-fun-fans-and-football/index.html
  27. https://www.ticats.ca/2013/05/16/napa-touchdown-atlantic-ticket-information-released/
  28. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/touchdown-atlantic-cfl-game-moncton-1.5259391
  29. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/04/04/a-lesson-in-atlantics-a-look-back-at-past-tda-games/
  30. https://thetouchdown.co.uk/cfl-announces-touchdown-pacific-for-2024/
  31. https://cfldb.ca/stadium-status/moncton/
  32. https://www.cfl.ca/2022/03/29/touchdown-atlantic-returns-to-nova-scotia/
  33. https://news.smu.ca/news/2022/12/21/saint-marys-to-host-cfls-touchdown-atlantic-2023
  34. https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/cfl/news/cfl-touchdown-atlantic-2023-date-time-location-channel/nvmcvredvjbvawzde4sjflbb
  35. https://www.cfl.ca/schedule/2025/
  36. https://3downnation.com/2022/10/27/new-study-finds-touchdown-atlantic-generated-12-7-million-in-economic-impact-to-nova-scotia/
  37. https://press.cfl.ca/making-waves-touchdown-atlantic-generated-10m-in-overall-economic-impact
  38. https://qyreports.com/ok-tire-and-the-cfl-grow-the-game-through-touchdowns-for-communities/
  39. https://3downnation.com/2023/07/28/cfl-hoping-touchdown-atlantic-can-offer-healing-and-peace-to-nova-scotia-community-after-devastating-floods/
  40. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-touchdown-atlantic-nova-scotia-economy-1.6631471
  41. https://news.smu.ca/news/2023/7/24/touchdown-atlantic-what-to-expect-on-campus
  42. https://www.cfl.ca/2024/08/31/lions-take-down-redblacks-in-first-ever-touchdown-pacific/
  43. https://www.bclions.com/2024/03/28/touchdown-pacific-sells-out-in-record-time/
  44. https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/island-cfl-fans-revel-in-touchdown-pacific-atmosphere-and-lions-reward-them-with-win-9462067
  45. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-expansion-ambrosie-1.6520881
  46. https://3downnation.com/2023/12/02/cfl-making-one-big-hard-swing-at-halifax-expansion-before-moving-on-randy-ambrosie/
  47. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/proposed-halifax-cfl-team-to-be-called-atlantic-schooners-1.1214918
  48. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/atlantic-schooners-season-ticket-deposits-refunds-anthony-leblanc-9.6963078
  49. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/17/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/cfl-10th-franchise-renewed-effort-atlantic-canada/
  50. https://3downnation.com/2025/11/14/united-states-expansion-not-objective-for-cfl-stewart-johnston-wants-canadian-tenth-team/
  51. https://www.sportsnet.ca/cfl/video/stewart-says-cfl-focused-on-adding-10th-team-will-be-within-canada/
  52. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/randy-ambrosie-i-really-believe-there-s-an-opportunity-for-expansion-1.2067588
  53. https://3downnation.com/2025/09/26/cfl-receives-canadian-and-international-interest-in-possible-expansion-franchise-ownership-commissioner-stewart-johnston/
  54. https://cfldb.ca/stadium-status/
  55. https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/atlantic-schooners-could-begin-their-cfl-tenure-playing-in-moncton/
  56. https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-CFL-Guide-Book.pdf
  57. https://www.cfl.ca/2019/08/25/mistakes-bite-argos-loss-als/
  58. https://3downnation.com/2019/08/25/east-coast-thriller-alouettes-survive-late-argos-drive-vernon-adams-jr-leads-second-straight-comeback/
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