MontrealAlouettes.com
The 2014 regular season officially kicks off at home on Friday when the Alouettes host the B.C. Lions at McGill Stadium, but 60 minutes of football isn’t all that’s on the menu to start the weekend on Mount Royal.
Here’s a handy guide to everything that’s happening in and around the stadium on game day.
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| DATE: |
Friday, July 4, 2014 | TICKETS: | #BCvsMTL » |
| VS: |
B.C. Lions |
TV: |
TSN, RDS |
| DOORS OPEN: |
5:30 p.m. | RADIO: | TSN 690 » 98.5 FM » |
| KICK-OFF: |
7:06 p.m. | ONLINE: | ESPN3 » |
The Alouettes open the season at home on Friday against a B.C. Lions team which has not won in Montreal since 2010.
Both teams meanwhile, will be looking for wins after dropping their respective season openers in Week 1 — with a few notable omissions.
The Lions will be without starting quarterback Travis Lulay, while the Alouettes will be lacking the services of receiver Duron Carter and safety Mike Edem. Injuries or not however, these two teams nevertheless have a knack for entertaining any time they meet, with eight of their last 12 meetings being decided in the final three minutes.
Case in point: Marsh Madness, anyone?
MTL: #2 Brandon Whitaker (RB)
A week ago in Calgary, the Alouettes offence struggled to find its rhythm, totaling just 187 yards from scrimmage. Despite the performance, running back Brandon Whitaker impressed in his first game back from injury, rushing for 59 yards on just 12 carries — enough for Coach Higgins to hint this week that the sixth-year Alouette could see an expanded role on Friday.
Could the 5-foot-10 speedster be the key to sparking the Alouettes offence in Week 2?
B.C.: #33 Andrew Harris (RB)
The Alouettes defence will have its hands full keeping multi-threat running back Andrew Harris in check, and not just on the ground. A week ago against Edmonton, the versatile Canadian combined for 177 all-purpose yards, racking up 100-plus yards receiving in his first outing of the season with the Lions.
A healthy scratch a week ago in Calgary, receiver Brandon London is expected to make his 2014 debut for the Alouettes on Friday as teammate Duron Carter is sidelined with an ankle injury.
The 29-year-old WR saw his stock drop following a disappointing 2013 season in which he caught just 22 passes for 299 yards — a far cry from his 848-yard breakout 2012 campaign.
But having looked sharp throughout camp and the pre-season, watch out for the former Super Bowl champ to make a case for a permanent starting spot once again in 2014.
“It was alright. I felt like I could have done more […] I went back and watched the film and I’ll come back better this week.” -Alouettes RB Brandon Whitaker is his own toughest critic following a strong Week 1 performance.
“If we can do all of the little things right, then we’ll give ourselves a great chance at success.” -Head coach Tom Higgins after a week of practice focused on fine-tuning the Alouettes’ execution.
“Expect to see some nice improvements on Friday night.” -Receiver Éric Deslauriers isn’t writing off the Alouettes offence after one game.
“It starts with the quarterback and trickles down from there […] I’m very confident in our game plan, now we just need to execute.” -QB Troy Smith is comfortable in his role as a leader.
• CHIPPING AWAY: With four tackles last week in Calgary, linebacker Chip Cox is now just three tackles shy (606) of cracking the CFL’s all-time defensive tackles Top 10 list and tying former Alouettes LB Kelly Wiltshire (609) at the ten-spot.
• TOO CLOSE TO CALL: Sure they’re separated by 4,000+ kilometres, but the Alouettes and Lions aren’t so different after all. An even match-up if there ever was one, since 2007, the CFL’s eastern- and western-most teams have split their season series 1-1 annually, going down to the wire eight times over that span.
• HOME SWEET HOME: Following a Week 1 loss on the road, the Alouettes will be itching to get reacquainted with the comforts of home as the team holds a 14-4 record in home openers since 1996. Friday’s home opening game opposite the Lions meanwhile, will be Montreal’s second in just four years, having celebrated Canada Day two days early in 2011 with a 30-26 win over B.C. on June 30.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: Mélissa Bédard (O Canada), Rudy Williams (America the Beautiful)
HONORARY CAPTAIN: Mayor Denis Coderre & Gerry Webber, VP Supply, Fleet & Fuel Mgmt. at CN
PRE-GAME SHOW: AMJ Campbell “Move of the Game” Contest, CN Community MVP Award
HALF-TIME SHOW: Les Respectables, Jonas & Marjo in concert
RED ZONE PROMO: Free shipping on all personalized jersey orders placed in-stadium
PLAYER OF THE GAME VOTING: via the official Alouettes mobile app »
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PULLED PORK | STELLA ARTOIS |
CORONA |
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Section G2 |
Section V1 |
Section V1 |
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Section X2 | Section X2 |
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| New west end-zone | New west end-zone | New west end-zone | New west end-zone |
In collaboration with Budweiser and le Dindon du Québec, the west end-zone at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium will be better known as a party zone by Alouettes fans this season!
Beginning on Friday when the stadium doors open at 5:30 p.m., the area will be transformed into an open fan zone, allowing supporters to converge in an electric atmosphere from pre-game until the final whistle.
UPDATED: Please note that the north entrance to the west end-zone will now close 10 minutes before kick-off until 5 minutes following the final whistle. During the game, access to the west end-zone will be limited to the south entrance only.
Once again this season, starting two hours before kick-off, Alouettes cheerleaders, alumni, and players, as well as team mascot Touché will be on-site outside of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium’s east entrance to sign autographs, take photos, and mingle with fans.
Already backed by some of the loudest supporters in the CFL, a drumline meanwhile will be adding to the aural ambiance, and major team sponsors will also be doing their part to keep things festive.
Here’s what to expect on Friday:
• Obstacle courses and colouring stations for children
• Face-painting booth
• Uniprix tent
• Alouettes autograph tent featuring:
-Bruno Heppell
-Gerry McGrath
-Éric Lapointe
-T.B.C.
-T.B.C.
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The Alouettes and the STM offer you a free and fast direct link between Percival Molson Memorial Stadium and the Square Victoria (orange line) and McGill (green line) metro stations every game day!
Bus service starts two hours before kick-off and continues until halfway through the first quarter.
Departs: Rue Viger / Beaver Hall (north-west side) – Square Victoria metro.
Stop # 1: University / de la Gauchetière;
Stop # 2: University / René-Lévesque;
Stop # 3: University / Ste-Catherine – McGill metro;
Stop # 4: University / Président Kennedy – McGill metro;
Arrives: Avenue des Pins / Avenue du Parc.
Return bus service resumes at the start of the fourth quarter until one hour after the final whistle.
Departs: Avenue du Parc / Avenue des Pins.
Stop # 1: Union / Président Kennedy – McGill metro;
Stop # 2: Union / Ste-Catherine – McGill metro;
Arrives: Rue Viger / Beaver Hall – Square Victoria metro.
A familiar face will be in the crowd next Friday when the Alouettes host the club’s first-ever white-out atop Mount Royal.
Returning to McGill Stadium for the first time since being named head coach of the Chicago Bears in January 2013, former Alouettes skipper Marc Trestman will be honoured at half-time during the team’s July 11 tilt opposite Winnipeg for his five seasons in Montreal.
Tickets are available now online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 514-787-2525.
